Women’s Pan Am Cup begin today in Puerto Rico 

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, June 29, 2006.- The Fifth Women’s Pan American Cup starts today in the capital of Puerto Rico and eight of the twelve teams participating are already qualified for the next World Championships in Japan.

“That says a lot about the high level of this competition where twelve squads are beginning the battle to qualify for the 2007 World Grand Prix, but also shaping up their teams for the Worlds in Japan,” said Mr. Cristobal Marte, president of NORCECA during his welcome words to the participants of the General Technical Meeting prior to the event.

“What we are having in Puerto Rico is like a preview of the Teams from the Americas in route to the World Championships,” said Marte. “So, all the people in love with our sport have the chance to watch the action here before it takes place in Japan next November.”

“Never, during the past four editions, we had such quality players and teams,” said Marte. “It guarantees a spectacular show of volleyball for the next ten days and the fans of Puerto Rico deserve it.”

Brazil, USA, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Costa Rica and Peru are the teams from the Americas qualified for the tournament in Japan. The other contenders here are Canada, Venezuela, Argentina and Barbados.

Brazil, USA and Cuba are considered as the three strongest teams with the Dominican Republic as a strong competitor but still a notch below the above mentioned.

Puerto Rico, as the host team, leads the rest of the pack, followed by Peru, Canada and Mexico, who have a blend of young and veteran players. Venezuela and Argentina are on a rebuilding process and Costa Rica and Barbados are in the early stages of this level of competition.

Brazil, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Canada, Mexico and Costa Rica will play in Pool A. Pool B consists of USA, Cuba, Argentina, Peru, Venezuela and Barbados.

The winner of each pool automatically advances to the semi finals and the teams placed in second and third will meet in crossed matches in the quarter finals round.