Brazil opens Pan Am Games with win over Mexico

LIMA, Peru, July 31, 2019. - Brazil opened the eighteenth Lima 2019 Pan American Games with a 3-1 (25-23, 25-19, 22-25, 25-22) pool B win over Mexico at the Multisport Complex El Callao of Lima, Peru.

Despite Mexico’s tough resistance, Brazil prevailed with 52-48 margin in attacks, 11-9 in the blocking category and a slim 3-2 margin in serves and 30-31 in errors.

With 22 points Brazil’s opposite Aboubacar Dramé topped all hitters on 20 kills and 2 blocks; Matheus Bispo dos Santos contributed with 13 points and Lucas Loh with 12 points all on kills. Outside hitter Jorge Barajas and opposite Ridl Garay led Mexico’s offense with 15 and 13 points accordingly.

On the second day of actions in pool B, Brazil (1-0) plays against Chile (1-0) and Mexico (0-1) faces United States (0-1).

Comments:

Marcelo Fronckowiak, Head coach of Brazil: “It was a difficult debut, with tension because we don’t have good rhythm. We started well, but we lack international experience. Here in Lima we played with Argentina. We controlled the first two sets against an excellent Mexico. They made a change, opposite number 3 came off the bench, but we recovered our concentration in set four. Our team has experienced players and others still need to be confirmed, these players are just starting to play internationally, they feel pressured for using Brazil’s national uniform. I believe we will improve”.

Eder Carbonera, captain of Brazil: “We didn’t have the opportunity to play together any official matches, we did only one tournament and I am surprised with me team’s performance, we set a strong rhythm. They got closer in the scores, something we were expecting and we should have pressured stronger. México has a lot of experience, they have high quality, and they are better adjusted than we are, but we earned an important victory”.

Pedro Rangel, captain of México: “It was a good match, but not with the result we hoped for; things got complicated because of our errors and we must learn and keep on working. Brazil played at their best from start to finish”.