Ontiveros/Virgen set new NORCECA record

SAN JOSE, Costa Rica, November 24, 2013. – Mexico’s Lombardo Ontiveros and Juan Virgen set a new all-time NORCECA record of victories in a season by winning the gold medal at the tenth stage of the 2013 NORCECA Circuit in Costa Rica on Sunday.

Ontiveros and Virgen won a thrilling three-set battle against the USA-A Team of John Hyden and Tri Bourne 21-16, 19-21, 15-12.

The Mexicans broke the old record of five wins established y Virgen himself playing with Aldo Miramontes in 2010. They have won now in Boca Chica (Dominican Republic) Guatemala, Varadero (Cuba), Mazatlan (Mexico), Boqueron (Puerto Rico) and Costa Rica.

On their road to the final, Ontiveros/Virgen edged William Montgomery and James Drost of USA-B 17-21, 21-18, 15-9 while and Hyden/Bourne defeated CAN-A of Simon Fecteau-Boutin and James Battiston 21-12, 18-12, 16-14.

Virgen couldn’t contain his enthusiasm: “I’m very pleased. It was more a psychological strategy than a skillful one; losing the second set made me and Lombardo to want it even more. We controlled ourselves very well to face their pressure”.

For Ontiveros the victory was team effort. “We’re setting a new record working together as a team; today I made some bad judgment calls in the second set but with Juan’s support we came back to win. Breaking a record motivates us as players and as a team to continue forward”.

CAN-A of Fecteau-Boutin/Battiston won the bronze medal to Montgomery/Drost of USA-B in a well disputed 24-22, 16-21, 15-13 victory.

Men’s results Sunday:

Semifinals: USA-A d CAN-A 2-1 (21-12, 18-12, 16-14); MEX d USA-B 2-1 (17-21, 21-18, 15-9). Bronze Medal: CAN-A d USA-B 2-1 (24-22, 16-21, 15-13); Gold Medal: MEX d USA-A (21-16, 19-21, 15-12).

Final positions: 1. MEX; 2. USA-A; 3. CAN-A; 4. USA-B; 5. CAN-B; 6. CRC-B; 7. ESA-B; 8. NCA; 9. LCA; 10. ARU; 11. DOM; 12. ESA-A; 13. CRC-A; 14. GUA; 15. JAM.