Three in a row for Mexicans Ontiveros and Virgen

BOQUERON, Puerto Rico, September 22, 2013- The Mexican duo of Lombardo Ontiveros and Juan Virgen continues to ´pile up victories in the NORCECA Circuit as they captured the Porta del Sol Beach Volleyball Tournament at Boqueron, on Sunday afternoon.

Ontiveros-Virgen outplayed Puerto Ricans Roberto Rodriguez and Héctor Soto 15-21, 21-17, 15-9 claiming their third title in a row and fifth of the year.

With five victories in one single year Ontiveros and Virgen tied the record Virgen established in 2010 when he had Aldo Miramontes as his partner.

The Mexicans have won the gold medals in Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Cuba, Mazatlán (México) and Puerto Rico.

In the semifinals, Ontiveros and Virgen defeated Josh Binstock and Samuel Schachter of Canada-A 21-18, 21-11 while Rodriguez and Soto overcame Grant O’Gorman and Sam Pedlow of Canada-A 14-21, 21-15, 16-14.

“We were able to recover from the setback in the first set,” Virgen said. “It was not easy as the competition is of a very high quality and the teams are pretty much in the same level. The reason of our success I think it is keeping the calm and going step by step.”

“It was a very tough match against Puerto Rico as the home team,” Ontiveros said. “Things came up together at the end for us to win. I hope we don’t get used to winning because it is very tough to reach some level but it is even tougher to stay there.”

In an All-Canadian bronze medal match, Grant O’ Gorman and Samuel Schachter of Canada-A edged compatriots Josh Binstock and Sam Pedlow of Canada-B in three sets (21-17, 21-23, 15-13).

It was the second medal of the season and fourth overall for the team of O’Gorman-Pedlow who finished with a silver medal in Mazatlan, Mexico last week.

Men’s Results

Gold Medal Match: MEX d PUR-A 2-1 (15-21, 21-17, 15-9). Bronze Medal Match: CAN-A d CAN-B 2-1 (21-17, 21-23, 15-13). Semifinals: MEX d CAN-B 2-0 (21-18, 21-11), PUR-A d CAN-A 2-1 (14-21, 21-15, 16-14). Consolation Round: DOM d GUA 2-1 (24-22, 18-21, 15-11), TRI d CRC 2-1 (28-26, 20-22, 19-17). TRI d DOM 2-0 (24-22, 22-20).

Final Positions: 1. MEX, 2. PUR-A, 3. CAN-A, 4. CAN-B, 5. USA-B, 6. PUR-B, 7. ARU-A, 8. CUR, 9. TRI, 10. DOM, 11. CRC, 12, GUA, 13. ARU-B, 14. USA-A.