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GUAYMAS, Mexico, April 3, 2016 – Cubans Nivaldo Diaz and Sergio
Gonzalez made an brilliant debut at the 2016 NORCECA Beach
Volleyball Circuit by outdueling Stafford Slick and William
Allen of United States-B at the men’s gold medal match of
Guaymas Tournament, the second leg of the year.
“It is always important to get a victory against the United
States as they have a lot of tradition, quality and many good
players,” said Sergio, 26, the captain of the team. “We made
some errors in the second set but came back to win and we are
now ready to battle for the gold next week.”
Nivaldo, 22, and the taller of the two player said the main
objective “is to prepare well for the Olympic qualifier and get
the ticket to the Rio Games.”
Diaz and Hernandez won a terrific semifinal battle in three sets
2-1 (22-24, 21-18, 15-8) against the resilient home team of José
Luis Rubio and Josué Gaxiola of Mexico-A, winners of the silver
medal in the previous round in Guatemala, in front of a full
crowd in the stands.
Meanwhile Slick and Allen, bronze medalists in Guatemala,
arrived into the final match after a comeback victory in three
sets 2-1 (19-21, 21-18, 15-11) against fellow American Taylor
and Trevor Crabb.
Despite the loss, the Crabb brothers recovered to finish on the
podium with the bronze medal after a 2-0 (24-22, 21-16) victory
over Rubio and Gaxiola, their victims in Guatemala in the final
match in early March.
Final Positions:
1. CUB, 2. USA-B, 3. USA-A, 4.
MEX-A, 5.CAN, 6. GUA, 7. DOM, 8. CRC, 9. TRI, 10. ISV, 11. LCA,
12.MEX-B, 13. HON, 14. BIZ, 15. JAM.
Day Three Results:
Semifinals:
USA-B d USA-A 2-1 (19-21, 21-18, 15-11); CUB d MEX-A 2-1
(22-24, 21-18, 15-8).
Bronze Medal Match:
USA-A d MEX-A 2-0 (24-22, 21-16). Gold Medal Match: CUB d
USA-B d 2-1 (21-17, 19-21, 15-10). Position Matches: CAN
d GUA 2-1 (21-23, 21-15, 15-5), DOM d CRC 2-1 (15-21, 21-14,
15-10), TRI d ISV 2-1 (18-21, 21-18, 15-10), LCA d MEX-B 2-0
(21-0, 21-0). |
