Curacao edges Jamaica in five-sets to avoid T&T

PORT-OF-SPAIN, AUGUST 7, 2014: Derick Colina led four players in double-figures as Curacao edged Jamaica 23-25, 25-18, 25-23, 20-25, 15-12 in Pool A of the 15^th Caribbean Zonal Volleyball Association Championship (CAZOVA) Tournament at the Jean Pierre Complex, Mucurapo.

It was the fourth match from as many outings to go the full distance in the pool which was won by defending champions Bahamas with a 2-0 record while Curacao, (1-1), ended second and Jamaica (0-2), third.

In Friday’s quarterfinals, Curacao will meet Pool B third placed finisher Suriname from 4pm while Jamaica comes up against host and 2010 champions, Trinidad and Tobago, who were second in Pool B behind Barbados, two hours later.

The winners of Friday’s semifinal will face record ten-time winner Barbados (1992-1996, 1998 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006), Pool B winner and Bahamas, the Pool A victors in Saturday’s semifinals ahead of the  bronze medal and gold medal matches on Sunday.

Colina finished with 17 points, inclusive of 15 kills while Rachid Isenia got 14, highlighted by five blocks, veteran Gilbert Paulina, 13 (12 kills) and Norandy Bonafasia, 12 in the two hours and 17 minutes contest.

On the other side of the net, Ryck Mc Kenzie-Webb led all scorers with a match-high 21 points which was punctuated by 13 kills, six aces and two blocks while Jamion Hartley added 15, 14 of which were kills.

Overall, Curacao held a narrow advantage on spikes (48-47) and dominated on blocks 11-7 while Jamaica showed more power on service aces, 7-5 but were guilty of 44 errors to its opponent 42.

A disappointed Jamaican captain Dellan Brown, speaking after the loss said it seems as though his team has found itself in a trend of losing five sets encounters.

“It’s not that we don’t give the effort, but we just seem to get too tense at the crucial points in these close matches and find it hard to get over the final hurdle”

Looking ahead to his team’s quarterfinal with host and 2010 champions, T&T, Brown said, “Our backs are against the wall and we have to come out and play to our best if we want to have a chance at the gold medal.”

Henrich Daal, captain of Curacao admitted his team had a very poor start against the Jamaica but eventually settled down and play good volleyball.

“It was a very close match against a good Jamaica team and now we have to prepare well for a good Suriname team in the quarterfinal as well.”

Jamaican coach Steve David was once again left to ponder what could have been as his team went under in another five-setter.

“I think our failures in these five set matches could be put down to a mental problem, because we are doing the right things up to the crucial points.

“We are now faced with a tough quarterfinal but I am confident in our chances because all the teams in the competition are beatable and we have to come good.”

Curacoa’s assistant coach Rigoletto Thode first congratulated Jamaica for giving his team a tough match but was delighted as well with the win.

“We knew coming off the loss to the defending champions Bahamas that we were capable of playing another tough match and the guys showed great belief and we now look ahead to another tough test against Suriname. "