Cuba men's national volleyball team

Cuba
Nickname(s)Los leones del voleibol cubano (Lions of Cuban volleyball)
AssociationFederación Cubana De Voleibol
ConfederationNORCECA
Head coachCuba Jesus Angel Cruz Lopez
FIVB ranking12 (as of 10 July 2024)
Uniforms
Home
Away
Third
Summer Olympics
Appearances7 (First in 1972)
Best result (1976)
World Championship
Appearances14 (First in 1956)
Best result (1990, 2010)
World Cup
Appearances8 (First in 1969)
Best result (1989)

The Cuba men's national volleyball team (Spanish: Selección masculina de voleibol de Cuba) represents Cuba in international volleyball competitions and friendly matches, governed by Federación Cubana De Voleibol. Cuba in the 1976 Summer Olympics won their first bronze medal. In FIVB competitions, the national team won one gold each at World Cup, World Grand Champions Cup, World League and Challenger Cup. Cuba also attained two silver and two bronze World Championship medals and have won the NORCECA Championship 15 times with a 6-peat record.

Results

[edit]

Olympic Games

[edit]
  • 1972 – 10th place
  • 1976 Bronze medal
  • 1980 – 7th place
  • 1984 – Qualified but withdrew due 1984 boycott
  • 1988 – Quafified but withdrew due 1988 boycott
  • 1992 – 4th place
  • 1996 – 6th place
  • 2000 – 7th place
  • 2004 – Didn't Qualify
  • 2008 – Didn't Qualify
  • 2012 – Didn't Qualify
  • 2016 – 11th place
  • 2020 – Didn't Qualify
  • 2024 – Didn't Qualify

World Championship

[edit]
  • 1956 – 19th place
  • 1966 – 17th place
  • 1970 – 13th place
  • 1974 – 8th place
  • 1978 Bronze medal
  • 1982 – 10th place
  • 1986 – 5th place
  • 1990 Silver medal
  • 1994 – 4th place
  • 1998 Bronze medal
  • 2002 – 19th place
  • 2006 – 15th place
  • 2010 Silver medal
  • 2014 – 11th place
  • 2018 – 18th place
  • 2022 – 14th place
  • 2025 – Qualified

World Cup

[edit]
  • 1969 – 9th place
  • 1977 Bronze medal
  • 1981 Silver medal
  • 1989 Gold medal
  • 1991 Silver medal
  • 1995 – 6th place
  • 1999 Silver medal
  • 2011 – 5th place

World Grand Champions Cup

[edit]
  • 19933rd place, bronze medalist(s) Bronze medal
  • 19973rd place, bronze medalist(s) Bronze medal
  • 20011st place, gold medalist(s) Gold medal
  • 20092nd place, silver medalist(s) Silver medal

World League

[edit]
  • 19912nd place, silver medalist(s) Silver medal
  • 19922nd place, silver medalist(s) Silver medal
  • 1993 – 4th place
  • 19942nd place, silver medalist(s) Silver medal
  • 19953rd place, bronze medalist(s) Bronze medal
  • 1996 – 4th place
  • 19972nd place, silver medalist(s) Silver medal
  • 19981st place, gold medalist(s) Gold medal
  • 19992nd place, silver medalist(s) Silver medal
  • 2000 – 8th place
  • 2001 – 5th place
  • 2002 – 13th place
  • 2003 – 13th place
  • 2004 – 7th place
  • 20053rd place, bronze medalist(s) Bronze medal
  • 2006 – 7th place
  • 2007 – 7th place
  • 2008 – 10th place
  • 2009 – 4th place
  • 2010 – 4th place
  • 2011 – 8th place
  • 20123rd place, bronze medalist(s) Bronze medal
  • 2013 – 13th place
  • 2014 – 21st place
  • 2015 – 18th place
  • 2016 – 22nd place
  • 2017Withdrew

Nations League

[edit]

Challenger Cup

[edit]

Pan American Games

[edit]
  • 1959 – 7th place
  • 19673rd place, bronze medalist(s) Bronze medal
  • 19711st place, gold medalist(s) Gold medal
  • 19751st place, gold medalist(s) Gold medal
  • 19791st place, gold medalist(s) Gold medal
  • 19832nd place, silver medalist(s) Silver medal
  • 19872nd place, silver medalist(s) Silver medal
  • 19911st place, gold medalist(s) Gold medal
  • 19953rd place, bronze medalist(s) Bronze medal
  • 19991st place, gold medalist(s) Gold medal
  • 20032nd place, silver medalist(s) Silver medal
  • 20073rd place, bronze medalist(s) Bronze medal
  • 20112nd place, silver medalist(s) Silver medal
  • 2015 – 5th place
  • 20192nd place, silver medalist(s) Silver medal
  • 2023 – 4th place

