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Costa Rica overcame Panama with impressive comeback

 

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras, December 9, 2014 - Costa Rica overcame Panama in dramatic fashion 3-2 (23-25, 20-25, 25-19, 25-17, 15-10) at the XVIII Men’s Central American Cup at Jorge Galeano Gymnasium in Tegucigalpa.

 

Panama set the pace winning the first two sets while Costa Rica had a spectacular comeback to remain the only unbeaten team of the competition. The excitement of a great performance over the net showed a highly competitive match, with Costa Rica’s Richard Smith scoring a tournament- high of 36 points.

 

Costa Rica stands at 4-0 win-loss record and eighteen points. Panama dropped to 1-4 record and nine points.

 

Costa Rica held advantage in kills (54-43) and in serves (8-1), Panama was more effective in the blocking area (16-14). Costa Rica committed more unforced errors (36) than Panama (32).

 

Richard Smith’s 36 points consisted of 29 kills, 6 aces and 1 block; Esteban Araya added 16 points in Costa Rica’s win. Oswald Marshall led Panama with 20 points, while Jose Gonzalez and Domingo Avila scored 11 points apiece.

 

“It’s not by chance that Panama plays well, they beat Honduras and put Guatemala in a difficult position in the tournament. I believe we made too many mistakes but we adjusted our line-up which allowed us to perform more loosely, with Richard and Esteban scoring more easily; this helped us control Panama effectiveness over the net. Nothing has been easy in this event” said coach Cesar Salas of Costa Rica.

 

Panama’s coach Horacio Angulo said “we came to play volleyball and Costa Rica isn’t easy to beat, I congratulate them. It was a one on one battle from start to finish. They adjusted to win, but we gave away the fourth set. We are proving that Central America can compete at the same level of a NORCECA event, and referees should also have the same level”.