Guatemala makes the final four men cut in Aguascalientes

Guatemala makes the final four men cut in Aguascalientes

AGUASCALIENTES, Mexico, April 20, 2019. – Andy Leonardo and Luis García of Guatemala made it into the final four of the men’s division of the first stop of the NORCECA Beach Volleyball Tour in Aguascalientes.

Leonardo and García will face Trevor Crabb and Tri Bourne of United States, while in the other semifinal features Juan Virgen and Lombardo Ontiveros of Mexico against Cubans Sergio González and Luis Enrique Reyes.

Andy Leonardo and Luis Garcia of Guatemala confirmed their semifinal berth winning a classic Central American duel to Costa Rica’s Sebastian Valenciano and Andrey Quintero coming down in a tie-break win 2-1 (16-21, 21-14, 19-17) in quarterfinals.

For Trevor Crabb and Tri Bourne of USA, it was a nail biting pool B win, as they came from behind to steal two match points in the second set (18-20) to William Hoey and Jake MacNeil of Canada-A for a final 2-1 (14-21, 23-21, 15-11).

The US duo was focused to move into quarterfinals, where they downed 2-0 (21-16, 21-17) Nicaragua’s Mora and López.

Mexicans Juan Virgen and Lombardo Ontiveros jumped into the semifinals following their 2-0 (21-17, 21-19) victory to William Hoey and Jake MacNeil of Canada-A in their quarterfinal match. The Olympians were consistent controlling the actions over the net.

Virgen and Ontiveros had won pool A undefeated, completing pool-play prevailing to Ruben Mora and Dany López of Nicaragua 2-0 (21-18, 21-13).

For Sergio González and Luis Enrique Reyes the road to the final four was much easier as they earned a direct ticket into semifinals not having to play their quarterfinal match to Stafford Slick and William Allen of United States who retired from the event. González and Reyes won pool D undefeated.

Sunday’s schedule begins at noon with placing matches and the semifinals followed by the medal matches.

Men Results Saturday:

Pool-Play Pool A: MEX-A d NCA 2-0 (21-18, 21-13); TTO d BIZ 32-0 (21-14, 21-18); Pool B: USA-A d CAN-A 2-1 (14-21, 23-21, 15-11); MEX-B d SKN 2-0 (21-8, 21-12); Pool C: GUA d USA-B 2-0 (forfeit); ISV d CAY 2-0 (21-10, 21-12); Pool D: CUB d ESA 2-0 (21-15, 21-10); CRC d CAN-B 2-0 (21-19, 21-14). Quarterfinals: MEX-A d CAN-A 2-0 (21-17, 21-19); USA-A d NCA 2-0 (21-16, 21-17); GUA d CRC 2-1 (16-21, 21-14, 19-17). Positions 9-16: TTO d SKN 2-0 (21-16, 23-21); ESA d CAY 2-0 (21-6, 21-15); CAN-B d ISV 2-1 (22-20, 15-21, 15-13); MEX-B d BIZ 2-0 (21-18, 21-9).