MANAGUA, Nicaragua.- Costa Rica November 29, 2004,-, as expected, won the gold medal in the XIII Central America Cup but the big winner of the event has to be Guatemala, who came to the competition without great pretensions.

However, at the end of the five-country competition, the “Chapinas” came out with the silver medal and a historic triumph over Nicaragua in the latter’s soil.

“Beating Nicaragua in their own country was very tough,” admitted David Aldana, the head coach of the Guatemalans. “In the senior level it is the very first time we accomplish that goal playing here.”

With a younger and smaller team than the Nicaraguans, they achieved the victory in five sets. “The truth said, is that I am very satisfied with the job done by our girls in the whole tournament,” Saldana added. “I really think that with better support from our sports authorities and more exposure we even can aim for the Central America supremacy.”

The only international competition for Guatemala this year was the Pan American Cup in Mexicali and Tecate, Mexico last June. And  looks like they benefited from it.

“We did not have any preparation matches before this event,” said Aldana, “but the girls played great against a bigger team like Nicaragua and then presented a real battle against Costa Rica in the match for the gold.”

In the final match won by Costa Rica 25-23, 25-16, 25-23, Guatemala made things complicated for the eventual champions relying on intelligent tactics, rapid change of paces to avoid the block and defensive ability.

It is the seventh time that Guatemala finishes second in the Central America Women’s Cup and the first since the 1999 edition. They ended in fifth place in 2000 and did not take part in 2002.

In the individual angle, Guatemalan Diana Arias was elected as the best receiver of the tournament. She joined MV Verania Willis, Ingrid Morales and Silvia Marin from Costa Rica and Mireyines Tellez and Heidy Trana of Nicaragua in the All-Star Team.

The final positions of the Central America Women’s Cup were: 1. Costa Rica, 2. Guatemala, 3. Nicaragua, 4. Honduras, 5. El Salvador.