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GRAND CAYMAN, Cayman Islands, April 26, 2015 - Cuban pair,
Nivaldo Diaz and Sergio Gonzalez made a winning start to the
2015 NORCECA Beach Volleyball Circuit with a rather surprising
easing win over Puerto Ricans, Erik Haddock and Roberto
Rodriguez at Seven Miles Beach on Sunday.
Watched by a packed audience under brilliant sunshine,
second-year pairing Gonzalez and Díaz, winners of three gold
medals in Guatemala City, Antigua Guatemala, and Huixquilucan in
Mexico last year, and silver at home in Varadero won 21-13,
21-15 in 33 minutes.
The win for the Cubans who also won a bronze medal in the finale
in Trinidad and Tobago last year and gold at the Central
American and Caribbean Games tournament in Veracruz, Mexico
dashed the hopes of Rodriguez and Haddock earning a third gold
medal in four years in Cayman Islands.
This after the Puerto Ricans won gold in 2012 and 2013, but had
to settle for silver last year.
Commenting after their dominant showing, the 24-year-old
Gonzalez said the match was a very high level one against their
rivals.
“We came up against a team we knew that was involved in the
World Championship in Poland, and are very consistent on the
NORCECA Tour, so we knew we had to be at the top of our game.”
“This was also a nice start to the season to see what level we
are at and we are happy for the win.
Diaz added, “We observed over the first two days the top level
of all the teams and prepared well for today and we are happy
for the win.”
Earlier on in the morning session, Diaz and Gonzalez spanked
USA-A’s Mark Burik and Curt Toppel 21-13, 21-18 while Haddock
and Rodriguez got the better of Canada-B’s Garrett May and
Daniel Dearing 21-15, 14-21, 15-10.
May and Dearing got some redemption in the third place playoff
when they got the better of Burik and Toppel, 21-13, 19-21,
15-11.
It was the second win for Day and Dearing over the USA pair in
the tournament after also earning a 23-21, 21-19 victory in
their Pool B clash on Friday.
Men Day Three Results:
Semifinals: CUB d USA-A 21-13, 21-18; PUR d CAN-B 21-15, 14-21,
15-10; Bronze Medal: CAN-B d USA-A 21-13, 19-21, 15-11;
Gold Medal: CUB d PUR 21-13, 21-15. |
