SANTIAGO, Dominican Republic, August 24, 2005.- The teams of Cuba and Dominican Republic are considered a lock to reach the final round of the 2006 FIVB Women’s World Championships. So in the competition that starts tonight, three teams will be battling for the one spot available.

Here is what the coaches said during the press conference after the technical meeting:

Ornel Findlay, coach of Jamaica: “We know that Cuba and Dominican Republic are teams of world level, but anyway we come here with the goal of reaching Japan along with them. We are ready for the battle against all the rivals looking for that place in the Worlds.”

Luis Felipe Calderon, coach of Cuba: “We have had a tough year with an intense preparation to arrive here looking for the ticket to the Worlds. In the sport there are no small enemies, and even we are given as favourites, we always go to the court willing to show it. We have our complete squad well prepared to make the jump to Japan. If I have to mention two key players, I would say they are Yumilka Ruiz and Zoila Barros.”

David Aldana, coach of Guatemala: “Thanks to the new qualification format within Norceca, we are here and hope to keep advancing. I think this situation will take our volleyball to make the quality jump and we are winning just being here. But anyway, we are ready to take the ticket.”

Braulio Godinez, coach of  Costa Rica: “We know that Cuba and Dominican Republic are teams of world class and is little what we can do to beat them, so we are prepared to give our biggest effort against Guatemala and Jamaica. We have our team prepared to go and look for that third ticket.”

Ismael Ortega, coach of Dominican Republic: “It has been a tough year for Dominican Republic, but we have grown so much that for the first time we have selected two teams for simultaneous competitions and that speaks about our improvement. It has been hard to make two teams, above all, approaching a world qualifier, but we are prepared to win one of the tickets with a compact and very healthy squad.”