Mexicans Ontiveros and Virgen triumph again

VARADERO, Cuba, August 25, 2013 – The Mexican duo of Lombardo Ontiveros and Juan Virgen scored a convincing victory over Josh Binstock and Samuel Schachter of Canada-B to take the gold medal of the Varadero Beach Volleyball Tournament, the fifth leg of the 2013 NORCECA Circuit.

Ontiveros and Virgen won 21-14, 21-14, following a 21-18, 21-19 semifinal’s victory over the Canadian pair of Grant O’Gorman and Samuel Pedlow.

It was the third gold medal of the year for the Mexican pair who also won in Dominican Republic and Guatemala. Virgen grabbed his 19th gold medal (25th overall) in the history of the circuit and the fifth with Ontiveros as his partner.

At the end of the match, Virgen recalled winning the silver medal two years ago in Varadero, the famous international Cuban resort.

“The competition in the circuit is becoming stronger each and every time with teams of better level,” Virgen said. “We won with our determination to control the match and the strategy paid off.”

While recognizing the quality of both Canadian duos, Ontiveros admitted the toughest opponents were Cubans Karell Piña and Sergio Gonzalez of Cuba-A in the quarterfinals.

“You can’t allow them to lift their rhythm because they can crush you with their big power,” Ontiveros said.

In the match for the bronze medal, O’Gorman-Pedlow defeated Piña-Gonzalez in straight sets 21-14, 21-13.

Men’s results of Sunday

Semifinals: MEX d CAN-A 2-0 (21-18, 21-19), CAN-B d CUB-A 2-1 (18-21, 22-20, 15-13). Bronze medal match: CAN-A d CUB-A 2-0 (21-14, 21-13). Gold medal match: MEX d CAN-B 2-0 (21-14, 21-14)
 

Final positions: 1. MEX, 2. CAN-B, 3. CAN-A, 4. CUB-A, 5. CUB-C , 6. CUB-B, 7. PUR, 8. DOM, 9. CUR, 10. LCA, 11. NCA, 12. ESA, 13. ISV, 14. GUA, 15. CAY, 16. BAR, 17. CRC, 18. ARU-A, 19. ARU-B, 20. JAM.