Cuba men's national volleyball team
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
Olympic Games
- 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
- 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
- 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
World League
- 1991 – Silver medal
- 1992 – Silver medal
- 1993 – 4th place
- 1994 – Silver medal
- 1995 – Bronze medal
- 1996 – 4th place
- 1997 – Silver medal
- 1998 – Gold medal
- 1999 – Silver medal
- 2000 – 8th place
- 2001 – 5th place
- 2002 – 13th place
- 2003 – 13th place
- 2004 – 7th place
- 2005 – Bronze medal
- 2006 – 7th place
- 2007 – 7th place
- 2008 – 10th place
- 2009 – 4th place
- 2010 – 4th place
- 2011 – 8th place
- 2012 – Bronze medal
- 2013 – 13th place
- 2014 – 21st place
- 2015 – 18th place
- 2016 – 22nd place
- 2017 – Withdrew
Nations League
Challenger Cup
- 2018 – 4th place
- 2019 – Silver medal
- 2022 – Gold medal
- 2023 – Participated in Nations League
Pan American Games
- 1959 – 7th place
- 1967 – Bronze medal
- 1971 – Gold medal
- 1975 – Gold medal
- 1979 – Gold medal
- 1983 – Silver medal
- 1987 – Silver medal
- 1991 – Gold medal
- 1995 – Bronze medal
- 1999 – Gold medal
- 2003 – Silver medal
- 2007 – Bronze medal
- 2011 – Silver medal
- 2015 – 5th place
- 2019 – Silver medal
- 2023 – 4th place
NORCECA Championship
- 1969 – Gold medal
- 1971 – Gold medal
- 1973 – Silver medal
- 1975 – Gold medal
- 1977 – Gold medal
- 1979 – Gold medal
- 1981 – Gold medal
- 1983 – Bronze medal
- 1985 – Silver medal
- 1987 – Gold medal
- 1989 – Gold medal
- 1991 – Gold medal
- 1993 – Gold medal
- 1995 – Gold medal
- 1997 – Gold medal
- 1999 – Silver medal
- 2001 – Gold medal
- 2003 – Bronze medal
- 2005 – Silver medal
- 2007 – Bronze medal
- 2009 – Gold medal
- 2011 – Gold medal
- 2013 – Bronze medal
- 2015 – Silver medal
- 2017 – did not participate
- 2019 – Gold medal
- 2021 – 4th place
- 2023 – Bronze medal
Pan-American Cup
- 2006 – 5th place
- 2007 – Bronze medal
- 2014 – Gold medal
- 2016 – Gold medal
- 2017 – Bronze medal
- 2018 – Bronze medal
- 2019 – Gold medal
- 2021 – Withdrew
- 2022 – Gold medal
America's Cup
- 1998 – Bronze medal
- 1999 – 4th place
- 2000 – Gold medal
- 2001 – Silver medal
- 2005 – Bronze medal
- 2007 – Bronze medal
- 2008 – Gold medal
Central American and Caribbean Games
- 1930 – Silver medal
- 1935 – Bronze medal
- 1938 – Bronze medal
- 1946 – Gold medal
- 1950 – Silver medal
- 1954 – Bronze medal
- 1962 – 4th place
- 1966 – Gold medal
- 1970 – Gold medal
- 1974 – Gold medal
- 1978 – Gold medal
- 1982 – Gold medal
- 1986 – Gold medal
- 1990 – Gold medal
- 1993 – Gold medal
- 1998 – Gold medal
- 2002 – Did not participate
- 2006 – Silver medal
- 2010 – Did not participate
- 2014 – Bronze medal
- 2018 – 4th place
- 2023 – Gold medal
Goodwill Games
Team
Current squad
The following is the Cuban roster in the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Men Nations League
Head coach: Jesus Cruz
| No. | Name | Date of birth | Height | Weight | 2023-24 Club | 2024-25 Club | 2025-26 Club |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | José Masso | 2 December 1997 | 2.04 m (6 ft 8 in) | 96 kg (212 lb) | VfB Friedrichshafen | VfB Friedrichshafen | PAOK |
| 2 | Osniel Melgarejo | 18 December 1997 | 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) | 86 kg (190 lb) | Allianz Milano | Dynamo-LO | Dynamo-LO |
| 8 | Julio Gomez | 24 July 1999 | 1.94 m (6 ft 4 in) | 86 kg (190 lb) | SK Aich/Dob | Calcit Kramnik | |
| 5 | Javier Concepción | 26 December 1997 | 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in) | 92 kg (203 lb) | Poitiers | Shahdab Yazd | Akkuş Belediyespor |
