Mexicans won the gold in both genders in Guatemala

 

GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala, April 20, 2008.- Mexico swept the gold medals in the Guatemala’s leg of the 2008 NORCECA Beach Volleyball circuit on Sunday with victories for Juan Virgen-Aldo Miramontes in the men’s division and Bibi Candelas-Mayra Garcia in the women’s side.

 

Virgen and Miramontes won with a come-from-behind victory over the Cuban tandem of Yoendry Kindelan-Leonel Munder. Virgen-Miramontes recovered from losing a close first set and took the victory 21-23, 21-17, 15-11.

 

Candelas-Garcia erased a two-point deficit in the first set at 19-17 and went on to win 21-19, 21-16 over Cubans Ion Canet-Nirian Sinal, winners of the first leg in Dominican Republic.

 

Thousands of fans packed the stands at Campo de Marte to watch the exciting action of the closing day.

 

Puerto Ricans Orlando Irrizarry-Roberto Rodriguez took the bronze medal of the men’s competition with a 21-16, 21-14 victory over the couple of Nicaragua formed by Winston Calderon-Francisco Castro.

 

Sheila Lopez-Maritere Ramos, also from Puerto Rico, won the women’s bronze medal with an electrifying triumph over Diana Estrada-Rosario Reyes of Mexico (2) by score of 22-20, 23-21.

 

“It was a very complicated game as we expected due to the level of the Cubans,” said Miramontes. “We left the pressure at home and enjoyed the match. It is a great feeling to win in our first participation in the NORCECA Circuit.”

 

Earlier in the day, Virgen-Miramontes defeated Irrizarry-Rodríguez, 21-18, 21-13 in the semi final round. The Cubans entered the final match by defeating Calderon-Castro, 21-11, 21-12.

 

“Things were not good for us at the beginning and we lost to the Cubans, but we made the adjustements and improved our game,” said Garcia. “Now we have to concentrate in obtain the Olympic Qualification and our next competition will be the Shanghai Tournament.”

 

On Sunday, Candelas-Garcia beat Blanca Recinos-Susana Alvarado of Guatemala (2) in quarterfinals by score of 21-5, 21-11. In semi finals, the Mexicans won by score of 21-12, 15-21, 15-10 over Estrada-Reyes. Canet-Sinal defeated Lopez-Ramos 21-14, 21-12 in semi finals.

 

Men’s results of Sunday:

Semi finals: CUB d. NIC 21-11, 21-12; MEX d. PUR 21-18, 21-13. Bronze medal: PUR d. NCA 21-16, 21-14; Gold medal: MEX d. CUB 21-23, 21-17, 15-11.

 

Women’s results of Sunday:

Quarterfinals: PUR d. GUA (1) 21-18, 21-19; MEX (1) d. GUA (2) 21-5, 21-11. Semi finals: CUB d. PUR 21, 14, 21-12; MEX (1) d. MEX (2) 21-12, 15-21, 15-10. Bronze medal: PUR d. MEX (2) 22-20, 23-21. Gold medal: MEX d. CUB 21-19, 21-16.

 

Men’s Final Ranking: 1. MEX; 2. CUB; 3. PUR; 4. NCA; 5. DOM; 6. USA; 7. GUA (2); 8. CRC (1); 9. ESA; 10. CRC (2); 11. GUA; 13. SKN; 14. ARU; 15. HON; 16. TTO.

 

Women’s Final Ranking: 1. MEX; 2. CUB; 3. PUR; 4. MEX (2); 5. GUA (1); 6. GUA (2); 7. CAN; 8. USA; 9. GUA (3); 10. NCA; 11. CRC; 12. ESA (2); 13. ESA (1); 14. SKN; 15. TTO.