Pairs from four countries search gold in Managua

MANAGUA, Nicaragua, May 4, 2019 - Cuba, Trinidad and Tobago, Guatemala and Nicaragua will fight for the two tickets to the finals of the NORCECA Beach Volleyball Tour, which has been full of surprises and an excellent level of play.

Andy Leonardo and Luis Garcia, of Guatemala, qualified for the semifinals after beating Canadians William Hoey/Jake MacNeil 2-0 (23-21, 21-19) in a show of strength with powerful attacks on both sides.

His rivals will be Marlon Phillip/Daynte Stewart, of Trinidad and Tobago, who beat Victor Castillo/Alex Medina, of the Dominican Republic, with a score of 2-1 (21-12, 18-21, 15-8).

Leonardo/García got the pass to the quarterfinals by beating Canadians Ivan Reka/Simon Fecteau-Boutin 2-1 (16-21, 21-11, 15-13) in another exciting match of the Central Americans.

In the other semifinal key, Sergio Gonzalez and Luis Reyes, from Cuba, will face the Nicaraguan couple of Denis López and Gerson Contreras.

The Cubans took another step towards their aspirations to take the gold medal of the third stop of the NORCECA Tour defeating  to Rubén Mora and Dany López, of Nicaragua, 2-0 (21-15, 21-16).

Despite the resistance of the locals, who had the support of their public, Sergio was responsible for closing the aspirations of Lopez/Mora, with four blocks in the final points of the second set, after staying even up to 16 points.

Meanwhile, the Nicaraguans Lopez/Contreras, surprised the Canadians Ivan Reka and Simon Fecteau-Boutin to beat them in 2-0 (21-15, 27-25), after a well disputed second set, which managed to close well the couple local.

The semifinals will begin at 9:00 a.m., while the match for the third place will be at 4:00 p.m. and the men's final at 7:00 p.m.

Results of Saturday

Pool A. DOM d NCA 2-1 (15-21, 21-19, 15-13). GUA d BAH 2-0 (21-10, 21-18). Pool B. CUB d TTO 2-0 (21-13, 21-15); PUR d CRC 2-1 (19-21, 21-19, 17-15). Pool C. GUA d CAN 2-1 (16-21, 21-11, 15-13); USA d BIZ (Injury). Pool D. CAN d ESA 2-0 (21-7, 21-14); NCA d ESA –b 2-0 (21-14, 21-14).

Quarterfinals: Gonzalez/Reyes CUB d Mora/Lopez NCA 2-0 (21-15, 21-16). Lopez/ Contreras NCA  d Reka/Fecteau-Boutin CAN 2-0 (21-15, 27-25), Leonardo/Garcia L. GUA d Hoey/MacNeil CAN 2-0 (23-21, 21-19), Waldo/Stewart TTO  d Castillo/Medina DOM 2-1 (21-12, 18-21, 15-8).

Consolation: Quinones/Lopez PUR d Isaacs/Wilmott BAH 2-0 (21-14, 21-8), Brewster/Boag USA d Flores/AVALOS ESA 2-0 (21-19, 21-7), Tato/Pepe ESA d Martinez/Carnegie BIZ (injury team), Smith /Alpizar CRC  d Aragon/Garrido GUA 2-0 (21-12, 21-16)