Guatemala Remains in the Quest for a Podium Finish at the AFECAVOL U19 Central American Championship

SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador, December 12, 2024.- Guatemala remains persistent in its quest for a podium finish after defeating Belize 3-0 (25-19, 25-19, 25-13) in the first match of the fifth day of the 15th AFECAVOL U19 Men's Central American Volleyball Championship.

The victory improves Guatemala’s record to three wins and one loss, with two matches remaining in the tournament against Nicaragua and Panama. Meanwhile, Belize’s record stands at 0-4.

ÁLBUM GUA VS BIZ

Guatemala displayed a more consistent offense and effectively countered Belize’s strong blocking to secure a decisive victory.

Belize put up a strong effort to challenge their opponent but conceded 29 points due to unforced errors compared to Guatemala’s 12. While Belize held a slight edge in blocks 5-3, Guatemala dominated in attack points 41-32. Both teams were evenly matched in service points at 2-2.

Omar Mendoza led Guatemala’s attack with 16 points. For Belize, Lebron Baizar and Daniel Musa were the top scorers, each contributing 8 points.

Reflecting on the victory, Guatemala’s head coach Luis Castañeda stated: “All victories are important. The good thing is that we earned five points with this win, and we hope to continue adding points in the rest of the tournament. Against Belize, our service was key. The team serves very well, and that made blocking much easier, helping us neutralize the opponent.”

Belize’s head coach Yamill Herrera shared his perspective after the match: “We couldn’t finish. We worked well on reception and defense, but there was no definition in our attack. Many balls we controlled on defense didn’t translate into points. We have two matches left, and they are very important. We need to try to win at least one to avoid finishing the tournament on such a low note.”