Panama wins the Silver Medal at AFECAVOL U21

 

SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador, October 6, 2019.- Panama beat Guatemala in five dramatic sets 3-2 (25-23, 25-21, 18-25, 18-25, 15-13) winning the silver medal at the AFECAVOL U21 Men’s Central American Championship in FESAVOL Gymnasium of San Salvador, El Salvador.

 

Panama put an end of an eighteen year drought of not reaching the AFECAVOL U21 podium; the last time they won a medal was during the ninth edition in 2001 when they crowned champions here in El Salvador.

 

Panama held a 65-63 advantage in attacks, 11-6 in blocks and 5-3 in aces. Guatemala committed fewer errors (22-33).

 

Panama’s Denzel Arboine scored 28 points including 26 kills and one ace, Jose Daniel Vasquez contributed with 20 points including 17 kills and 2 aces, joined by Joseph Melendez with 11 points. Jose Rodrigo Carrillo of Guatemala topped all hitter with 29 points on 26 kills, 2 blocks and one ace; David Ismalej and Kevin Hoil tallied 16 and 13 points respectively.

 

Christian Flores, setter of Panama: “We were prepared for a tough duel; we had the necessary attitude in the first two sets, a strong mental state. We slowed down our rhythm because we were over confident, we started to discuss a little but we communicated back again in the last set. We are really glad to put Panama back on the podium; we are recovering our history proving that Panama has a good level to be champion”.