Panama finishes in fourth place

GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala, October 12, 2014.- Panama finished the Women’s XVIII Central American Cup in fourth place after their victory over Honduras by 3-0 (25-20, 25-21, 25-16) at Teodoro Palacios Flores.

Panama played well organized, enjoying their performance and celebrating every point scored. Honduras struggled mostly in their reception and lacking communication. Panama finishes with a 3-3 win-loss record and 14 points; Honduras with 2-4 record and 9 points.

Honduras scored mostly by Panama’s many errors (31-18). The winners were more efficient as they held advantage in all the skills: 40-20 in kills, 11-4 in blocking and 6-2 in aces.

Captain Joanna Arroyo led Panama to victory with 19 points; she was joined by outside hitter Jazmin Rojas with 15 points and middle blocker Angela Evans with 12 points. On Honduras side, middle blocker Tessa Flores was the best scorer with 7 points.

Joanna Arroyo said to be proud of her team’s performance “we advanced with a new team improving from fifth place in the last edition of the tournament; today the team played united and enjoying what we do. I congratulate my coach for psychologically preparing us for this match and making us solve not only our difference inside the court but outside as well”.

“The team lacks confidence, today we played without control, we have played against Panama on numerous occasions and still we weren’t able to keep the advantage gained during the first and second sets. We should practice on working together as a team and then focus on our weakness”.

Coach Reynaldo Ortega was very pleased with his team’s performance “this is the Panama I am used to see during practice, the players were more determined in performing better and each one putting their part. It’s a motivation for our younger players to improve Panama’s ranking”.

Cuban Coach Marcos Tejada said that Honduras needs to be applying better their tactical discipline “the players pressure themselves and lose control, this is a group sport and our outside hitters are not responding”.