TRINIDAD and Tobago defeated Mexico for only the second time when the Women’s Pan American Volleyball Cup continued on Saturday in Peru.
Two years after upset the Central Americans for the first time in this very tournament two years ago in Mexico, the five-time Caribbean champions were even more impressive on this occasion at they did not lose a set.
The 25-17, 25-22, 26-24 triumph put T&T in position to finish ninth in the 12-nation tournament. However the girls needed to defeat Colombia when the tournament concluded yesterday to finish in single digits.
Colombia began their quest for ninth place by coming from two sets to one down to deny Costa Rica 35-33, 15-25, 20-25, 25-22, 15-6.
The Costa Ricans avoided the cellar place yesterday afternoon when they defeated the Mexicans 27-25, 23-25, 25-22, 25-21.
T&T, losers of their three group matches in straight sets in the round-robin phase of the competition, had four players scoring in double figures in their 74-minute contest against Mexico.
Channon Thompson, the Most Valuable Player when this country won the gold medal a few weeks ago to advance to the penultimate round of NORCECA (North, Central America and the Caribbean) qualifying for next year’s World Championships in Italy, led the way with 21 points.
The other two Poland-based players, skipper Krystle Esdelle (18) and Sinead Jack (ten) also contributed significantly to the attack, as did Finland-based former national skipper Darlene Ramdin (12).
Samantha Bricio top-scored for Mexico with 18 points.
Defending champs United States cruised into last night’s gold-medal match with a 25-11, 25-20, 25-22 victory over fellow two-time champs Brazil. And Dominican Republic, another two-time winner of this title, trounced Argentina 25-18, 25-18, 25-11 in the other semi-final.
The playoff for fifth through eighth began with four-time champs Cuba coming from behind to halt hosts Peru 18-25, 25-16, 25-15, 25-16 and Puerto Rico defeating Canada 27-25, 18-25, 25-17, 25-19.