TTO girls are serious threat to Cuba in NORCECA Pool Q

HAVANA, Cuba, May 12, 2014 – The athletic and tall girls from Trinidad and Tobago look like the major obstacle for the favorite host Cuba as the FIVB Women’s World Championship Qualification Tournament NORCECA Pool Q gets underway at Ciudad Deportiva Coliseum in Havana on Wednesday.

The home team is one of five NORCECA teams with direct tickets to the final round because of their high position in the continental ranking. The Cubans are currently in third place behind United States and Dominican Republic and ahead of Puerto Rico and Canada.

Curacao and Haiti, ranked 26th and 27th, respectively, complete the four-team field that will compete under a round-robin format in the preliminary round. The teams ranked first and second then will play for the top place and the ticket to the Italy.

The Trinidadians, eighth in NORCECA, have experienced a steady progress during the last few years and currently are considered the strongest team in the Caribbean are.

In 2012 they won their first round Pool A with victories over Bahamas, Guadeloupe and hosts Suriname with the captain Krystle Esdelle voted as the Most Valuable Player and Best Spiker.

Playing at home in 2013 at the second round of tournaments, the Trinidadians brushed aside teams from Barbados, Honduras and Anguilla in Pool I with their emerging star Channon Thompson named Best Scorer, Best Spiker, Best Server to go along with the MVP honors.

In spite of that, Cuba’s coach Juan Carlos Gala is confident about clearing the hurdle they represent with a young squad he has been preparing since last year in anticipation to this competition.

“They have improved from one year ago to where we are now, especially in the technical, tactical and psychological aspects,” Gala stated.

Based on their experience in previous international events, Gala is expected to go with a lineup consisting of middle blockers Rosanna Giel (captain) and Alena Rojas, outside hitters Jennifer Alvarez and Sulian Matienzo, setter Yamila Hernandez, libero Emily Borrell and the 14 year-old sensation Melissa Vargas as opposite.

“It is going to be a demanding competition, especially because some of the Trinidad and Tobago players have had the experience of playing in the European Leagues of Russia, France and Poland,” Gala said. “But I am confident about our chances of getting the ticket.”

Last year Curacao won the Pool J with an undefeated record playing host to St Lucia, Antigua and Belize with the U.S. based Christine Anthony claiming the awards as Best Scorer and Best Spiker along with the MVP title. One year earlier they finished second to U.S. Virgin Islands in the Pool C event held in St Croix.

Haiti finished third in Pool C and improved to a second place behind Panama in Pool N the following year.

May 14

15:00    Haiti v Trinidad and Tobago

17:00    Cuba v Curacao

May 15

15:00    Trinidad and Tobago v Curacao

17:00    Cuba v Haiti

May 16

15:00    Curacao v Haiti

17:00    Cuba v Trinidad and Tobago

May 17

15:00    Third Place v Fourth Place

17:00    First Place v Second Place