Dominican Republic bosses Panama to head Group K

ROAD TOWN, Tortola, July 27, 2013 –  An inspired and focussed  performance by the Dominican Republic  saw them  thump Panama  ( 25-18, 25-14, 25- 22) to go the top of the standings in Group K of the 2014 FIVB NORCECA Men’s Qualifiers  here at the Multi-Purpose Sports Complex  Saturday night.

Cheered on by about 300 supporters, the Dominican Republic got that added impetus not to disappoint and this they did, despite being pushed in the third set by the Panamanians.

Again, it was Miguel Caceres who was the top contributor for the Dominican Republic as he registered 12 points and Elnis Palomino chimed in with 9 points, as the others also propped up their team’s tally.

Richard Araba recorded 7 points for the Panamanians to be his team’s lead scorer.

The Dominicans also led in blocks, sets and receptions, which was reflective in the intensity on the night.

And, head coach Osiel Vasquez admitted that this was intentional, as they expected the Panamanians to be their stiffest opponents.

“…We knew from the beginning that the game against Panama would have been our toughest game … We knew the challenge, that is why we played with such intensity and greater effort”, Vasquez confirmed.

Vasquez anticipates a rematch in the title match on Sunday night, whilst showing respect to the other teams in the group- St Vincent and the Grenadines and the British Virgin Islands.

In conceding defeat, head coach of Panama – Horacio Calderon, acknowledged the superiority of the Dominicans.

“We did our best , but we came up against a good team  and many of our players are new to this sort of level of competition , so they are inexperienced … This game is behind us, what we will try to do is do better in our next game”,  Calderon said in admission.

Panama next engages St Vincent and the Grenadines in Sunday morning’s first match, while the Dominican Republic faces off with the British Virgin Islands, to close the preliminary round of competition.