Tag: 2022 Afecavol Men's U21

MANAGUA, Nicaragua, October 24, 2022.- José Pablo Pérez, opposite of Guatemala was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the XIX AFECAVOL Men’s U21 Central American Championship, helping his team win the gold medal, the last time was in 2015.

Pérez was the leading scorer of his team with 103 points, 83 on kills, 7 blocks and 13 “aces”. His best match was scoring 26 points against Nicaragua, one of the most challenging matches of the tournament.

Pérez also won the honors of Best Server and Best Opposite; the best receiver was El Salvador’s libero Fernando Navarro, who also was recognized as Best Libero. The Best first blocker was Hakan Godoy of Belize and the Second-Best Blocker, Kevin Acost of Panama.

The First Best spiker was handed to Emanuel Pérez of Panama, and Gabriel Vargas of El Salvador the Second-Best spiker.

The Best defense was Nicaraguan libero Axel Gutierrez, Best setter Adolfo Rivas of Guatemala. The Best scorer Dowshel Smith, of Costa Rica with 126 points.

Tournament Page

Pérez: “It’s an award for the team”

José Pablo Pérez said that the individual awards are the result of playing as a team. “We see ourselves like a family, not only as a team. Without them I wouldn’t achieve anything. I am glad, I was expecting one individual award, but not three, I’ve worked really hard, and this is result of that work”.

“More than a team we are a family, we are brothers and that’s the key for success, team union”.

MANAGUA, Nicaragua, October 24, 2022.- Guatemala was crowned undefeated champion at the XIX AFECAVOL Men’s U21 Central American Championship, while Nicaragua finished second place and Panama in third.

On Monday, the last day of the event, Nicaragua beat Belize 3-0 (25-15, 25-17, 25-12) to finish second place. With five victories and one loss, Nicaragua was overcome by Guatemala who won the gold medal and Panama finished with bronze. In the past tournament in 2019, Nicaragua was gold, Panama silver and El Salvador bronze.

Evans Solís was the best scorer of Nicaragua with 16 points, while Víctor Cruz and Angelo Guadamuz with 6 points each. For Belize, Preston Smith with 9 and Eleazar Mejía with 8 points as well as Hakan Godoy.

Also on the last day of competition, Panama defeated Honduras 3-0 (25-22, 25-15, 25-09) to secure the bronze medal. Emanuel Pérez was the best player for Panama with 12 points, while Víctor Pérez and Víctor Aráuz scored 8 points each. For Honduras, Jonathan Meza and Alejandro Lobo finished with 10 points each.

Tournament Page

Panama was better 31-28 in attacks, 9-1 in blocks and 9-7 in serves, committing 13 errors against 28 from their opponents.  

While beat El Salvador 3-0 (27-25, 25-21, 25-22) to finish with three wins and three losses.

El Salvador committed 27 errors that cost them the loss because Costa Rica only committed a total of 12, with advantage of 44-41 in kills and 5-2 in serves; both scored 7 in blocks.

Dowshel Smith scored 23 points and Johan Cerdas 12 for Costa Rica, while Gabriel Vargas scored 22 and Abner Cano 12 for El Salvador.

Final Positions

1.- GUA; 2.- NCA; 3.- PAN; 4.- CRC; 5.- ESA; 6.- BIZ; 7.-HON

MANAGUA, Nicaragua, October 24, 2022.- Nicaragua beat Belize 3-0 (25-15, 25-17, 25-12) to finish second place at the XIX AFECAVOL Men’s U21 Central American Championship.

With five victories and one loss, Nicaragua was overcome by Guatemala who won the gold medal and Panama finished with bronze. In the past tournament in 2019, Nicaragua was gold, Panama silver and El Salvador bronze.

Evans Solís was the best scorer of Nicaragua with 16 points, while Víctor Cruz and Angelo Guadamuz with 6 points each. For Belize, Preston Smith with 9 and Eleazar Mejía with 8 points as well as Hakan Godoy.

Nicaragua did better in attacks 31-24, both teams scored one point from serves, and Beliz did better in blocks 9-1, four from Godoy, Belize committing 37 errors, against 20 of their opponents.

Tournament Page

Jorge Mena, coach of Nicaragua: “We accomplished our goal of reaching the podium with a generation who hasn’t won a medal. They wanted to be champions, the boys worked really hard, we failed against Guatemala, but then they recovered and focused in crucial matches like Costa Rica. We are second place, which isn’t bad, we are giving this victory to Nicaragua, we are satisfied and happy”.

MANAGUA, Nicaragua, October 24, 2022.- Panama defeated Honduras 3-0 (25-22, 25-15, 25-09) to win at least the bronze medal at the XIX AFECAVOL Men’s U21 Central American Championship.

With four victories and two losses, Panama will wait for the result between Nicaragua and Belize, if Nicaragua wins, they finish with the silver medal and the Panamanians with bronze, a loss from the host would grant the silver medal to Panama.

In the last tournament in 2019, Panama finished with the silver medal behind Nicaragua; their last gold medal was in 2001.

Emanuel Pérez was the best player for Panama with 12 points, while Víctor Pérez and Víctor Aráuz scored 8 points each. For Honduras, Jonathan Meza and Alejandro Lobo finished with 10 points each.

Panama was better 31-28 in attacks, 9-1 in blocks and 9-7 in serves, committing 13 errors against 28 from their opponents.  

