Miramontes and Virgen take second title of the year

CHIAPAS, Mexico, May 15, 2011 – Mexicans Aldo Miramontes and Juan Virgen won their second gold medal of the year in the NORCECA Beach Circuit after defeating Puerto Ricans Roberto Rodriguez and Christopher Underwood in the men’s final match at Chiapas Beach Volleyball Tournament.

Winners of a gold in Guatemala and a silver in Boca Chica, Dominican Republic,  Miramontes/Virgen had to battled hard in the first set but then dominated Rodriguez/Underwood to finish with a 26-24, 21-10 victory.

It was their third win of Sunday for the Mexican duo who had an exhausting 21-15, 18-21, 15-11 three-set victory over Cubans Karel Piña and Yadrian Escobar in the semifinals and earlier beat Eyal Zimet and Russ Marchewka of USA by score of 21-11, 21-15.

In the semifinals, Rodriguez/Underwood also had a fiery battle against Simon Fecteau-Boutin and Cameron Wheelan of Canada-1 before winning in three sets 23-25, 24-22, 15-10.

The bronze medal went to Piña/Escobar who crushed Fecteau-Boutin/Wheelan in straight sets 21-10, 21-8.

Men’s complete results

Pool A: GUA d. TRI (21-11, 21-17), MEX-1 d. TRI (21-12, 21-16),    MEX-1 d. GUA (21-10, 21-12). Pool B: PUR d. NCA (21-12, 21-16), CRC d. NCA (22-20, 21-16), PUR d. CRC (21-14, 18-21. 15-13). Pool C: DOM d. CAY (21-12, 21-13), CAN-1 d. MEX-2 (21-19, 21-19), MEX-2 d. DOM (21-18, 21-16), CAN-1 d. CAY (21-12, 16-21, 18-16), DOM d. CAN-1 (21-18, 21-14), CAY d. MEX-2 (21-18, 15-21, 15-13). Pool D: CUB d. HON (21-14, 21-11), USA d. CAN-2 (21-17, 21-10), CUB d. CAN-2 (21-12, 21-16), USA d. HON (21-14, 21-12), HON d. CAN-2 (24-22, 10-21, 15-7), CUB d. USA (15-21, 21-19, 15-10)

Pool positions: Pool A: MEX-1 (2-0), GUA (1-1), TRI (0-2). Pool B: PUR (2-0), CRC (1-1), NCA (0-2). Pool C: DOM (2-1), CAN-1 (2-1), CAY (1-2), MEX-2 (1-2). Pool D: CUB (3-0), USA (2-1), HON (1-2), CAN-2 (0-3). Winners of pools A and B advance directly to quarterfinals.

Round of 16: CRC d. CAY (21-17, 21-14), USA d. TRI (21-15, 21-15), CUB d. MEX-2 (21-12, 21-18), GUA d. HON (21-16, 23-21), CAN-1 d. NCA (18-21, 21-13, 15-9), DOM d. CAN-2 (21-19, 21-19). Quarterfinals: CAN-1 d. DOM (21-19, 16-21, 15-13), PUR d. GUA (21-15, 21-13), CUB d. CRC (21-17, 21-17), MEX-1 d. USA (21-11, 21-15). Semifinals: PUR d. CAN-1 (23-25, 24-22, 15-10), MEX-1 d. CUB (21-15, 18-21, 15-11). ).  Bronze medal: CUB d. CAN-1 (21-10, 21-8). Gold medal: MEX-1 d. PUR (26-24, 21-10).

Final positions: 1. MEX-1, 2. PUR, 3. CUB, 4. CAN-2, 5. USA, 6. DOM, 7. CRC, 8. MEX-2, 9, GUA, 10. CAN-2, 11. CAY, 12. NCA, 13. HON, 14. TRI.