Americans breeze past opponents in day one in Carolina

CAROLINA, Puerto Rico – April 12, 2014 - The opening day of the Final Round of the NORCECA Boys’ Olympic Qualifier to the 2014 Nanjing Youth Olympic Games has completed the eight teams for the elimination round that kicks off on Sunday morning.

The favorites United States pair of Louis Richard and Torey DeFalco breezed through their two matches. They began with a 21-10, 21-9 win over Bahamas’ Gage Smith and Rajahl Moxey and continued with a 21-7, 21-7 triumph off Andre Marquis and Jerrelle Pierre of St Lucia.

The pools round went without surprises for host team of Puerto Ricans Sergio Figueroa and Daniel Rivera who defeated United States Virgin Islands’ Carlos Rosa and Ajai Sweeny (21-10, 21-12) and then crushing El Salvador’s pair of Cristian Vargas and Carlos Rodríguez with scores of 21-8, 21-2 to claim first place in Pool A.

Mexico and Nicaragua showed a sizzling battle on the last match of Pool B, with the Nicaraguans Denis Lopez and Luis Lopez prevailing in consecutive sets.

After winning an even first set 21-17 and trailing 13-17, the Nicaraguans managed a comeback to dominate take the second one 21-18 over Mexicans Luis Romero and Jesus Rodriguez. In their first match of Saturday they won 21-8, 21-8 against Barbados’ Andriy Stapleton and Akeem Mayers.

The top place in Pool D went to Costa Rica’s Alejandro González and Sebastian Valenciano who won both their matches. They first downed Trinidad & Tobago’s Kareem Thomas and Marlon Phillips 21-13, 21-16 and then took a 21-8, 21-9 over Dominica’s Arden Elmes and Yahn Florent

The quarter finals will feature a continental classic with the match with Puerto Rico against Mexico. The other matches will see Costa Rica v Bahamas, Nicaragua v El Salvador and United States v Trinidad & Tobago. 

Results of Saturday: Pool A: PUR d ISV 2-0 (21-7, 21-5), ESA d. ISV 2-0 (21-12, 21-10), PUR d ESA (21-8, 21-2)) Pool B: MEX d. BAR 2-0 (21-10,21-12), NCA-BAR 2-0  (21-8, 21-8), NCA d. MEX 2-0 (21-17, 21-18) Pool C: USA d BAH 2-0 (21-10, 21-9), BAH d LCA 2-0 (21-10, 21-12), USA d LCA 2-0 (21-7, 21-7) Pool D: TTO d DMA 2-0 (22-20, 21-8), CRC d TTO 2-0 (21-13, 21-16), CRC d DMA 2-0 (21-8, 21-9).

Standings: Pool A: PUR 2-0, ESA 1-1, ISV 0-2. Pool B: NCA 2-0, MEX 1-1, BAR 0-2. Pool C: USA 2-0, BAH 1-1, LCA 0-2. Pool D: CRC 2-0, TTO 1-1, DMA 0-2

Quarter Finals: PUR v MEX (Match 1), CRC v BAH (Match 2), NCA v ESA (Match 3) and USA TTO (Match 4). Semifinals: Winner Match 1 v Winner Match 2, Winner Match 3 v Winner Match 4.