Mexican pairs are favorites in Beach Volleyball

CABO ROJO, Puerto Rico, July 23, 2010 – Mexico in both genders are rated as pre-tournament favorites in the Beach Volleyball Tournament of the XXI Central American and Caribbean Games that kicks off at Boqueron Beach on Friday.

Bibi Candelas and Mayra Garcia in the women’s side and Aldo Miramontes and Juan Virgen in the men’s event, who are regular participants in the SWATCH FIVB World Tour, will represent Mexico in the regional competition where 14 men’s and 13 women’s teams are due to take part.

Candelas and Garcia’s main opponents should be the Puerto Rican pair of Yarleen Santiago and Dariam Acevedo, currently ranked as number one in the 2010 NORCECA Circuit, Colombians Andrea and Claudia Galindo and Guatemalans Maria Jose Orellana and Lourdes Ramírez.

Puerto Ricans Orlando Irizarry and Roberto Rodríguez, Venezuelans Igor Hernandez and Jesús Villfañe, Guatemalans Julio Recinos and Erick Garrido and Dominicans Yeuddys Perez and German Recio are considered also as heavy contenders among the men.

The preliminary round runs from July 23-25. The first final round, the losers round and the quarterfinals will be played on Monday 26 with the semifinals and medal matches on Tuesday 27.

The women’s team distribution is as follows:

Pool A: Mexico, Dominican Republic, St Lucia. Pool B: Colombia, Trinidad & Tobago, Jamaica. Pool C: Puerto Rico, El Salvador, Nicaragua. Pool D: Costa Rica, Guatemala, St. Kitts & Nevis, Barbados.

Women team’s composition: MEX: Mayra Garcia/Bibi Candelas, LCA: Dania Hamilton/Tramaine Edward, TRI: Ayana Dyette/Nadiege Honore, COL: Andrea Galindo/Claudia Galindo, BAR: Mona Crawford/Anthazia Yearwood, PUR: Yarleen Santiago/Dariam Acevedo, JAM: Cherine Richards/Cheryl Daley; NCA: Elia Torrez/Jacqueline Toruño, ESA: Ivonne Soler/Laura Molina, DOM: Gina Selmo/Ingri Carmona, SKN: Brenda Allen/Shanicia Dyer, GUA: Maria Jose Orellana/Lourdes Ramirez, CRC: Ingrid Morales/Natalia Alfaro.

The men’s team distribution is as follows:

Pool A: Puerto Rico, El Salvador, Nicaragua. Pool B: Venezuela, Costa Rica, Trinidad & Tobago. Pool C: Mexico, Jamaica, Cayman Islands, St. Lucia. Pool D: Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Honduras, St. Kitts & Nevis.

Men team’s composition: MEX: Aldo Miramontes/ Juan Virgen, LCA: Joseph Clercent/Dayne Williams, TRI: Fabien Whitfield/Daniel Williams, PUR: Roberto Rodriguez/Orlando Irizarry, NCA: Winston Calderon/Dany Lopez, ESA: Jeovanny Medrano/David Vargas, CAY: Shervin Rankin/Olney Thompson, DOM: Yewddys Perez/ German Recio, VEN: Igor Hernandez/Jesús Villafañe, CRC: Alexander Villegas/Jonathan Guevara, JAM: Mark Lwies/Danny Lewis, GUA: Julio Recinos/Erick Garrido, SKN: Carl Collins/Kemoroy Percival, HON: Luis Baide/Manuel Serrano.

Men’s historical podium finishes

Year     Gold      Silver    Bronze

1998     CUB      MEX      PUR

2002     PUR      MEX      VEN

2006     CUB      VEN      MEX

Women’s historical finishes

Year     Gold      Silver    Bronze

1998     MEX      CUB      VEN

2002     MEX      VEN      DOM

2006     CUB      MEX      VEN