Costa Rica wins Men’s Central American Championship

SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador, September 19, 2010 – Costa Rica claimed the gold medal at the XVI Men’s Central American Championship by the slightest margin ever in the history of the regional competition as they edged El Salvador in points-ratio 1.100 to 1.098. Both teams finished the tournament with win-loss record of 5-1.

In the last day of actions, Costa Rica defeated Belize 3-1 (25-16, 20-25, 25-10, 25-15) and El Salvador beat Panama (25-22, 25-16, 25-14). Also Honduras scored a straight-set win over Nicaragua (25-16, 25-14, 25-21).

Most Valuable Player Richard Smith, Jose Pablo Zumbado and Andres Lopez all contributed 14 points to Costa Rican victory. Germaine Audinett had 12 points for Belize and Ernest Broaster added 10.

Francisco Hernandez and Aaron Umana scored 16 and 10 respectively for El Salvador, and Ricardo Brown registered 11 tallies for Panama.

Honduran Fabrizzio Matamoros led his side with 21 points and Evans Torres added 13. Tito Valdivia and Kevin Morales each charted 9 points for Nicaragua.

“We are very happy with this victory and our qualification to the 2011 NORCECA Continental Championship,” Costa Rican Luis Carlos Sanchez said. “It was a good tournament for us.”

Carlos Amaya, captain of El Salvador, said: “We are so happy with our performance. The level of the tournament was very high and we played to our best and gave everything we had.”

Final positions:

1. Costa Rica

2. El Salvador

3. Guatemala

4. Honduras

5. Panama

6. Belize

7. Nicaragua

Individual awards

Best scorer: Andy Leonardo (GUA)

Best blocker: Carlos Osorio (HON)

Best spiker: Andy Leonardo (GUA)

Best server: Francisco Hernandez (ESA)

Best setter: Luis Membreño (HON)

Best receiver: Tirso Pineda (GUA)

Best digger: Luis Morales (ESA)

Best libero: Luis Morales (ESA)

MVP: Richard Smith (CRC)