Colombia advances to Semifinals with Win over Chile

SANTIAGO, Chile, November 2, 2023. - Colombia advanced to the semifinals of the Men’s Volleyball Tournament at the Pan American Games with a 3-1 victory (25-20, 21-25, 25-19, 25-23) over host Chile, on Thursday at the Arena Parque O’Higgins.

Colombia will await the result of the other semifinal between Cuba and Puerto Rico to determine their opponent in the Friday semifinal (Argentina or Brazil). Chile will play classification matches for positions five through eight.

Colombia’s blocking (13-6) and serves (7-3) were key skills for their victory, they also finished with a slight advantage in kills (58-57). Chile benefited from 21 Colombian errors but committed 18 of their own.

Opposite hitter Gustavo Larrahondo and middle blocker Daniel Aponza each closed with 17 points for Colombia. Larrahondo on 10 attacks and a match-high of 4 points on blocking and on aces, while Aponza scored on 14 kills and 3 blocks. Outside hitter Andrés Piza added 14 points on 7 attacks, 4 blocks, and 3 service points.

Chilean Vicente Parraguirre scored 19 points on 18 attacks and one ace. He was joined by team captain Dusan Bonacic with 18 points on 17 attacks and one ace, and middle blocker Tomás Gago with 14 points on 11 attacks and 3 blocks.

Colombia, with the support of Andrés Piza’s blocking and attacks along with Daniel Aponza and Gustavo Larrahondo, dominated Chile in the first set, which seamed pressured by committing unforced errors, despite the offensive efforts of Vicente Parraguirre and Dusan Bonacic.

Despite Colombia’s efforts to recover from a four-point deficit (11-15) in the second set, Chile leveled the match with Tomás Parraguirre and Matías Jadue’s serves.

Colombia’s blocking upset Chile’s intentions in the third set, and they celebrated victory after winning a battling fourth set, thanks to their offense from Larrahondo and Daniel Medina, who came off the bench in the third set.

Daniel Aponza of Colombia said, “Honestly, I feel very happy because that was our goal from the beginning of the year. We prepared for this moment, to be in the semifinals and compete for a medal. The match was always very close; Chile has always been a formidable opponent, we've been playing against them for a while, and we know each other well. We put on a great show and were able to win this match!”

Chile’s middle blocker, Tomas Gago, said after the defeat, “It hurts, it hurts a lot! Trying not to think too much about the repercussions of the loss, we always said that our goal was a medal, and we couldn’t achieve it. We need to question ourselves. For what remains, we will eat well, rest, and be physically fit, but the emotional aspect will be difficult to overcome”.