There is nothing quite like cheering for your team at an international sporting event. Tonight I watched Cuba handle the US women´s volleyball team at the 15th PanAmerican Games in Rio. It would have been much better if we had won (we lost 16-25, 23-25, 15-25), but it was still an amazing experience to have that home pride come out in such a venue.
There were maybe three other people clapping for the US. There were a lot of boos in our direction. I wish I had an American flag with me to wave! There were Cuban flags throughout the arena. I´ve done high school sports, and college sports, and cheered for the away team at professional competitions - but nothing came compare to the international level. It is beyond words and something everyone must try to experience...
The Domincan Republic had wasted Peru in their first game, and then I left with some other people from my hostel who I happened to run into at the game. They are Brazilian. Amazing population indeed.
And to add why I think the US lost: blocking. Cuba did, we didn´t. That put us on our heals and off-balance the whole match. Also, and connected to that lack of center, the US hitters did not utilize line shots. I think that would have made it more difficult for Cuba to get all those blocks. But instead our hitters hit right into them. US #3 played very well. #2 was slow getting to the block and thus often seemed to not get a good seal on the net; several points to Cuba for balls flying off her hands at unplayable angles. #6 had her good moments, as did #18, but the team in general seemed to never have gotten beyond the point of just showing up. It almost seemed like they were suprised by Cuba not laying down for them, and that then it was all over too quickly for them to adjust and play their game. At least I got to watch them, and of course I wish they had won.
