No surprises in first day of NORCECA Men’s Continental Cup

Mazatlan, Mexico, June 21, 2012 – The first day of action at the NORCECA Men’s Beach Volleyball Continental Cup Finals concluded without surprises as all the favorite countries won their series by sweeping the opponents on Thursday.

Canada, Cuba, Mexico and Puerto Rico all advanced to the semifinal phase of the competition following 3-0 victories over Nicaragua, Guatemala, Costa Rica and El Salvador respectively in their best-of-five match-ups.

Christian Redmann and Benjamin Saxton of Canada-B dominated in their two outings of the day. They first trounced Gerald Umaña and Dany Lopez of Nicaragua-A 21-6, 21-7) and then beat Henry Hernandez and David Mayorga of Nicaragua-B 21-14, 21-12.

Yaismel Borrell  and Yadrian Escobar of Cuba-B opened with a 21-16, 21-13 triumph against Andy Leonardo and Erick Garrido of Guatemala-A and then claimed a 21-10, 21-14 win over Julio Recinos and Luis Garcia of Guatemala-B.

The Puerto Rico-B team of Orlando Irizarry and Pablo Guzman began the day outdueling Julio Alvarez and Raul Sandoval of Costa Rica-A by scores of 21-13 23-25, 17-15 and had enough in the tank to prevail 21-17, 22-20 over brothers Gilberto and Alexander Villegas of Costa Rica-B.

Mexican brothers Ulises and Rodolfo Ontiveros outscored Jeovanny Medrano and David Vargas of El Salvador-A 21-19, 21-17 and closed the day with a 21-17, 21-13 win against Luis Morales and Carlos Escobar of El Salvador-B.

In Friday’s semifinals, Puerto Rico will be pitted against Mexico while Cuba squares off against Canada. The defeated teams will continue playing for third place.

The winning country gets a direct ticket to the beach volleyball tournament of the Olympic Games while second and third placed countries have another chance at the World Cup Olympic Qualification Tournament in Moscow, Russia from June 27 to July 1.

Thursday’s results

Canada 3, Nicaragua 0

CAN-B d. NCA-A (21-6, 21-7)

CAN-A d. NCA-B (21-12, 21-17)

CAN-B d. NCA-B (21-14, 21-12)*

Cuba 3, Guatemala 0

CUB-B d. GUA-A (21-16, 21-13)

CUB-A d. GUA-B (21-7, 21-13)

CUB-B d. GUA-B (21-10, 21-14)*

Puerto Rico 3, Costa Rica 0

PUR-B d. CRC-A (21-13, 23-25, 17-15)

PUR-A d. CRC-B (21-16, 21-15)

PUR-B d. CRC-B (21-17, 22-20) *

México v El Salvador

MEX-B d. ESA-A (21-19, 21-17)

MEX-A d. ESA-B (21-13, 21-13)

MEX-B d. ESA-B (21-17, 21-13) *

*Advance to semifinals