In a 5-Set Drama, Plataneros Claim First Victory Over Cafeteros

YAUCO, Puerto Rico, October 24, 2024.- The Cafeteros of Yauco and the Plataneros of Corozal delivered a true thriller in the start of the quarterfinals of Puerto Rico’s Men’s Superior Volleyball League (LVSM) in Group D, taking the match to a sudden-death set, where Plataneros secured the victory.

The match took place at Raúl "Pipote" Oliveras court in Yauco.

The final scores for Plataneros were 15-25, 25-23, 19-25, 25-23, and 15-10.

Corozal led Yauco 52 to 51 in attacks and 4 to 3 in service aces, while the Cafeteros performed better in blocks, 12 to 10, defenses 49 to 47, and assists 26 to 24.

With the match tied at one set each in the third set, both teams remained neck-and-neck into the final phase, with the last tie at 17.

Then, an 8-2 run by the Cafeteros, capped off with two service aces by Mark Frazier, ended the set in Yauco’s favor.

The fourth set was as intense as the previous, with Corozal pulling ahead toward the end, stretching the lead to 23-18 with two service aces by Carlos Berlingeri and a successful attack down the right side by Sebastián Negrón against Yauco's block, holding off the home team’s momentum to close the set 25-23 after a missed attack by Frazier.

In the sudden-death set, the Plataneros took control, leading at the court change 8-4, and stretching the advantage to 12-8 with another ace from Berlingeri, sealing the set at 15-10.

Corozal’s offense was led by a double-digit effort from Sebastián Negrón with 20 points, alongside 14 points each from Spencer Olivier and Arnaldo Torres. Luzgardo Liciaga contributed 22 assists.

For Yauco, Mark Frazier stood out with 21 points, while Eddie Rivera and Jessie Colón added 14 each.

The series will continue next Saturday, October 26, when the Cafeteros visit Corozal, this time at the Gelito Ortega court in Naranjito, the provisional home of the Plataneros. The match is set to begin at 8:00 p.m.

FEDPURVOLI