Six teams secure men´s quarterfinals spot in Bonaire
KRALENDIJK, Bonaire, September 26, 2019 - USA-A and USA-B
were among six teams to secure their spots in the men´s main
draw quarterfinals after the opening day of the Seventh Leg
of the 2019 NORCECA Beach Volleyball Tour Circuit in
sweltering heat on Thursday.
In Pool A, USA-A´s Kyle Friend and Travis Mewhirter opened
up the day´s activities with a tense come-from-behind 10-21,
21-17, 15-12 triumph over top seeded Mexicans, Jose Luis
Rubio and Josue Gaston Gaxiola before they closed out the
night with a 21-16, 21-16 victory against United States
Virgin Islands´ Brian Kwasny and Gabriel Ospina Rodriguez
for a perfect 2-0 record in their three-team round-robin
pool.
On Saturday, Mexico and US Virgin Islands will meet in their
final round-match with the winner sure of joining USA-A as
qualifiers from the group.
In Pool B which also comprises three teams, Nicaraguans
Ruben Alejandro Mora and Antonio Dany Lopez beat Angela
Fransua and Eddy Toro Maldonado of Aruba, 21-16, 21-15 while
Franklin Flores and David Vargas of El Salvador also won
against Fransua and Maldonado Aruba 21-4, 21-14 to earn top
two finishes to qualify for the top eight ahead of their
meeting on Saturday to determine the pool winners.
It was the same scenario in Pool C as Trinidad &Tobago´s
Daneil Williams and Marlon Phillip advanced to the
quarterfinals thanks to their 21-7, 21-0 triumph against
host duo, Percy Prudencia and Bjorn Saragoza while St Kitts
and Nevis duo, St Clair Hodge and Shawn Seabrooks whom they
meet for the top spot in the pool on Thursday from 9.30 am,
swept past Prudencia and Saragoza 21-3, 21-5 in their
encounter.
And in Pool D, USA-B combination of Kristopher Johnson and
Christopher Austin recorded victories over Canada´s Simon
Fecteau-Boutin and Ivan Reka 21-19, 17-21, 15-12 and
Bonaire´s Luiyi Morales Monsalve and Davidlee Winklaar 21-5,
21-4 to end with a 2-0 record ahead of their final pool
match versus Curacao´s Ernaldo Mota and Jurcham Meulens.
Curacao and Canada have a similar 1-1 record and are in
direct battle for the second qualifying spot from Pool D.
First serve on Saturday in the men is from 8 am.
Overall, there are 13 teams competing in the men’s
tournament in four groups at the end of which the top two in
each group will qualify to the main draw knockout for
positions first to eighth while the other teams will compete
for places ninth to 13th.
Due to the humid conditions there will be break
intermissions of about four hours from 12 noon to 4 pm on
each day, a decision which was agreed upon by the host
country and the Control Committee headed by Tournament
Director, Daymian Stewart.
Thursday’s Men Results
Pool A:
USA-A d MEX 2-1 (20-21, 21-17, 15-12), USA-A d ISV 2-0
(21-16, 21-16)
Pool B:
ESA d ARU 2-0 (21-4, 21-14), NCA d ARU 2-0 (21-16, 21-15).
Pool C:
SKN d BON-B 2-0 (21-3, 21-5), TTO d BON-B 2-0 (21-7, 21-0).
Pool D:
USA-B d CAN 2-1 (21-19, 17-21, 15-12), CUR d BON-A 2-0
(21-7, 21-13), CAN d CUR 2-0 (21-10, 21-8), USA-B d BON-A
2-0 (21-5, 21-4).
