Villegas brothers score major upset in Boca Chica Tournament

BOCA CHICA, Dominican Republic, April 23, 2011 – In the world of sports you always have to be prepared to expect for the unexpected. It happened again in Boca Chica on Saturday.

Costa Rica’s brothers Gilberto and Alexander Villegas scored a major upset by outlasting Martin Reader and Chaim Schlak of Canada-2 in Boca Chica Beach Volleyball Tournament, the third stop of NORCECA Circuit.

The Villegas siblings dominated the match against the strong and early favorites Canadians by score of 21-16, 21-17 moving up to a quarterfinals match with Steven Vander Werp and Mark Van Zwieten, of USA-2, who trounced Sherving Ranking and Olney Thompson of Cayman Islands 21-10, 21-13.

Tournament defending champions Aldo Miramontes and Juan Virgen of Mexico-1 saw off Dominicans Yewddy Perez and German Recio 21-11, 21-9 and will be pitted against compatriots Ulises and Lombardo Ontiveros of Mexico-2 who defeated Jeovanny Medrano and David Vargas of El Salvador 21-19, 21-9.

The other American team also made it to the round of the last eight pairs when Bill Strickland and Aaron Wachtfogel of USA-1 scored a 21-16, 21-18 win over Fabien Whitfield and Daneil Williams of Trinidad & Tobago.

Also, Puerto Rico’s Roberto Rodriguez and Christopher Underwood eliminated compatriots Pablo Guzman and Luis Rodriguez in a duel that finished 21-19, 21-17 while Ryan Vanderburg and Andrew Hinchey of Canada-2 kept alive their chances with a 21-14, 21-9 win off Giandro Tokaay and Quinten Anthony of Curacao. Cuba’s Karel Piña and Javier Jimenez advanced with a 21-16, 21-10 triumph over Guatemala’s Andy Leonardo and Erick Garrido.

Saturday’s Men Results

Pool A

CAN-1 d. ESA (21-11, 21-11)

CAY d. CUR (25-23, 14-21, 15-10)

Pool B

MEX-1 d. GUA (27-25, 21-18)

PUR-2 d. HON (21-11, 21-16)

Pool C

CAN-2 d. TRI (21-15, 21-10

PUR-1 d. NCA (21-13, 21-12)

Pool D

USA-1 d. CRC (21-12, 21-17)

MEX-2 d. SKN (21-7, 21-6)

Pool E

CUB d. DOM (21-18, 21-18)

USA-2 d. ISV (21-4, 21-7)

Final pools positions: Pool A: 1. CAN-1, 2. ESA, 3. CAY, 4. CUR. Pool B: 1. MEX-1, 2. PUR-2, 3. GUA, 4. HON. Pool C: 1. CAN-2, 2. PUR-1, 3. TRI, 4. NCA. Pool D: 1. USA-1, 2. MEX-2, 3. CRC, 4. SKN. Pool E: 1. CUB, 2. USA-2, 3. DOM, 4. ISV.

Round of 16: CUB d. GUA (21-16, 21-10), PUR-1 d. PUR-2 (21-19, 21-17), USA-1 d. TRI (21-16, 21-18), CRC d. CAN-2 (21-16, 21-17), USA-2 d. CAY (21-10, 21-13), MEX-2 d. ESA (21-19, 21-9), MEX-1 d. DOM (21-11, 21-9), CAN-1 d. CUR (21-14, 21-9).

Sunday’s Quarterfinals

CAN-1 v PUR-1, CUB v USA-1, CRC v USA-2, MEX-1 v MEX-2