CAZOVA bronze for T&T

PARIMARIBO, Suriname, August 14 – After capturing the gold medal in the last two editions, Trinidad and Tobago had to settle for bronze on this occasion when the curtain  fell on the Men’s CAZOVA (Caribbean Zonal Volleyball Association) Championships here tonight at the Ismay Van Wilgen Sporthal.

After failing to convert two match points for a straight-set triumph, the three-time champions led for most of the fourth to eventually defeat last year’s bronze-medallists Barbados 26-24, 25-22, 28-30, 25-22 for third place.

It was actually the only set that T&T had made the running in as the Barbadians, who had squandered several opportunities before still managing to win a five-set thriller over the same opponents in the round-robin stage two nights earlier, led for most of the first two sets before stumbling and falling before the finish line.

The second set was worse than the first as they lost six straight points from 21-18 before T&T closed it out on the second game point.

After trailing for long periods again in the third, the pre-tournament favourites again reach within one point first, but they failed to take advantage of two match points and Barbados were given temporary life on their third set point.

“We came with a young team and learned a lot from the experience,” stated veteran Barbadian captain Shaw Simpson.

His opposite number with the differently-spelt same first name Sean Morrison said “we were consistent tonight, we came for a medal and got one.”

Before today Daneil Williams had never reached double double figures for T&T in an indoor match, but he scored over 20 in both matches to be the game’s leading scorer each time.

After his 22 in a losing effort in the “virtual” semifinal against Bahamas in the morning session, the country’s No.1 beach volleyballer scored 21, comprising 19 kills and two blocked shots.

Portugal-based Marc Honore was the only other T&T player in doubles with 17 points, two more than Barbados’ top-scorer Simpson.

Barbados just edged out T&T 47-46 in kills, but the winners had the significant advantage in both blocked shots (13-7) and service winners (7-2).