Havana, September 8 (RHC) – The Cuban duos of Damián Gómez-Eblis Veranes and Kailín Garrido-Maykelín Drik won bronze medals in the seventh phase of the 2025 Norceca Beach Volleyball Circuit in Zapopan, Jalisco, Mexico.
For both U-23 pairs, fifth at the 2025 Junior Pan American Games in Asunción, this was their second bronze medal, matching their performance from the Varadero stop, the opening of this annual competition.
The men’s duo climbed to the podium after defeating Canadians Robert Kemp and Cameron Chadwick 2-0 (21-14, 23-21) after a setback inflicted by scores of 17-21 and 21-23 in the Group D playoffs, also in 39 minutes of action.
That was the only defeat for the Caribbean team in their group, as they earned two wins against teams from Guatemala (21-15, 21-10) and Venezuela (21-14, 21-18), and in total they finished with four wins and two losses, according to the event’s official website.
In the quarterfinals, Gómez and Veranes starred in one of the most exciting duels, overcoming an initial disadvantage and surprising Mexicans Inés Vargas and Carlos Andrés Ayala to take the victory 2-1 (20-22, 23-21, 15-6).
Garrido and Drik, meanwhile, earned bronze by defeating Canadians Akash Grewal and Kararina Pantovic in straight sets of 21-16 and 21-19.
The Cubans pulled off a major upset in the quarterfinals, winning in identical sets of 21-17, ending the winning streak of local favorites Susana Torres and Atenas Gutiérrez, who have been left out of the medal table for the first time since the tour began in May.
In the semifinals, they made Americans Michelle Shaffer and Rachael Kramer sweat, needing a tiebreak to defeat them 2-1 (21-12, 17-21, 15-11).
The northerners, in the title discussion, fell to the combative Puerto Ricans María González and Allanis Navas, who reached their fifth gold medal in as many appearances this season by winning 2-1 (14-21, 21-18, 15-9).
