Cuba, Canada B and Puerto Rico unbeaten in first day

ANTIGUA GUATEMALA, Guatemala, May 9, 2014. - Cubans Sergio Gonzalez/Nivaldo Diaz, Cameron Wheelan/Micheal Plantinga of Canada B and Roberto Rodriguez/Eric Haddock of Puerto Rico remained unbeaten after the conclusion of the first day of pool play activity at Antigua Guatemala, the Third Stage of the 2014 NORCECA Tour.

The nice weather of Antigua Guatemala, along with the spectacular view of the Agua Volcano, welcomed beach players as they arrived to the beach courts installed at the cities multi sports complex to get the tournament started.

Sergio Gonzalez and Nivaldo Diaz of Cuba in Pool D had another strong beginning with two solid wins. Their first victory was over Luis Morales/Franklin Flores of ESA-B by 21-9, 21-10 and the second to local team Andy Blanco/Erick Garrido of GUA-B by 21-15, 21-14.

Cameron Wheelan/Micheal Plantinga of CAN-B beat Derek Olson/Kevin McColloch of USA-A recovering from losing the first set and took an important victory of 2-1 (16-21, 21-17, 15-13) in Pool A. Wheelan/Plantinga finished day one with victory against Richard Campbell/Duncan Hamann of CAY 21-12, 21-6.

Another unbeaten team was Puerto Rican Roberto Rodriguez/Eric Haddock in Pool B, starting with an easy victory over young Erick Flores/Mark Alvarez of GUA-C by 21-9, 21-8. Rodriguez/Haddock sealed a perfect record defeating Tarandath Deonath/Tevin Joseph of TTO by 2-0 (21-11, 21-13).

Derek Olson/Kevin McColloch of USA-A defeated Nicaraguans Miguel Lopez/Henry Hernandez 2-0 (21-14, 21-12) in Pool A, who won over Richard Campbell/Duncan Hamann of CAY by 2-0 (21-14, 21-18).

While in Pool B, Carlos Escobar and David Vargas of ESA-A beat Tarandath Deonath/Tevin Joseph of TTO 21- 14, 21-11.

Only two matches were played in Pool C, with winners Simon Fecteau Boutin/James Battiston of CAN-A over Adam Roberts/Billy Kolinske by 2-0 (21-18, 21-14) and Julio Recinos with Luis Garcia of GUA-A defeating Honduras’ Obed Gamez/Manuel Serrano having trouble to get their victory in the second set 21-12, 30-28.

Both B teams of Guatemala Andy Blanco/Erick Garrido and El Salvador Luis Morales/Franklin Flores managed to beat Diego Alpizar/Rooper Espinoza of Costa Rica, in Pool D.

Pool play resumes on Saturday, followed by the quarterfinals.

Men’s results Friday: Pool A: CAN-B d USA-A 2-1 (16-21, 21-17, 15-13); NCA d CAY 2-0 (21-14, 21-18); USA-A d NCA 2-0 (21-14, 21-12); CAN-B d CAY 2-0 (21-12, 21-6);  Pool B: PUR d GUA-C 2-0 (21-9, 21-8); ESA-A d TTO 2-0 (21-14, 21-11); PUR d TTO 2-0 (21-11, 21-13); Pool C: CAN-A d USA-B 2-0 (21-18, 21-14); GUA-A d HON 2-0 (21-12, 30-28); Pool D: GUA-B d CRC 2-1 (18-21, 21-15, 22-20); CUB d ESA-B 2-0 (21-9, 21-10); ESA-B d CRC 2-0 (21-19, 21-12); CUB d GUA-B 2-0 (21-15, 21-14).