NORCECA Championship

[edit]
  • 19691st place, gold medalist(s) Gold medal
  • 19711st place, gold medalist(s) Gold medal
  • 19732nd place, silver medalist(s) Silver medal
  • 19751st place, gold medalist(s) Gold medal
  • 19771st place, gold medalist(s) Gold medal
  • 19791st place, gold medalist(s) Gold medal
  • 19811st place, gold medalist(s) Gold medal
  • 19833rd place, bronze medalist(s) Bronze medal
  • 19852nd place, silver medalist(s) Silver medal
  • 19871st place, gold medalist(s) Gold medal
  • 19891st place, gold medalist(s) Gold medal
  • 19911st place, gold medalist(s) Gold medal
  • 19931st place, gold medalist(s) Gold medal
  • 19951st place, gold medalist(s) Gold medal
  • 19971st place, gold medalist(s) Gold medal
  • 19992nd place, silver medalist(s) Silver medal
  • 20011st place, gold medalist(s) Gold medal
  • 20033rd place, bronze medalist(s) Bronze medal
  • 20052nd place, silver medalist(s) Silver medal
  • 20073rd place, bronze medalist(s) Bronze medal
  • 20091st place, gold medalist(s) Gold medal
  • 20111st place, gold medalist(s) Gold medal
  • 20133rd place, bronze medalist(s) Bronze medal
  • 20152nd place, silver medalist(s) Silver medal
  • 2017 – did not participate
  • 20191st place, gold medalist(s) Gold medal
  • 2021 – 4th place
  • 20233rd place, bronze medalist(s) Bronze medal

Pan-American Cup

[edit]
  • 2006 – 5th place
  • 20073rd place, bronze medalist(s) Bronze medal
  • 20141st place, gold medalist(s) Gold medal
  • 20161st place, gold medalist(s) Gold medal
  • 20173rd place, bronze medalist(s) Bronze medal
  • 20183rd place, bronze medalist(s) Bronze medal
  • 20191st place, gold medalist(s) Gold medal
  • 2021 – Withdrew
  • 20221st place, gold medalist(s) Gold medal

America's Cup

[edit]
  • 19983rd place, bronze medalist(s) Bronze medal
  • 1999 – 4th place
  • 20001st place, gold medalist(s) Gold medal
  • 20012nd place, silver medalist(s) Silver medal
  • 20053rd place, bronze medalist(s) Bronze medal
  • 20073rd place, bronze medalist(s) Bronze medal
  • 20081st place, gold medalist(s) Gold medal

Central American and Caribbean Games

[edit]
  • 19302nd place, silver medalist(s) Silver medal
  • 19353rd place, bronze medalist(s) Bronze medal
  • 19383rd place, bronze medalist(s) Bronze medal
  • 19461st place, gold medalist(s) Gold medal
  • 19502nd place, silver medalist(s) Silver medal
  • 19543rd place, bronze medalist(s) Bronze medal
  • 1962 – 4th place
  • 19661st place, gold medalist(s) Gold medal
  • 19701st place, gold medalist(s) Gold medal
  • 19741st place, gold medalist(s) Gold medal
  • 19781st place, gold medalist(s) Gold medal
  • 19821st place, gold medalist(s) Gold medal
  • 19861st place, gold medalist(s) Gold medal
  • 19901st place, gold medalist(s) Gold medal
  • 19931st place, gold medalist(s) Gold medal
  • 19981st place, gold medalist(s) Gold medal
  • 2002 – Did not participate
  • 20062nd place, silver medalist(s) Silver medal
  • 2010 – Did not participate
  • 20143rd place, bronze medalist(s) Bronze medal
  • 2018 – 4th place
  • 20231st place, gold medalist(s) Gold medal

Goodwill Games

[edit]
  • 1986 – did not participate
  • 19903rd place, bronze medalist(s) Bronze medal

Team

[edit]

Current squad

[edit]