| 6 | Christian Thondike Mejías | 28 May 2001 | 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in) | 76 kg (168 lb) | Cizre Belediyespor | Cizre Belediyespor | İstanbul Gençlik |
| 7 | Yonder Garcia(L) | 23 February 1993 | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) | 78 kg (172 lb) | Al Ahly | Al Ahly | |
| 6 | Alejandro Rodriguez | 13 December 2003 | 2.08 m (6 ft 10 in) | 98 kg (216 lb) | Ceske Bujedovice | Ceske Bujedovice | Corona Brasov |
| 14 | Yordan Bisset | 21 October 1994 | 1.94 m (6 ft 4 in) | 98 kg (216 lb) | Joinville Volei | Brescia | |
| 13 | Robertlandy Simon | 11 June 1987 | 2.08 m (6 ft 10 in) | 110 kg (240 lb) | Gas Sales Piacenza | Gas Sales Piacenza | Gas Sales Piacenza |
| 15 | Bryan Camino | 23 February 2003 | 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in) | 80 kg (180 lb) | SK Aich/Dob | SK Aich/Dob | OK Maribor |
| 21 | Roamy Alonso | 24 July 1997 | 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) | 105 kg (231 lb) | Gas Sales Piacenza | Prisma Taranto | Galatasaray SK |
| 18 | Miguel Ángel López | 25 March 1997 | 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) | 90 kg (200 lb) | Sada Cruzeiro | Panasonic Panthers | Panasonic Panthers |
| 22 | Jose Miguel Gutierrez | 27 October 2001 | 1.94 m (6 ft 4 in) | 73 kg (161 lb) | Prisma Taranto | Modena Volley | Gas Sales Piacenza |
| 23 | Marlon Yant | 23 May 2001 | 2.04 m (6 ft 8 in) | 100 kg (220 lb) | Cucine Lube Civitanova | Zenit Saint Petersburg | Zenit Saint Petersburg |
| 25 | David Fiel | 28 August 1993 | 2.06 m (6 ft 9 in) | 104 kg (229 lb) | Shakhtior Soligorsk | Kuzbass Kemerovo | Kuzbass Kemerovo |
Dream Team Squad
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) | LKPS Lublin |
| 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) | 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) | 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) | 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) | 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) | 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) | 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) | 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) | 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) | 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
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
The table below shows the history of kit providers for the Cuba national volleyball team.
| Period | Kit provider |
|---|---|
| 2000– | Adidas Puma |
Sponsorship
Honda is a main sponsor.
References
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Syyttäjä: Kuubalaiset käyttivät joukkoraiskauksessa väkivaltaa ja kuvasivat teon". Iltalehti (in Finnish). 20 September 2016.
- ^ "Two Cuban volleyballers released, six still held". Yle. 4 July 2016. Retrieved 16 August 2016.
- ^ "Members of Cuba's volleyball team detained on rape suspicions". Yle. 3 July 2016. Retrieved 16 August 2016.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Jansson, Kaisu (29 August 2016). "Kuubalaisten lentopalloilijoiden oikeudenkäynti alkaa Tampereella" [Cuban volleyballers' trial begins in Tampere]. Yle (in Finnish). Retrieved 29 August 2016.
- ^ Auvinen, Henni (20 September 2016). "Viidelle kuubalaispelaajalle vankeustuomio - raiskasivat naisen törkeästi Tampereella". Iltalehti (in Finnish).
- ^ 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.
- ^ Matson-Mäkelä, Kirsi (30 June 2017). "Kuubalaisten lentopalloilijoiden raiskaustuomiot lyhenivät hovissa, yhden syyte hylättiin". Yle (in Finnish). Retrieved 30 September 2024.
- ^ "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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Bilefsky, Dan; Kuosa, Mari-Leena (20 September 2016). "5 Cuban Volleyball Players Convicted of Rape in Finland". The New York Times.