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TEPIC, Nayarit, Mexico, July 12, 2022.- Puerto
Rico won another five-set match in their second
victory at the Men’s NORCECA Final Six Pan Am
Cup, defeating Dominican Republic 3-2 (25-20,
25-22, 32-34, 22-25, 15-12) at the Amado Nervo
Auditorium of Tepic, Nayarit.
Puerto Rico also beat Mexico in five sets on
Monday to stand with a 2-0 record and Dominican
Republic drops to 0-2.
Dominican Republic had a remarkable recovery
coming from a two-set deficit and snatching the
third set in an extended 34-32 while Puerto Rico
lost 8 match points to close in three sets.
Puerto Rico held a 72-68 advantage in attacks
and a slim 13-12 margin in blocks, Dominicans
did better in the service line with a 6-4
advantage. Dominican Republic committed one less
unforced error than Puerto Rico (24-25).
Four players from each team scored
double-digits. Puerto Rico with outside hitters
Klistan Vidal (25), Pedro Molina (24), Peligrin
Vargas (18) and middle blocker Angel Rivera
(12). On Dominican Republic’s side, outside
hitter Henry López (20), opposite hitter Henry
Tapia (18), outside hitter Hector Cruz (12) and
middle blocker Felix Romero (10) who led in
blocks with 6 points.
On day three of the event, Puerto Rico faces the
United States and the Dominican Republic goes up
against Mexico.
Pedro Molina, Outside hitter of Puerto Rico:
“It was a difficult match, we always have great
performance against the Dominican Republic, they
are an excellent team. We have improved, we have
grown to reach today’s victory. We have all
worked a lot and we are prepared for tomorrow’s
match, after two matches in five sets it’s
important for us to recover physically”.
Henry Tapia, Captain of Dominican Republic:
“This match was more open, one on one, in
comparison from yesterday that we had a lower
performance. Sometimes it’s not the level of
play but the floor, the light, several factors
influence one's performance to execute and
score. Tomorrow we are forced to win”.
Oswald Antonetti, Head Coach of Puerto Rico:
“We are coming with a project that is relatively
new, there are several players debuting in this
tournament. We are glad and cautious about the
next matches, but happy to work. Dominican
Republic is an organized team, and they changed
their game plan, it’s part of the strategy of
the game; we came out with the victory and it’s
important to prepare for tomorrow”.
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