The following is the Cuban roster in the 2024 FIVB Volleyball Men Nations League

Head coach: Cuba Jesus Cruz

No. Name Date of birth Height Weight 2022-23 Club 2023-24 Club 2024-25 Club
1 José Masso 2 December 1997 2.04 m (6 ft 8 in) 96 kg (212 lb) PortugalSporting CP GermanyVfB Friedrichshafen GermanyVfB Friedrichshafen
2 Osniel Melgarejo 18 December 1997 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) 86 kg (190 lb) ItalyAllianz Milano ItalyAllianz Milano RussiaDynamo-LO
4 Michael Sánchez 5 June 1986 2.06 m (6 ft 9 in) 100 kg (220 lb) BrazilSao Jose Dos Campos BrazilMinas Tenis Clube BrazilGoiás Vôlei
5 Javier Concepción 26 December 1997 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in) 92 kg (203 lb) FrancePoitiers FrancePoitiers RussiaNizhny Novgorod
6 Christian Thondike Mejías 28 May 2001 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in) 76 kg (168 lb) RomaniaCS Dinamo București TurkeyCizre Belediyespor TurkeyCizre Belediyespor
7 Yonder Garcia(L) 23 February 1993 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) 78 kg (172 lb) EgyptAl Ahly EgyptAl Ahly EgyptAl Ahly
10 Miguel Gutiérrez 21 February 1997 1.99 m (6 ft 6 in) 90 kg (200 lb) ItalyVolley Prata TurkeyAltekma SK TurkeyAltekma SK
11 Liván Taboada 4 October 1998 1.99 m (6 ft 6 in) 75 kg (165 lb) RomaniaȘtiința Explorări Baia Mare RomaniaSCM Zalău IndonesiaSurabaya BIN Samator
13 Robertlandy Simon 11 June 1987 2.08 m (6 ft 10 in) 110 kg (240 lb) ItalyGas Sales Piacenza ItalyGas Sales Piacenza ItalyGas Sales Piacenza
15 Bryan Camino 23 February 2003 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in) 80 kg (180 lb) CubaMayabeque AustriaSK Aich/Dob AustriaSK Aich/Dob
17 Roamy Alonso 24 July 1997 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) 105 kg (231 lb) ItalyGas Sales Piacenza ItalyGas Sales Piacenza ItalyPrisma Taranto
18 Miguel Ángel López 25 March 1997 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) 90 kg (200 lb) BrazilSada Cruzeiro BrazilSada Cruzeiro JapanPanasonic Panthers
22 Jose Miguel Gutierrez 27 October 2001 1.94 m (6 ft 4 in) 73 kg (161 lb) ItalyTop Volley Cisterna ItalyPrisma Taranto ItalyModena Volley
23 Marlon Yant 23 May 2001 2.04 m (6 ft 8 in) 100 kg (220 lb) ItalyCucine Lube Civitanova ItalyCucine Lube Civitanova RussiaZenit Saint Petersburg
24 Alain Gorguet 28 December 1993 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in) 84 kg (185 lb) Free Agent Free Agent HungaryPénzügyőr
31 Carlos Charles 4 October 2000 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) 96 kg (212 lb) PortugalGondomar PortugalGondomar AustriaSK Aich/Dob

Dream Team Squad

[edit]

After 2001, many players defected from Cuba seeking better life conditions. Some of them excelled during their pro career, being more often considered the best of their positions. The following list follow 15 men throughout that period of time, that one way or another make history and were called Dream team squad.

Head coach: Gilberto Herrera

No. Name Date of birth Height Weight Spike Block Club
1 Wilfredo Leon Venero 31 July 1993 2.02 m (6 ft 8 in) 96 kg (212 lb) 380 cm (150 in) 346 cm (136 in) Italy Sir Safety Perugia
13 Robertlandy Simon 11 June 1987 2.08 m (6 ft 10 in) 114 kg (251 lb) 389 cm (153 in) 326 cm (128 in) Italy Cucine Lube Civitanova
4 Yoandry Leal 31 August 1988 2.01 m (6 ft 7 in) 107 kg (236 lb) 371 cm (146 in) 348 cm (137 in) Italy Leo Shoes PerkinElmer Modena
5 Osmany Juantorena 12 August 1985 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in) 85 kg (187 lb) 370 cm (150 in) 340 cm (130 in) Italy Cucine Lube Civitanova
14 Raydel Hierrezuelo 14 July 1987 1.97 m (6 ft 6 in) 87 kg (192 lb) 340 cm (130 in) 335 cm (132 in) Greece Foynikas Syros
9 Michael Sánchez 5 June 1986 2.06 m (6 ft 9 in) 100 kg (220 lb) 365 cm (144 in) 340 cm (130 in) South Korea Korean Air Jumbos
19 Fernando Hernandez 11 September 1989 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) 78 kg (172 lb) 358 cm (141 in) 339 cm (133 in) Turkey Halkbank
15 Oreol Camejo 22 July 1986 2.08 m (6 ft 10 in) 94 kg (207 lb) 354 cm (139 in) 326 cm (128 in) Russia Zenit Saint Petersburg
1 Leonel Marshall 25 September 1979 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) 96 kg (212 lb) 383 cm (151 in) 353 cm (139 in) Italy LPR Piacenza
7 Angel Dennis 13 June 1977 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) 83 kg (183 lb) 360 cm (140 in) 330 cm (130 in) Portugal Sporting CP
14 Ihosvany Hernández 6 June 1972 2.06 m (6 ft 9 in) 103 kg (227 lb) 368 cm (145 in) 349 cm (137 in) Retired

