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CALI, Colombia, November 27, 2021. - Puerto Rico
earned their first win defeating Guatemala 3-0
(25-17, 25-17, 26-24) on day two of the Men’s
volleyball tournament of the I Junior Pan
American Games at Evangelista Mora Coliseum.
Puerto Rico evened their record 1-1 in pool A
and Guatemala hasn´t won yet (0-2).
Puerto Rico got into complications as Guatemala
led the entire third set up to the exciting end;
the Caribbean squad needed two match points to
finish in straight sets.
The winners led by a huge 41-25 margin in
attacks and 11-4 in blocks; they also did better
in serves 4-2. Guatemala committed 20 errors
against 27 from Puerto Rico.
Puerto Rican captain Pedro Molina led all
scorers with 20 points on 17 kills, one block
and two aces; middle blocker Willy Varela also
contributed in Puerto Rico’s victory scoring 12
points on 6 kills and the most blocks with 6.
Opposite hitter José Rodrigo Carrillo was
Guatemala’s best scorer with 9 points.
Puerto Rico resumes the preliminary round
against host Colombia and Guatemala faces
Argentina.
Pedro Molina, top scorer and captain of Puerto
Rico: “Our
desire of winning helped us to overcome
Guatemala’s good performance in the third set;
we came from behind the entire set until we won.
We felt Guatemala’s pressure, but we were able
to recover. Our preparation for tomorrow’s match
begins tonight by resting and eating well”.
Gerardo De Jesús Sánchez, head coach of Puerto
Rico: “My
team has great depth and used several reserves
in the third set so they could play, sincerely
anyone can come in to solve. I believe Guatemala
competes well, several players were in the
NORCECA senior championship, they are a
respectable team and their work is serious, they
have talent. Tomorrow is an important match
against the locals (Colombia) and probably it
will decide the semifinal spot, we’ll be ready”.
José Rodrigo Carrillo, top scorer of Guatemala: “It
was an exciting finish. We focused on following
our coaches’ instructions; they told us where to
block, to stand in the diagonal side and that
made us enjoy the match, which helped us to
perform well. Once we get on fire nobody can
stop us”. |
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