Canada Blocks Puerto Rico

Long Beach, California, May 8, 2012 – Canada used a 15-3 block advantage to sweep Puerto Rico 25-19, 25-20, 25-13 on Tuesday during the second day of the NORCECA Men’s Continental Olympic Qualification Tournament at the Walter Pyramid in Long Beach, Calif. Canada improves to 2-0, while Puerto Rico falls to 0-2.

Toontje Van Lankvelt scored a match-high 16 points and Gavin Schmitt contributed 15 points for Canada. Van Lankvelt and Steve Brinkman each charted six Canadian blocks. Puerto Rico’s Ezequiel Cruz scored nine points in the loss, followed by Juan Figueroa’s eight points.

Canada concludes on Wednesday against Cuba (2-0) at 18:00 with the winner capturing first place in Pool B and bye into the semifinal round on May 11. Puerto Rico (0-2) faces Dominican Republic (0-2) at 13:00 with both needing a victory to earn a spot into the quarterfinal round and stay alive for the gold medal and spot into the 2012 Olympic Games.

Canada Captain Frederic Winters: “We’ve been practicing the last six years with the same group,” Canada captain Frederic Winters said. “We’ve been working on our technique and system and had it drilled into our heads. In the last three years the light has gone on.”

“We need to play better defense because we are lacking everything else,” Puerto Rico Coach Carlos Cardona said. “We can do better.”