Panama gives up before Costa Rica

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras, August 12, 2014. - Costa Rica saw off Panama 3-0 (25-21, 25-4, 25-12) at the II Women’s AFECAVOL Central American Championship in Jorge A. Galeano Gymnasium in Tegucigalpa, Honduras.

Costa Rica controlled Panama having difficulties in the beginning as they fell in Panama’s rhythm. In the second set they had an overwhelming dominancy managing to set their own pace and taking the straight set victor y as Panama gave up.

The defending champion Costa Rica is still perfect with 5-0 win-loss record and 25 points; Panama has a 0-5 record and two points.

Panama was better in the blocking category by an 8-5 margin while Costa Rica’s superiority showed with a 36-10 advantage in kills and 10-1 in aces.

Mijal Hines was again Costa Rica’s top scorer with 16 points; also with double figures was Tannia Carazo with 14 points and Evelyn Sibaja with 10 points. For Panama, Yariceth Castillo led with 7 points.

“We are not content, we adapted to Panama’s rhythm at the beginning and it should be the other way around, we have to be the ones who score. We were able to perform how we planned in the second set” said captain Mijal Hines.

“My team did a great job, everyone was concentrated in their own performance, this worked well in the beginning, but still we played with a good attitude up to the end. Costa Rica is much stronger than us” said captain Maria Añino.

For coach Horacio Bastit the numbers speak for themselves and said that mathematically they are already champions “our performance was only good in the second set; the scoreboard says we won but our proposal was the one that needed to be dominant. Our difference in tactics over Panama showed some times during the match and my players even seemed annoyed about what their performance. Panama blocks very well and they have some strong attackers”.

“Once again, the best team is the one who wins” said coach Edgar Restrepo. “Panama had nothing to lose and the girls performed without pressure. Yes we must prepare better and hopefully things back home will improve”.