Curacao stay alive in Bonaire

KRALENDIJK, Bonaire, June 23, 2018 – Curacao pocketed the two most one-sided sets of the first six matches as they won for the second time today to keep their hopes alive of being crowned champions of the inaugural CAZOVA (Caribbean Zonal Volleyball Association) Under-23 Women’s Championship at the Jorge Nicholas Sports Hall, Bonaire.

The commanding 25-7, 25-17, 25-6 triumph in 64 minutes over their hosts in the fourth and final match of the second day followed a four-set victory over United States Virgin Islands (USVI) to begin proceedings.

However the unbeaten Suriname, straight-set winners over Aruba tonight after they were pushed to the limit to edge Curacao in five the night before, are in the drivers’ seat for the gold medal.

But Curacao and USVI still have a chance to win the five-team straight round-robin competition.

If USVI get the better of Suriname at 11.30 a.m. in the second of the four matches on tomorrow’s final day, all three teams will more than likely finish with three wins each.

The team with the best sets won/lost ratio will then be awarded the title.

So USVI will not only playing for themselves, they will also be playing for Curacao.

Curacao will oppose Aruba in the first match at 9.30 a.m., but coach Gilbert Paulina admitted after tonight’s one-sided victory that the second match is just as important.

Captain Sharnesca Esclodina also expects Curacao to beat Aruba and end up on the medal podium.

She scored nine points tonight, but was overshadowed on the scoreboard by teammates Jewengely Hart (12) and Anais Conradus (14).

It was the third defeat from as many matches in the tournament for Bonaire and they are unlikely to even win a set as their final match to bring down the curtain on the tournament will be against Suriname at 8 p.m.

Both Rudi Anthony and captain Jahena Angela, who left tonight’s game against USVI a few points before the final whistle after injuring her knee, stated they were proud of the team.

Coach Anthony speculated that they would have had a much better chance if it were an under-18 tournament as all of his players are between the ages of 13 and 17.