Panama overrides BVI in straight sets in Group K

ROAD TOWN, Tortola, July 27, 2013 – Panama overcame the inconvenience of having the bulk of their team arrive straight from the airport to the Multi-Purpose facility mere minutes before the start of their encounter with host the British Virgin Islands, to trump 3-0 (25-18, 25-14, 25-14) in match two  of  the NORCECA Group K Second Round FIVB World Championship Qualification Tournament Saturday afternoon.

Pushed backed by three hours because of the Panamanians were without their full complement of players and technical officials, saw them starting sluggishly, but they got into their strides and overpowered their opponents in uncomplicated fashion.

Oswald Marshall recorded 11 points and Richard Araba punched in 9 points for Panama, while Canice Marquis led the British Virgin Islands’ tally with 12 points.

The win though for Panama was also a triumph off the court, as proclaimed by Panama’s head coach- Horacio Calderon.

“The problems we encountered in getting here, psychologically affected us … Besides the problems the team had a good game”, Calderon said.

But team captain Domingo Avila said that they have put their mishaps behind them , they are now settled and expect to show up against the Dominican Republic in their next match.

Meanwhile, head coach of the British Islands Stephen Payne apportioned his team’s loss to their inability to effectively to pass.

“Had the passing been different, the outcome would have been different”, Payne said on reflection.

Panama next meets the Dominican Republic as both seek to take the lead in the group. The two have five points.

Then, the British Virgin Islands taking on St Vincent and the Grenadines in Saturday night’s capper, as the two losers try to outdo each other, and get their points tally on the move.