Puerto Rico secures ticket to Quarterfinals by beating Mexico

Chiclayo, July 9, 2019.- Puerto Rico secured the qualification to the quarterfinals of the XVIII Women's Pan American Cup, by winning 3-0 (25-16, 25-21, 25-9) to Mexico, in the last game of the fourth day of group B, held at the Coliseo Cerrado in Chiclayo.

Paulina Prieto was the best in Puerto Rico with 13 points, 9 in attack and three in service, and Neira Ortiz was with 9, three in blocking. Yarenia Gutiérrez and Alejandra Segura were left with 7 points each for Mexico, which was overcome in attack 21-41, blocking 3-8 and service 2-10, committing 16 errors by 20 of their opponents.

Prieto said that "today we play very well, I think team play worked, because we all managed to do things well. We enjoyed the game, Mexico is a good opponent, but we knew how to improve some situations that were complicating us. Now we are in the other phase, the game comes against the United States, which is a stronger team, and I think it will be an intense game "

Sashiko Sanay, captain of Mexico: "Today the team looked much better, although we did not get the right answers, we did not lose communication, we always encouraged each other, most of all the connection between all of them was recovered. We were confused, why we did not get things, the little things we could not adjust at the same time. "

José Mieles, coach of Puerto Rico: "I think that even winning we made many mistakes, especially in the second set, but I am satisfied because we have come from less to more. We have played with cargo, we are in preparation for the Pan American Games in Lima. Tomorrow is the big game of us, we want to be first in this group stage. "

Claudio Torres, coach of Mexico: "The second set was a sign that if the girls are focused they can play well. The deconcentration costs us a lot, we are in the fight, very even and suddenly two or three errors of reception and the game is gone ".

"These teams have to play constantly, they have a lot of experience and you have to have a good performance to be able to play them face to face," said Torres.

Puerto Rico will face the United States at 6:00 p.m. in the Cerrado Coliseum of Chiclayo, to define the first place of the group and the direct qualifier to the semifinals, while Mexico and Colombia will play at 4:00 to define the qualifier to the quarterfinals.

You can follow the actions of the Pan American Cup in NORCECATV on the link www.internetv.tv