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Post by ajm on Apr 20, 2024 23:42:34 GMT -5
Another great three set match, but you hate to see it end on a trickle ace. Sweden 20-18. This should be a good one too. if there is a team Cuba is comfortable playing, should be Andre/George by now Completely forgot that they’ve played three times before. A couple weeks ago, but just remembered that Cuba also lost a heartbreaker in the Pan Am finals a few months ago. This one looks like it might go three too.
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Post by dunninla3 on Apr 21, 2024 0:25:18 GMT -5
Alayo still learning there are certain elite defenders you can't blow up no matter how hard you hit it, and certain elite blockers you just can't power through. When he gets a shot game under control, these guys are going to be phenomenal.
I think CUB is going to progress at the same rate the Swedes have. Now that Hellvig is intimidating hitters, well you see it doesn't take a lot for a young team to get from top 8 to top 3.
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Post by ajm on Apr 21, 2024 0:39:53 GMT -5
Alayo still learning there are certain elite defenders you can't blow up no matter how hard you hit it, and certain elite blockers you just can't power through. When he gets a shot game under control, these guys are going to be phenomenal.
I think CUB is going to progress at the same rate the Swedes have. Now that Hellvig is intimidating hitters, well you see it doesn't take a lot for a young team to get from top 8 to top 3.
Andre came up with some huge blocks at the end of this one. Yes, agree, Cuba just needs to learn when to shoot and when to swing away. I love that they mix the tempo up in transition though. I actually think they’re progressing faster than the Swedes did. Need a little more experience and consistency at this level. Hopefully the Cuban government/federation recognizes the potential this team has. Great to see some Cuban support in the stands too.
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Post by guest2 on Apr 21, 2024 0:48:50 GMT -5
Alayo still learning there are certain elite defenders you can't blow up no matter how hard you hit it, and certain elite blockers you just can't power through. When he gets a shot game under control, these guys are going to be phenomenal. I think CUB is going to progress at the same rate the Swedes have. Now that Hellvig is intimidating hitters, well you see it doesn't take a lot for a young team to get from top 8 to top 3.
I thought he did fine when he unloaded. What kills them is they make a ton of dumb mistakes (hitting out, bad passes, etc.) and they are an absolutely awful defensive team. If Alayo doesn't block it and Diaz isnt standing right there, its a kill. I think this tournament was about as lucky as Cuba could have gotten. They should not have made it out of pool but they got the wild card bye. Then they played an injured Czech team who gave them the match. In the quarters they got a Challenge level team, who had 3 match point swings on good sets but Cuba still snuck through. Then they drew a team they have played several times, and that plays a very conventional, old-fashioned offense. (And the Cubans looked absolutely lost against Menesh's option play) I am sure you are right in that they may not need to go to the Challenges for points, but they should go anyway because they desperately need to become more consistent in their play. They regularly lose games by 6+ pts including to teams with far inferior physical gifts. They look like the best team in the world for about 10 pts per game, but they also look like the Egyptian women for 10 pts per match
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Post by houdini on Apr 21, 2024 0:57:12 GMT -5
Alayo still learning there are certain elite defenders you can't blow up no matter how hard you hit it, and certain elite blockers you just can't power through. When he gets a shot game under control, these guys are going to be phenomenal.
I think CUB is going to progress at the same rate the Swedes have. Now that Hellvig is intimidating hitters, well you see it doesn't take a lot for a young team to get from top 8 to top 3.
Hard to say, but my guess is that Cuba - due to inexperience - will choke in the Olympics and not make it past the quarterfinals. AFter that they'l be back in the tobacco fields and their brief flurry of athleticism on the international stage will be over. Just like for other Cuban teams in the past.
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Post by dunninla3 on Apr 21, 2024 0:59:08 GMT -5
Alayo still learning there are certain elite defenders you can't blow up no matter how hard you hit it, and certain elite blockers you just can't power through. When he gets a shot game under control, these guys are going to be phenomenal. I think CUB is going to progress at the same rate the Swedes have. Now that Hellvig is intimidating hitters, well you see it doesn't take a lot for a young team to get from top 8 to top 3.
Cuba look like the best team in the world for about 10 pts per game, but they also look like the Egyptian women for 10 pts per match yep. Youth is so wasted on the young.
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Post by dunninla3 on Apr 21, 2024 1:02:36 GMT -5
Alayo still learning there are certain elite defenders you can't blow up no matter how hard you hit it, and certain elite blockers you just can't power through. When he gets a shot game under control, these guys are going to be phenomenal.
I think CUB is going to progress at the same rate the Swedes have. Now that Hellvig is intimidating hitters, well you see it doesn't take a lot for a young team to get from top 8 to top 3.
Hard to say, but my guess is that Cuba - due to inexperience - will choke in the Olympics and not make it past the quarterfinals. AFter that they'l be back in the tobacco fields and their brief flurry of athleticism on the international stage will be over. Just like for other Cuban teams in the past. I am not familiar with other Cuban teams. Which are you referring to? On a general note, I don't think anyone can predict what a bureaucrat in a totalitarian regime is going to do next.
