USA and Puerto Rico will decide the gold medal at NORCECA U-19

BAYAGUANA, Dominican Republic, August 26, 2006.-  Showing composure beyond its years, the USA came back from a two-set deficit to defeat Cuba, 3-2 (18-25, 23-25, 25-21, 25-21, 15-13), on Saturday in the semifinals of the 2006 NORCECA Boys U-19 Continental Championship.

With the victory they joined Puerto Rico as teams qualified for the 2007 FIVB Boys Youth World Championships. Those teams will meet in the finals on Sunday.

“The win over Cuba was fantastic,” said U.S. Head Coach Tino Reyes “The team just wouldn’t quit and kept fighting after being down 2-0. The staff kept preaching and the boys did a great job.”

“We were intimidated at first by Cuba’s physical prowess,” said American setter Joe Kauliakamoa. “After the first two sets, we found our confidence, which carried us through to victory.”

In the other semifinal, Puerto Rico defeated Canada, 3-1 (19-25, 25-16, 25-16, 25-19). Omar Rivera led Puerto Rico with 15 points, Sequiel Sanchez added 13, Emmanuel Batista charted 11 and Edgardo Gonzalez contributed with 8 points.

In the match for fifth place, Mexico beat Dominican Republic 25-19 25-23 y 25-19. Francisco Enríquez had 13 points for Mexico and Dominican Hayden Reynoso scored 17 points.