Guatemala beats Honduras to improve record 1-1

PANAMA CITY, Panama, August 25 2014 - Guatemala beat Honduras 3-0 (25-20, 25-21, 25-21) in the defense of their U23 Men’s Central American title at Jose “Beto” Remon Gymnasium in Panama City.

Defending champions Guatemala improved their win-loss record to 1-1 despite their disadvantage in height, overcoming Honduras with quicker plays and a tight defense. Honduras, still not recovered from their loss to Panama, wasn’t able to stop Guatemala’s offensive line led by neither outside hitter Carlos Lopez nor the defense in charge of Libero player Amilcar Duarte.

Guatemala held a huge advantage over Honduras in the service category by 10-4; they were also superior in kills by 33-25 and 8-7 in blocking.

Carlos Lopez with 13 points and captain Gerardo Gonzalez with 10, led Guatemala’s scorers. William Thompson topped Honduras with 10 tallies.

“We went out for the five points and we did; we recovered from yesterday’s loss playing competitively” said Gerardo Gonzalez.

Honduras’ captain Cristobal Maradiaga, despite adversity said “we need a better attitude because we have three more matches to play; we don’t have to give up yet”. 

Cuban coach Reider Lucas for Guatemala praised his boys’ determination “their efforts took the victory in straight sets which gives us five important points that gives us hopes in our intentions to obtain the ticket to the Pan American Cup in Cuba in October”.

Disappointed, coach Rony Martinez of Honduras indicated “four or five of my players really sweat today, the others didn’t commit, they didn’t follow instructions and for them it was the same to win or lose”.