Cuba faces Slovakia in Men's World Volleyball League

HAVANA, Cuba, Jun 23 (acn) Cuba will face today the host Slovakia in the Group 2 Pool D2 first round of the 2016 FIVB Men's World Volleyball League, based in the NTC Aegon Arena, in the city of Bratislava.

Led by captain and outside hitter, Rolando Cepeda, the disciples of Rodolfo Sanchez will try to achieve the first of three wins they intend to reach in this second weekend of action.

Sanchez and his pupils aspire to move on to the final of this group, which will include the top three ranked teams -from 12- of the three preliminary stages and Portugal, as host.

According to the website of the tournament, the opening game in the Slovak city will be between Czech Republic and the Netherlands, opponents of Cubans on Friday and Saturday, respectively.

After the first week, Canada and Turkey, with nine points, three wins and no loss, lead the standings of the second level, followed by Japan (7-2-1), the Netherlands (6-2-1), Egypt (5-2-1), Finland (5-2-1), Cuba (4-2-1), Czech Republic (4-1-2), Slovakia (2-1-2), South Korea (2-0-3), Portugal (1-0-3) and China (0-0-3).

This week of the second level of the tournament will also include actions in Cairo, headquarters of Pool E2, with the presence of the local Egypt, Finland, Japan and Turkey, and in Saskatoon, stage of Pool F2, with the host Canada, China, South Korea and Portugal.

Serbs and Brazilians (9-3-0) lead the first level, ahead of French (7-2-1), Italians and Russians (6-2-1), Belgians (5-2-1), Polish (3-1-2), Iranians (2-0-3), Argentine (1-0-3) and Bulgarians and Australians (0-0-3).

Greece and Slovenia (9-3-0) command the third level, ahead of Montenegro (7-3-0), Venezuela (6-2-1), Spain (6-2-1), Mexico (4-1- 2), Qatar (3-1-2), Chinese Taipei (3-1-2), Kazakhstan (3-1-2), Puerto Rico (3-1-2), Germany (1-0-3) and Tunisia (0-0-3).