BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, June 15, 2005 -Caribbean number one team Barbados and number two Jamaica made slow but successful starts to their World Championships Qualifier bid in Norceca Group A here at the Garfield Sobers Sports Complex in Barbados. Playing before an excited crowd, the Bajans led by the high leaping Fabian Cox dismissed the inexperienced British Virgin Islands, 25-20, 25-22, 25-15. 

Earlier Jamaica stopped the Cayman Islands, 25-17, 25-14, 25-15. The Caymans, in an admirable display of sportsmanship agreed to play Jamaica as their original opponents the Netherlands Antilles were delayed by flight problems.  However, the Cayman islanders could not contend with the taller and more aggressive Jamaicans.

In the post match interview the long serving coach of Jamaica, Phillip Greenland indicated that his team was just trying to come to terms with the court and the conditions to get battle ready for the Netherlands and Barbados. The Caymans’ coach Shannon Emslie stated that his team did not contain the depth of talent like the other squads but they were committed to developing and learning for future competitions.  

The BVI almost fulfilled their plot to take a set at least off of the high ranking Barbadians as Barbados surprisingly played a flat game to allow the visitors to match them point for point.  However, the experience and the power of the Bajans denied BVI a look-in. 

Coach Ludger Niles enjoyed the chance of giving court time to all of his players with only the games’ high scorer Fabian Cox playing the entire match.   The action continues tonight at six with Jamaica contending with the Netherlands and the Cayman clashing with Barbados at eight.