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Post by guest2 on Apr 21, 2024 1:03:56 GMT -5
Alayo still learning there are certain elite defenders you can't blow up no matter how hard you hit it, and certain elite blockers you just can't power through. When he gets a shot game under control, these guys are going to be phenomenal. I think CUB is going to progress at the same rate the Swedes have. Now that Hellvig is intimidating hitters, well you see it doesn't take a lot for a young team to get from top 8 to top 3.
Hard to say, but my guess is that Cuba - due to inexperience - will choke in the Olympics and not make it past the quarterfinals. AFter that they'l be back in the tobacco fields and their brief flurry of athleticism on the international stage will be over. Just like for other Cuban teams in the past. Quarters in the Olympics wouldn't be a choke for this team, it would be an achievement
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Post by bvblove on Apr 21, 2024 2:33:46 GMT -5
These Cuban guys are not new or out of nowhere, they have been around since junior 2018 (US did not qualify for the youth Olympics back then because Cuba took the Norceca spot) … I think they’re here to stay and will continue to get better and challenge the swedes, Vikings and rest of power houses…
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Post by robvolei on Apr 21, 2024 7:35:15 GMT -5
The third set in Sweden v Germany was so good. Same as the Cuba v Brazil third.
Sweden's comeback reminded me of Norway against Russia a few years ago. Russia were up 14-11 in the third and then Norway ends up winning.
Alayo is entertaining. They got the crowd chanting "Cuba, Cuba".
Cuban's have lots of potential. I would like to see Diaz try and hit OT a few times and work on some sharp cut shots.
Like Guest2 has mentioned, Diaz isn't an elite defender. Sometimes it looks like he's not even trying 100%. Lol.
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Post by ajm on Apr 21, 2024 8:22:56 GMT -5
Hard to say, but my guess is that Cuba - due to inexperience - will choke in the Olympics and not make it past the quarterfinals. AFter that they'l be back in the tobacco fields and their brief flurry of athleticism on the international stage will be over. Just like for other Cuban teams in the past. I am not familiar with other Cuban teams. Which are you referring to? On a general note, I don't think anyone can predict what a bureaucrat in a totalitarian regime is going to do next. That Cuban team that came out of nowhere to make it to the quarters of the Rio Olympics comes to mind. Pretty much quit the sport after that. I agree, the sky’s the limit for these guys. They’ll go as far as the Cuban government allows them to.
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Post by mrknuckle on Apr 21, 2024 8:57:10 GMT -5
George and Andre are a strange team. They finish in 13th place in a lot of tournaments. Then suddenly they are in the final of a major tournament. I wonder what makes the difference. They have a lot of talent in defense, can make some great plays.
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Post by houdini on Apr 21, 2024 9:02:49 GMT -5
I am not familiar with other Cuban teams. Which are you referring to? On a general note, I don't think anyone can predict what a bureaucrat in a totalitarian regime is going to do next. That Cuban team that came out of nowhere to make it to the quarters of the Rio Olympics comes to mind. Pretty much quit the sport after that. I agree, the sky’s the limit for these guys. They’ll go as far as the Cuban government allows them to. Yes. Either the Rio Cubans "quit" or more likely the government sports federation wasn't interested in a regular international presence for them. "At last November's Pan-Am games eight Cuban athletes defected. Another 13 members of Cuba’s delegation to the games did not return to Havana, and their whereabouts are unknown." foreignpolicy.com/2023/11/15/chile-cuba-athletes-defection-pan-american-games-boric-human-rights/When Cuba had their silver medal indoor team they regularly traveled - but with many recent baseball defections, there might be tighter control now? I do wish they can continue to travel and play. p.s. For 5th place at the Olympics you only have to win one play-off game (if you're not in the lucky loser round).
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Post by robvolei on Apr 21, 2024 10:43:05 GMT -5
George and Andre are a strange team. They finish in 13th place in a lot of tournaments. Then suddenly they are in the final of a major tournament. I wonder what makes the difference. They have a lot of talent in defense, can make some great plays. They got a forfeit win in their last pool match because Schweiner was sick. George and Andre top their pool and advance straight to QF. They got a forfeit win in the QF because De Groot was sick and advance to the semi finals. Then they get an inexperienced Cuba team in the semis and win to advance to the GF. They got lucky. I don't think they would've beaten a healthy Czech team and Boermans/DeGroot. Cuba were also lucky. Only pool win was the WC Mexican team and then they beat a sick Schweiner in round of 12. They did beat Herrera/Gavira which is a good win.
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Post by dunninla3 on Apr 21, 2024 11:28:05 GMT -5
George and Andre are a strange team. They finish in 13th place in a lot of tournaments. Then suddenly they are in the final of a major tournament. I wonder what makes the difference. They have a lot of talent in defense, can make some great plays. sounds like an issue of focus to me. They are the most up and down of any team not counting injury, and they're ranked #3 now in Top 10 Finishes Olympic Qualification points
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