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 Puerto
Rico prevails against Canada and qualifies to
FIVB World League Qualification Tournament
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, May 27, 2010 – Puerto
Rico overcame Canada in a five-setter thriller
(25-23, 17-25, 25-22, 28-30, 16-14) and booked a
ticket in the FIVB Qualification Tournament for
the 2011 World League. The victory sent the home
team to the semifinals of the Men’s Pan American
Cup alongside Argentina, Brazil and USA, teams
already qualified to this year’s world event.
Roberto Muñiz, subbing for injured star Hector
Soto, responded with 24 points to lead the
winning offense and Victor Rivera contributed 23
points. Jose Rivera recorded 16 including one
service ace for the decisive point in the
tie-breaker. Gavin Schmitt and Steve Gotch had
19 and 17 respectively for Canada.
In the Friday’s semifinal phase, Puerto Rico
will face Argentina and United States will play
Brazil. Elsewhere, Colombia and Mexico will
decide the seventh place.
“I had the responsibility to fill the big shoes
of Hector Soto and I feel real happy to have
delivered,” Muñiz said during the press
conference. “I think the team with more desire
won tonight and we wanted to win for our home
fans.”
“It is a great victory for our team as we
achieved the goal of qualifying as one of the
challengers for next year’s FIVB competition,”
Victor Rivera said.
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