Nicaragua prevails in straight sets to Honduras

SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador, November 16, 2018.- Nicaragua prevailed 3-0 (25-22, 25-17, 26-24) to Honduras and waits for the result between El Salvador and Panama to see if they finish in third place at the twentieth Men’s AFECAVOL Central American Championship in FESAVOL gymnasium in San Salvador, El Salvador.

Nicaragua needed to win in straight sets to improve their record to 3-3 and 13 points; El Salvador has 2-3 record but 12 ranking points, both teams are in the run for the bronze medal. Honduras finishes with 1-5 and 7 points.

Nicaragua remained in the lead during the first two sets, in a match that lacked excitement. Honduras had better energy and attitude in the third set, forcing Nicaragua to defend more and to come from a three point deficit (16-19) to finish on top in a close 26-24 ending.

Nicaragua held a comfortable 45-32 margin in spikes and 8-6 in blocks; Honduras scored one ace and Nicaragua none. Honduras finished with one unforced error less than Nicaragua (23-24). 

Outside hitter Jonny Zeledon led Nicaragua with 17 points on 15 kills and 2 blocks, Tito Valdivia chipped in with 16 points and Byron Hernandez joined the winning cause with 10 points. Fabrizzio Matamoros scored 12 points for Honduras, while Ornelio Watler and Arturo Duran collected 9 and 8 points respectively.

Captain Alvaro Solís of Nicaragua said they came out and what they needed “we were excellent, we need the straight set victory and unfortunately we aren’t depending on ourselves. Generally speaking our performance was good, we are a young team (I believe the youngest here) and we are anxious to continue training”.

Fabrizzio Matamoros captain of Honduras indicated they need to evaluate “there are many things to take in consideration; one of them is that we didn’t prepare enough and it showed. As athletes we are responsible and we would like to have more support than what we had to come here. In the past years Honduras had finish on the podium and now we are in whole different position, we must improve, practice and battle for the next Central American championship in 2020”.