Trinidad and Tobago men hold off Jamaica to win first game at the 18^th Senior Caribbean Championship

PARAMARIBO. Suriname, July 23, 2023.- Trinidad and Tobago men’s team hold off Jamaica to win the opener of the 18th Senior Caribbean Championship by beating Jamaica 3-1(25-17, 25-23, 23-25, 28-26) in group B at the Anthony Nesty Sport Hall in Paramaribo.

The Soca Boys had an advantage of an early 5-0 in the first set. Trinidad and Tobago moved into the next set with overwhelming superiority against Jamaica in their Pool B opening match.

Trinidad and Tobago held a huge 50 to 19 advantages in points from attacks as well as a 9-4 margin in points from serves. Jamaica scored 4 points from blocks against one from Trinidad and Tobago. Both teams committed similar unforced errors, Jamaica a total of 27 and Trinidad and Tobago 10.

Outside hitters Daynte Stewart and opponent Joel Theodore led Trinidad and Tobago with 16 and 13 points respectively. Middle blocker Akim Bushe contributed with 12 points including 2 aces. Opposite hitter Ryck Webb topped Jamaica with 19 points.

Trinidad and Tobago will meet Bahamas on Tuesday and Jamaica against Curaçao.

Akim Bushe, captain of Trinidad and Tobago: “We came to this game with a gameplan and stick to it. Especially in the fourth set. Just winning one point at a time and keeping the momentum. In the third set Jamaica smell that we lost our momentum and they pressed on. We have now a lot of games to go before we can play Suriname again. But for now, is doing our best.”      

Gideon Dickson, Head Coach of Trinidad and Tobago: “First of all is that I want to thank the organization for hosting this tournament. This is the return of volleyball to the whole Caribbean and we thank all those persons who work behind the scene. We have done some transition. This group of young guys we try to prepare for the coming four years. Today the game was an equally matched game. Trinidad will take one game at a time and my expectation is only to win. This win is very important, because we can evaluate where we fell short.”

Delford Morgan, captain of Jamaica: “I think we were hesitating in our passing. We fought in the entire match and that is encouraging that we will be able to find something in it. That what we saw we can do much better. The sky is the limit and we want to reach it.”

Gatasheu Bonner, Head Coach of Jamaica: “We started slow and our passing game was very terrible. Our hitting game was not there in the first two sets. In the fourth set we allowed Trinidad to came back. Eight of our eleven players are first timers and is they haven’t experience this level of playing. But it is a matter of time.”