Guatemala confirm first position

SAN JOSE, Costa Rica, July 28, 2012 – Guatemala advance heavily with a perfect record in the first round of NORCECA Men’s Pool H of the FIVB 2014 World Championship following a 3-0 (25-16, 25-10, 25-7) victory over Belize in the second day of action at Gimnasio Nacional of La Sabana.

With two victories, the Guatemalans are already qualified to the next stop of the world elimination process.

Andy Leonardo was the top producer of Guatemala with 10 points followed by team mates Jose Alfredo Gonzalez and Gerardo Gonzalez with 9 and 8 respectively. For Belize, Elton Moore notched five points and Shane Gentle made four.

Jose Alfredo Gonzalez, captain of Guatemala, commented: “We are very glad, realized, happy. Everything we worked strategically was applied in the match. Our team is more and more united. We have great chances of continue going well.”

On Sunday Costa Rica face off Guatemala and without giving a think, Gonzalez predicted: “It is going to be a great game.”

“We showed heart, we are below Guatemala but we tried to do our best and never quit. We will play harder against Nicaragua to win and qualify,” Belize’s Elton Moore said.

Guatemala’s coach Alvinzi Pelaez mentioned that his men were lights out in the tactic plan. “I used people of the bench to give them more experience and better game rhythm and there was no difference between the regulars and the bench. Everyone did the job both in attack and defense, receiving and blocking.”

Belize’s coach Albert Humes said: “Guatemala did what they had to do with us. We were not prepared and had to also with the result. We really need more preparation.”

“We will do better tomorrow to win and qualify, because if not, we are going out empty and we want to play in the second round.”