South American duel in men’s beach volleyball

PUERTO VALLARTA, Mexico, October 21, 2011 – World champions Alison Cerutti and Emmanuel Rego of Brazil will face Venezuela’s tandem of Igor Hernandez and Farid Mussa in the gold medal match of the men’s beach volleyball tournament at the XVI Pan American Games scheduled on Saturday.

Both Friday’s semifinals went to the three-set limit with Alison and Emmanuel disposing of Mexico’s Aldo Miramontes and Juan Virgen 2-1 (21-19, 20-22, 15-6) in 51 minutes of exciting action while Hernandez and Musa edged Argentina’s duo of Santiago Etchegaray and Pablo Suarez 2-1 (19-21, 21-16, 15-12) in 1 hour and six minutes.

“It was a great match and the Mexicans played really well,” Alison said. “They caught off guard in the second set but we could recover and now we will go for the gold on Saturday. The fans have been great here in Puerto Vallarta.”

“I have mixed emotions because you always play to win the gold,” Miramontes said. “But we had to face a tough team like Brazil, they are the world champions and we were able to win a set very complicated. I hope we can win the bronze, it would be a feat never accomplished for a Mexican men’s team.”

“In the Pan American Games in Rio we didn’t make past the pool play so it is a great achievement to be among the best,” Hernandez said. “We are well prepared physically.”

“It has been a great experience for us,” Argentinean Suarez said. “Now we have to stay positive for our game for the bronze medal and then to think about the Beach South American Championship.”