Costa Rica finishes Managua 2017 beating Belize

MANAGUA, Nicaragua, December 16, 2017.- Costa Rica prevailed over Belize 3-1 (23-25, 25-15, 25-16, 25-23) to finish the men’s Volleyball tournament of the eleventh Central American Games Managua 2017 at Alexis Argüello sport complex.

Costa Rica needed to win in straight sets to compete for the bronze medal depending on the result between Honduras and Nicaragua scheduled to play in the last match of the event.

Costa Rica finishes the Games with 3-3 win-loss record and 14 points. Belize concludes with 0-6 record and 6 points.

Costa Rica held a huge 52-39 advantage in kills and 7-3 margin in aces, committing fewer errors 26-33. Belize ended on 11-3 wide margin in blocks.

Outside hitter Alberto Blanco of Costa Rica scored a match-high of 24 points; outside hitter Julio Alvarez with 14 points and middle blocker Javier Alvarez with 11 points contributed with Costa Rica’s victory. Outside hitters Bryton Codd and Keith Castillo tallied 21 and 11 points receptively for Belize.

Head coach of Costa Rica Juan Acuña: “Our training program was serious and started a year ago; with psychologists and more continuous practice, not just 15 days before the tournament like it used to be. We have a generation gap that indisputably needs to keep working, with taller players and a structure change”.

Head coach of Belize Albert Humes: “Our overall performance is a bit disappointing, we expected better. But the good part is that this is the start of a five year plan that we have for the development of volleyball in Belize. We did not win against any team but we put up a good performance against all the Central American teams, so I give us a “B” and with a lot of room to grow”.