Argentina advance to fifth Gold Medal Match in a row

COLIMA, Mexico, June 20, 2019.- Defending champion Argentina advanced to their fifth gold medal match in a row while defeating host Mexico 3-1 (25-17, 25-12, 25-27) aiming for a hat trick at the fourteenth Men’s Pan American Cup in Colima, Mexico.

This is Argentina’s seventh overall title match and a rematch of the 2016 edition where Cuba won in stunning five-set comeback. These two also met in this current edition during preliminary round with Cuba also subduing the defending champion in five sets.

Argentina downed Mexico with impressive 68-38 advantage in kills and a slim 3-2 margin in aces; but Mexico led in blocks 12-7. Argentina committed 26 unforced errors and Mexico a total of 22.

Four Argentinean players finished with double-figures, captain Nicolas Bruno, outside hitter Nicolas Lazo and opposite German Johansen scored 18 points apiece, while middle blocker Joaquin Gallego contributed with 11 points. Opposite Alexis Garay, came off the bench in set two to score 15 points as Mexico’s leading scorer.

Comments:

Nicolás Lazo, captain Argentina: “In the third and second set I was angry because I felt things weren’t turning out well, which depended from us; added to the fact that we are tired of so many matches. Today we received well, we dominated every skill in the second, but then we had difficulties serving and our legs came didn’t respond. We are confident of facing Cuba tomorrow, we hope to recover physically and mentally”.

Fabián Muraco, coach Argentina: “There’s a saying: don’t feed the lion which describes what happened in the third, we were overconfident of winning the second. You mustn´t relax against a team like Mexico with several experienced players and boys coming off the bench that want to win their spot. Tactically speaking our performance was perfect, we knew where they were going to play, what kind of attacks and where the setter would go, so our defense-blocking  came easy than counterattacking”

Alexis Garay, top scorer Mexico: “Giving me the opportunity today to play, I proved that I can do things well. After some changes by our coach, Mexico came out with all its energy to battle strong”.