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Trinidad and Tobago’s men’s Under-23 volleyball squad came up short in their bid for a higher finish at the Pan American Cup, losing to Nicaragua 3-2 (25-18, 25-22, 15-25, 19-25, 16-14) in the seventh-place playoff match in San Salvador. The loss left the T&T team in eighth place overall at the tournament.
Nicaragua controlled the opening exchanges, committing fewer unforced errors and playing with greater composure to claim the first two sets. T&T mounted strong resistance but could not overcome the Nicaraguan advantage. The Trinidadian side found their rhythm in the third and fourth sets, with their attack becoming increasingly dominant. T&T’s offensive pressure forced a decisive fifth set, where Nicaragua ultimately prevailed 16-14 in a tightly contested finale.
Despite the defeat, T&T’s overall match statistics told a competitive story. The team recorded 62 attacks to Nicaragua’s 58, 13 blocks compared to 8, and 7 aces against 4. However, unforced errors proved costly, with T&T committing 30 mistakes to Nicaragua’s 22, according to the Trinidad Guardian.
Jahreef Miguel anchored T&T’s offensive effort with 24 points, including three blocks and three aces. Michael Burkett contributed 18 points, Janeiro Atherly added 16, and Ayden Austin scored 15 with three blocks. For Nicaragua, Josué León led with 22 points, Devin Taushaun added 17, and Jafrank Quesada contributed 10.
Elsewhere at the tournament, Costa Rica advanced to the Men’s U-23 Pan American Cup final for the first time in the nation’s history, defeating Guatemala 3-0 (25-13, 25-17, 25-12). The United States also secured a spot in the gold medal match, defeating Mexico 3-0 (25-19, 25-21, 25-20) in their semifinal contest.
The Men’s Under-23 Pan American Cup is a regional volleyball championship featuring the top young talent from across the Americas. The tournament showcases emerging players competing for continental recognition and serves as a development platform for future senior national team competitors.
This result represents Trinidad and Tobago’s performance at a major Caribbean and Pan-American sporting competition, reflecting the nation’s standing in youth volleyball development across the region.
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