Curacao outlasts TT in men five-set semifinals  

RIVIERE-SALEE, Martinique, December 12, 2019 - Curacao rallied for a 3-2 (21-25, 25-21, 24-26, 25-20, 15-11) win over T&T final of the Caribbean Zonal Volleyball Association (CAZOVA) Junior (Under-21) Men Championship at the La Ville Riviere-Salee Palais Des Sport.

It was an entertaining match-up throughout which promised to boil over with tension at times, highlighted by the stoppage of play in the deciding set for close to ten minutes.

For Curacao, who dominated T&T 56-39 on spikes, Nigel Albertus had a herculean display, overcoming an injured left knee to tally 25 points, 22 of which were kills in his team’s win.

The pair of captain, Joshua Van Henneigen and Jaden Nanaldijk added 17 and 15 valuable points respectively for 2011 champions Curacao who also benefitted from 40 errors by T&T.

Marley Davidson who twisted his right ankle at the end of the first set, but continued had the hot hands for T&T with 22 points, laced with 13 kills and seven service aces while Josiah Constant and Georlani Austin added 11 each, captain, Joshua Persaud nine, and Jerome Belgrove eight.

T&T was also very strong at the net defensively, for the most part, outscoring Curacao on blocks 17-7, but in the end, they came up short and will now play the loser of the second semifinal between reigning three-time defending champions and five-time winners overall, Barbados, and Guadeloupe, who was twice time second-placed finishers in 2007 and 2011.

Speaking after the match, T&T coach Peer Nassier said he was not happy with some of the unjust calls made during the match, especially the one that proved costly to his team.

He added, “Outside of that it was a very gritty and hard-fought game and hats off to Curacao, they did very well to come off with their win against us. We have to regroup and come back and aim for the third spot tomorrow.

 Persaud added, “It was a very back and forth match and we ended on the losing end in a very controversial game. We will leave it up to the staff to decide on the next course of action, but we have to prepare for another match tomorrow as best as we could.” 

Van Henneigen was quick to admit that it was a very tough match and he was just happy to come out on top and get to the final.

A gleeful Henrich Daal coach of Curacao added, “Credit must go to Nigel (Albertus), he got injured and came back and lifted the team on his back and we are happy to move a step closer to our target of winning the gold medal.”