2016 Finland rape incident

[edit]

Eight members of the Cuban national men's volleyball team, including the team's captain, were held in Tampere, Finland on suspicion of aggravated gang rape of a 35-year-old Finnish woman,[1][2] as of July 2016. Two of them later had their charges dismissed.[3] The incident took place in the Hotel Ilves at Tampere where the Olympics-bound Cuban team were staying. The arrested players were scheduled to play with the Cuban team at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.[4]

On 16 August, the six team members still remaining in custody were charged with aggravated rape at Pirkanmaa District Court[5] and the proceedings started on 29 August.[6] On 20 September, four of the men, Osmany Uriarte, Rolando Cepeda Abreu, Ricardo Norberto Calvo, and Abraham Alfonso Gavilán were given five-year jail sentences, while Luis Sosa Sierra was facing a prison term of three and a half years.[7][8] All men appealed, and on 30 June 2017, the Turku court of appeal decreased the length of all sentences and lifted the sentence of Sosa Sierra.[9][10] Sosa Sierra was found not guilty due to lack of evidence, and he received compensation from the government of Finland of 200,000 euros for financial and reputational harm.[11]

According to The New York Times, the Cuban Volleyball Association stated early on that the athletes’ behavior was counter to the “discipline the sense of honor and respect that govern our sport and society”.[12]

Kit providers

[edit]

The table below shows the history of kit providers for the Cuba national volleyball team.

Period Kit provider
2000– Adidas
Puma

Sponsorship

[edit]

Honda is a main sponsor.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Rimpiläinen, Tuomas (31 August 2016). "Kuubalaisten raiskausjutussa on käynnissä viimeinen päivä – Tämä jutusta tiedetään". Aamulehti (in Finnish). Archived from the original on 11 October 2016.
  2. ^ "Syyttäjä: Kuubalaiset käyttivät joukkoraiskauksessa väkivaltaa ja kuvasivat teon". Iltalehti (in Finnish). 20 September 2016.
  3. ^ "Two Cuban volleyballers released, six still held". Yle. 4 July 2016. Retrieved 16 August 2016.
  4. ^ "Members of Cuba's volleyball team detained on rape suspicions". Yle. 3 July 2016. Retrieved 16 August 2016.
  5. ^ Mansikka, Heli (16 August 2016). "Kuubalaisia lentopalloilijoita vastaan nostettiin syyte – kaikkia kuutta epäillään törkeästä raiskauksesta" [Charges brought against Cuban volleyball players – all six suspected of aggravated rape]. Yle (in Finnish). Retrieved 16 August 2016.
  6. ^ Jansson, Kaisu (29 August 2016). "Kuubalaisten lentopalloilijoiden oikeudenkäynti alkaa Tampereella" [Cuban volleyballers' trial begins in Tampere]. Yle (in Finnish). Retrieved 29 August 2016.
  7. ^ Auvinen, Henni (20 September 2016). "Viidelle kuubalaispelaajalle vankeustuomio - raiskasivat naisen törkeästi Tampereella". Iltalehti (in Finnish).
  8. ^ Oppman, Patrick (20 September 2016). "5 Cuban volleyball players convicted of rape in Finland". CNN. Archived from the original on 6 August 2024. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
  9. ^ Matson-Mäkelä, Kirsi (30 June 2017). "Kuubalaisten lentopalloilijoiden raiskaustuomiot lyhenivät hovissa, yhden syyte hylättiin". Yle (in Finnish). Retrieved 30 September 2024.
  10. ^ "Finland rape case: Cuban volleyball players' jail terms cut". BBC. 30 June 2017. Archived from the original on 24 October 2022. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
  11. ^ Riihentupa, Timo (14 September 2018). "Suomalaisnaisen joukkoraiskaus kuvattiin – asiakirjat paljastavat, mitä tamperelaisessa hotellihuoneessa tapahtui yön tunteina" [Finnish woman's gang rape was filmed – documents reveal what happened that night in the Tampere hotel]. Ilta-Sanomat (in Finnish). Archived from the original on 14 September 2018. Retrieved 14 September 2018.
  12. ^ Bilefsky, Dan; Kuosa, Mari-Leena (20 September 2016). "5 Cuban Volleyball Players Convicted of Rape in Finland". The New York Times.
[edit]