Puerto Rico against Cuba in semi finals

 

MONTERREY, Mexico, December 20, 2007.- Puerto Rico will meet Cuba in the semi finals of the Norceca Women’s Olympic Qualifier following the victory in straight sets over Mexico by score of 25-19, 25-23, 25-22 on Thursday.

 

Eva Cruz and Aury Cruz had 15 and 12 points for Puerto Rico. Sarai Alvarez had 9 and Tatiana Encarnacion added 8. Bibi Candelas and Martha Revuelta had 15 and 12 respectively for Mexico.

 

“We took the game very seriously against Mexico,” said Juan Carlos Nunez, the Puerto Rican coach. “We wanted to advance and go out tomorrow with everything to beat Cuba. Don’t think this semi final will be easy, the match may last a little more than the expected.”

 

“The match was complicated for our team,” said Macario Gonzalez, the Mexican coach. “Puerto Rico have been playing a great tournament, we went out to win and could not, so next year we expect to give more war. It was a pretty game for the fans and our girls played better than yesterday.”

 

Siblings Aury and Eva Cruz contributed to the success of Puerto Rico in the first set as also the good setting from Vilmarie Mojica and the performance of speedy libero Debora Seilharmer. Aury had 7 points and Eva added 6 including 3 blocks and one ace.

 

Puerto Rico erased a five-point deficit (9-14) and ended winning a close second set. Once again veteran Eva Cruz was a factor for Puerto Rico supplying five points.

 

Mexico battled in the third set and while Puerto Rico did not perform like in the two previous sets it was enough for the triumph.