Puerto Rico finished in the fifth position
WINNIPEG, Canada, September 22, 2007.-
While Mexico has reached their goal of playing for 5th
at this event, Puerto Rico believe they have fallen
short. However, they know that they must regroup and focus on the
task at hand. They must put disappointment aside and come out to
play against this feisty Mexican team who will be more than
willing to take advantage of the situation.
Both teams displayed that they were here to fight. Puerto Rico
held a 2-point advantage up 8-6 at the first break in play and was
able to build of that to lead 16-10 by the second time out. Mexico
seemed uninterested in fighting so the result was a 25-16 Puerto
Rico victory.
Neither team came out all the inspired in the second set. Mexico
seemed to show the will only will to win and was rewarded with an
8-7 lead at the first time out. A talk from their coach and Puerto
Rico came back out with a little more fight taking over the lead
at 11-10. SO the battle had finally begun. Puerto Rico opened up a
14-12 lead and Mexico would tie it at 14-14 and at the second
break in play, Mexico had regained the lead 16-15. Puerto Rico was
not done yet, they would fight back to take the lead back at
18-16. Mexico would take one last run at Puerto Rico to tie the
set at 24-24, but Puerto Rico would end the drama with two quick
points to win the set 26-24.
A number of unforced errors on the Mexican side game Puerto Rico
an early 8-3 lead at the first time out. Not much improved on the
Mexican side as Puerto Rico continued to score at will moving
ahead 14-3. The early lead was just too much for Mexico to recover
from as they dropped the third set and the match to Puerto Rico
25-10.
Post Match Quotes:
Team Puerto Rico
Aurea Cruz- Captain
“We came out today to finish the tournament strong. We knew that
we were playing a much younger Mexican team but we knew that we
would still have to come out focused and play a strong match. Now
we will go home a prepare mentally for the qualifier in December.”
Juan Nunez- Head Coach
“I had to work very hard mentally with my players today since we
were not going for a medal today. We knew that the team we were
going to face was a young team, and that it can be difficult with
this type of team as often the young players have more desire to
play then the veteran players. We had to work very hard mentally
even know it was a young team. We will go home, rest for two days
and then enter our final stage of preparation for the Olympic
qualification tournament. We look forward to have all our best
players for this event and the chance to qualify for the
Olympics.”
Team Mexico
Migdalel Ruiz – Captain
“Puerto Rico has a very good serve and power block and we were not
able to control the serve. As soon as we return to Mexico we will
continue to train so that we are better prepared for the Olympic
qualifier in Mexico in December.”
Macario Gonzalez - Head Coach
“Today’s match it was noticeable the lack of physical preparation
of are team. We were able to fight it out in the second set
because the girls put fourth an extraordinary effort. However, the
third set they were tired. We must learn from this lesson,
everyone, the players, coaches and authorities. Either we prepare
ourselves the way we need to or we will continue to play this way.
Puerto Rico is an excellent team. They managed the attack zone
well. We did not have the tactical discipline to attack from the
back row and serve strong. I would have liked to have the match go
longer so my team could learn more from the experience.”
