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Cuba wins bronze over Puerto Rico

 

   

HAVANA, Cuba, March 22, 2015 – Cuban team won the bronze medal of the III U18 Girls’ Pan American Volleyball Cup after defeating Puerto Rico for second time, in this case, in straight sets 25-21, 25-22, and 25-16.

 

At the Coliseum of the Sports City, the local girls added much joy to the qualification to the U18 WCH to be held in Peru in the upcoming August, after claiming the last available quota of NORCECA and South America when winning the Pool B.

 

Heidy Casanova (16) was the top scorer of the match which lasted 71 minutes where her team-mate Gretell Moreno contributed with 10 points. By the visiting team, the unique player who topped a double-digit tally was Dariana Hollingsworth (13).

 

The home team coach, Tomás Fernández, commented that he decided not to train to analyze the match where Cuba won over the Puerto Ricans 3-1 in the preliminary phase of the Pool B.

 

“On that very first day, we dominated them with real courage. Today both teams made many faults. I am not satisfied with my girls’ reception and defence, but they had already qualified for the U18 WCH. In this age-category, it is quite difficult to keep the concentration. However they were able to recover in this match. Although the unity they have is not brought sometimes to the court when it is the strength of this generation, as well as the possibility which several of them have to play different positions.”

 

The host captain, Aidachi Aguero, stated that “this medal is very significant for us. We have attained it with a lot of devotion and it is fruit of hard-working months which we will keep to have a good performance at U18 WCH.”

 

Luis Ponce, coach of Puerto Rico, emphasized that “we did not get the most of it when Cuba did not show its top-level. On the contrary, we decreased ours and we allowed the rivals to recover. In the second set, we were on the lead up to the last part, but we lost a good opportunity and the Cubans came from behind. In the third set, my pupils also had a poor attitude. They did not show any winning desire. So, the winner was the team which did want to get it; precisely the host team of a country which organized an excellent tournament.”

 

Their captain, Joscelyn Coronel, stated sadly that “we could not do a better job. We had some controversies among ourselves and it is not appropriate within a team. The six team-mates must be like one. Nevertheless for the next time we play with our heart. I would like to express the venue did a good work, as everybody gave us an excellent attention. It was a magnificent event.”