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HAVANA, Cuba, March 22, 2015 – Cuban team won the bronze medal
of the III U18 Girls’ Pan American Volleyball Cup after
defeating Puerto Rico for second time, in this case, in straight
sets 25-21, 25-22, and 25-16.
At the Coliseum of the Sports City, the local girls added much
joy to the qualification to the U18 WCH to be held in Peru in
the upcoming August, after claiming the last available quota of
NORCECA and South America when winning the Pool B.
Heidy Casanova (16) was the top scorer of the match which lasted
71 minutes where her team-mate Gretell Moreno contributed with
10 points. By the visiting team, the unique player who topped a
double-digit tally was Dariana Hollingsworth (13).
The home team coach, Tomás Fernández, commented that he decided
not to train to analyze the match where Cuba won over the Puerto
Ricans 3-1 in the preliminary phase of the Pool B.
“On that very first day, we dominated them with real courage.
Today both teams made many faults. I am not satisfied with my
girls’ reception and defence, but they had already qualified for
the U18 WCH. In this age-category, it is quite difficult to keep
the concentration. However they were able to recover in this
match. Although the unity they have is not brought sometimes to
the court when it is the strength of this generation, as well as
the possibility which several of them have to play different
positions.”
The host captain, Aidachi Aguero, stated that “this medal is
very significant for us. We have attained it with a lot of
devotion and it is fruit of hard-working months which we will
keep to have a good performance at U18 WCH.”
Luis Ponce, coach of Puerto Rico, emphasized that “we did not
get the most of it when Cuba did not show its top-level. On the
contrary, we decreased ours and we allowed the rivals to
recover. In the second set, we were on the lead up to the last
part, but we lost a good opportunity and the Cubans came from
behind. In the third set, my pupils also had a poor attitude.
They did not show any winning desire. So, the winner was the
team which did want to get it; precisely the host team of a
country which organized an excellent tournament.”
Their captain, Joscelyn Coronel, stated sadly that “we could not
do a better job. We had some controversies among ourselves and
it is not appropriate within a team. The six team-mates must be
like one. Nevertheless for the next time we play with our heart.
I would like to express the venue did a good work, as everybody
gave us an excellent attention. It was a magnificent event.” |
