Aruba recovers to win over Antigua & Barbuda

ORANJESTAD, Aruba, May 18, 2013 – Aruba overcame Antigua & Barbuda in four sets (17-25, 25-20, 25-21, 25-21) in the second match of day one of the NORCECA Second Round Group L of the 2014 Men’s FIVB World Championship on Saturday.

Aruba next plays Curacao in a battle of neighbor islands while Antigua & Barbuda meets Costa Rica in Saturday’s second session.

Eargenell De Cuba led the home team with 23 points, three aces included, while Frank Meermans and Jonathan Jones recorded 10 points apiece. Colin Thomas had 17 points for the defeated side while Xavier Roberts and Kylon Cabrall added 12 and 11 respectively.

 “The change of tactics in our serves created some confusion to Antigua & Barbuda which is a good team with talented players,” Aruban coach John van der Lee said. “Also playing at home made us to work more united with the support of the fans.”

“We made too many errors in our general execution, especially with our serves,” Antiguan coach Benjamin Fritzroy said. “Our passing was not good either even though we have some good passers. I don’t know if the 13-trip to get here took something off us.”

“We didn’t have our rhythm in the first set,” Aruba’s captain De Cuba commented. “We don’t play too much outside Aruba but as captain I believe in my team and we play as a group.”

“We came out well and played consistent ball in the first set which we won convincingly,” Antigua & Barbuda’s captain Xavier Roberts said. “But they were able to come back and our back court defense failed.”