Candelas in Veracruz after second gold medal

VERACRUZ, México, November 23, 2014 - Mexico’s Bibiana Candelas will be going for her second consecutive beach volleyball gold medal in the Central American and Caribbean Games when the sixteen team competition takes place from November 26-30 at "Magic Kingdom Park". in Veracruz.

Candelas, who claimed the title in the Mayaguez 2010 edition playing alongside the now retired Mayra García, will partner with Martha Revuelta, winner of the silver medal in Cartagena 2006.

The tandem of Candelas/Garcia prevailed over the home team of Yarleen Santiago and Dariam Acevedo winning a two-set battle by scores of 21-19, 28-26 to take the gold medal four years ago.

The towering Candelas, the most prolific winner in the history of the NORCECA Beach Volleyball Circuit, could tie with fellow compatriot Garcia as the only two-time gold medalist since the inception of the discipline in the program of the Games in 1998.

García and Hilda Gaxiola won the tournament of the Games in El Salvador in 2002.

In the men’s division, the Cuban teams have won two of the previous four tournaments and they have a good chance to add a third gold medal behind the pair of Nivaldo Diaz and Sergio Gonzalez, a pair of newcomers who has won three gold medals at this year’s NORCECA Circuit.

The Mexican duo of Juan Virgen and Lombardo Ontiveros and Puerto Ricans Roberto Rodriguez and Eric Haddock are also taking part.

Virgen won the silver medal in Mayaguez with Aldo Miramontes, while Rodriguez took the bronze with Orlando Irizarry. Lombardo Ontiveros won a bronze medal with his brother Ulises Ontiveros in 2006 in Cartagena.

Past Winners in Central American & Caribbean Games

Women

Year    Gold    Silver  Bronze

1998     MEX      CUB      VEN

2002     MEX      VEN      DOM

2006     CUB      MEX      MEX

2010     MEX      PUR      COL

Men

Year    Gold    Silver  Bronze

1998     CUB      MEX      PUR

2002     PUR      MEX      VEN

2006     CUB      VEN      MEX

2010     VEN      MEX      PUR