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Guadalajara, Mexico, August 27, 2009 - Four
men’s teams will battle here in a Playoff Round
during the weekend vying for the last two
Norceca’s tickets available for the FIVB World
Championship whose final round will take place
next year in several cities of Italy.
Hosts Mexico, Canada and Dominican Republic,
second placed teams in three third round
tournaments, are joined by Panama as the best
third place side of the previous events. Puerto
Rico, Cuba and United States have booked tickets
for Italy.
The Mexican side just returned to the country
following two losses to Germany in the World
League challenge.
Led by veteran Ivan Contreras and with the
support of the local crowd the Mexicans are
confident of their chances of making to the
final phase of the world event. They were very
close to attaining the goal while succumbing to
Puerto Rico in a five-setter last July as
visitors in Caguas.
Dallas Soonias and Louis-Pierre Mainville are
the main weapons in the Canadian arsenal as the
North Americans go for their berth in next
year’s event. They lost to Cuba in three sets on
August 16 in Havana but stretched the host team
to 26-24 in the last set of the final match.
Big Jose Caceres and Ervin Contreras lead the
Dominican team also considered with a fair
chance to reach the final stage of the World
Championship. They lost to United States in
straight sets on August 17 in Irvine and then
established a training base in Tijuana in
preparation for the Playoff Round.
Panama is considered a long shot for Italy. The
Central American representative has a core of
veteran players led by Jose Cunningham and
Domingo Avila.
The four candidates already trained in the main
venue, the same where the Volleyball tournament
will take place in the 2011 Pan American Games.
“They all are satisfied with the quality of the
facility, which is in optimum conditions, has
three warm-up courts and rooms for all the
different areas,” said Nelson Ramirez, technical
director.
The preliminary enquiries have been conducted by
the control committee presided over by Mrs.
Marta Centeno de Sajche, Vice President of
Norceca and FIVB. Today the general technical
meeting will take place at the Country Plaza
Hotel followed by the press conference with the
four coaches.
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