Mexicans Virgen and Ontiveros triumph in Aruba

ORANJESTAD, Aruba, December 2, 2012 – Mexico’s Juan Virgen and Lombardo Ontiveros captured the men’s gold medal of the Aruba Beach Volleyball Tournament with a convincing 21-12, 21-15 victory over USA’s Will Montgomery and James Drost at Druif Beach on Sunday.

It was the second title of the year for the Mexican pair who earlier won at home in the Toluca stage.

“This is a great victory for us against a very good team of USA,” Virgen said after the match. “And it is very good to be the winners in the first ever NORCECA tournament in Aruba.”

“It is a new stage in my life and we are preparing for the Rio Olympics,” Ontiveros said. “We are starting our preparation process for next year and took a break from it to come here. I want to thank the Mexican Federation and NORCECA for bringing us here to play this great competition.”

In the semifinals, Virgen/Ontiveros defeated Luis Adames and German Recio of Dominican Republic 21-17, 21-11 while Montgomery/Drost edged Saint Lucia’s Julian Bisette and Joseph Clercent in three sets (21-13, 16-21, 15-11).

In the bronze medal match, Bisette/Clercent prevailed against Adames/Recio in three sets by scores of 22-20, 15-21, 15-13.

Men’s results of Sunday

Semifinals: MEX d DOM 2-0 (21-17, 21-11); USA-A d LCA 2-1 (21-13, 16-21, 15-11). Bronze medal: LCA d DOM 2-1 (22-20, 15-21, 15-13). Gold medal: MEX d USA-A 2-0 (21-12, 21-15).