Tournament Page

David de León, captain of Panama: “We are super satisfied with our performance, thank God for all the blessings, for allowing us to win and reach the podium after so many years of struggles and the sacrifices. We were united up to the end, despite the difficulties, like transportation, but we left all in Gods’ hands, we are thankful for the victory and for Panama. Not everyone knows the sacrifices and they only criticize, but we try not to pay attention, we are here, and we played for a good result”.

Jonathan Caballero, coach of Panama: “I am excited, I have no words, I am proud of the guys, they are warriors, they came to battle for a medal, without saying the color, we wanted to be medalists with young players that are the future, we hope to work to put Panamanian volleyball in high again. The guys told me, we want to take home a medal for our country and work as a team and in the past two days they did a great team effort”.

Photo Gallery

MANAGUA, Nicaragua, 24 de octubre 2022.- Costa Rica beat El Salvador 3-0 (27-25, 25-21, 25-22) to finish with three wins and three losses at the XIX AFECAVOL Men’s U21 Central American Championship.  

El Salvador committed 27 errors that cost them the loss because Costa Rica only committed a total of 12, with advantage of 44-41 in kills and 5-2 in serves; both scored 7 in blocks.

Dowshel Smith scored 23 points and Johan Cerdas 12 for Costa Rica, while Gabriel Vargas scored 22 and Abner Cano 12 for El Salvador.

Costa Rica finished with 19 points in three victories and three losses and will have to wait for the result between Panama and Honduras to decide the bronze medal. El Salvador ended with a record of 2-4 for fifth position.

Tournament Page

Alberto Blanco, coach of Costa Rica: “We were playing at a strong level, but we had a rare set back against Panama, but I believe the teams’ position goes in relation to their work; Guatemala and Nicaragua are working well, Panama and we are going one step at a time. We’ve had difficulties in putting together a national team for the past years because our players are studying abroad, they’ve been playing in other countries and it’s hard to have a good team”.

Alexander Polanco, coach of El Salvador: “This has been a bitter experience, we didn’t have a setter to manage the players, but he’s young, he only has one tournament, and it wasn’t too demanding. In general, the team could’ve given more, we lost close matches and that discouraged the group and they fell, not because they are capable. The team is young, and we are satisfied with their projection”.

Photo Gallery

MANAGUA, Nicaragua, October 23, 2022.- Nicaragua earned a 3-0 (25-20, 25-22, 25-19) victory over Honduras to stand with four wins and one loss, securing the bronze medal at the XIX AFECAVOL Men’s U21 Central American Championship.

Nicaragua dominated 41-26 in attacks and 3-2 in serves but was outblocked 7-6 and Honduras committed more errors 24-19.

Evans Solís was the best attacker for Nicaragua with 16 points, while Víctor Cruz finished with 10. Alejandro Lobo of Honduras scored 13 tallies and Jonathan Meza 9.

Tournament Page

Rafael Hernández, captain of Nicaragua: “Tomorrow we’ll come out to change the color of the medal, at the beginning we played at Honduras rhythm, committing some errors, but then we recovered and got the result. Tomorrow we’ll come strong, trying to keep our rhythm and look for the victory”.

Victor Cruz, outside hitter of Nicaragua: “We secured the bronze medal, thanks to God and tomorrow we’ll play with everything for the silver medal. Personally, I have given a lot and as a team we’ve performed well, and I hope to continue like that. Thanking God, we haven’t been injured”.

On Monday, Honduras and Panamá play at 4:00 p.m. and Nicaragua faces Belize at 6:00 p.m.

Photo Gallery

MANAGUA, Nicaragua, October 23, 2022.- Guatemala left no doubts, and despite falling in the first set, they recovered for a 3-1 (20-25, 25-20, 25-19, 25-18) victory against El Salvador to win the XIX AFECAVOL Men’s U21 Central American Championship undefeated.

With six wins and no losses, Guatemala won their eighth Central American title; their previews one was in 2015, stopping Nicaragua’s winning streak of two title in a row in 2017 and 2019.

Team captain Javier Lucero topped Guatemala with 20 points, including four blocks, José Pablo Pérez added 17 and Francisco Gamboa 11. For El Salvador, Gabriel Vargas scored 12 points.

Guatemala was better in attacks 43-26, in blocks 11-8 and in serves 6-5, committing 43 errors against 35 from El Salvador.

Tournament Page

Javier Lucero, captain of Guatemala: “We reached our goal, which we set since day one; we thank God for making this possible. Today we were a bit confident, but we stopped El Salvador. Personally, it’s a great achievement, even more because it’s undefeated and it motivates me to keep on fighting”.

Germán Ramos, libero of Guatemala: “We feel highly motivated, we’ve been preparing since the under 23 y we feel comfortable as a team, we are united, and we are doing well as a team. At the beginning it took time to adjust, after that we’ve performed well, I think we gave a good spectacle and wining each game”.

On Monday, El Salvador plays Costa Rica at 2:00 p.m., while Guatemala has finished the event.

Photo Gallery

MANAGUA, Nicaragua, October 22, 2022.- Nicaragua won epic five-set battle (27-25, 22-25, 32-30, 17-25, 15-10) to Costa Rica in the closing match of day four at the XIX AFECAVOL Men’s U21 Central American Championship.

Neither one wanted to give in because the winners would be closer to a medal and Evans Solis, Denis Espinoza and setter Cristhoper Castillo carried Nicaragua to victory.

Nicaragua won the first set 27-25, delayed for over an hour due to weather conditions. Costa Rica was tougher in the second set, jumping to a five-set lead at mid-set.

The third set was a roller coaster, with set points for both sides, until Nicaragua’s serves helped finishing with the advantage. In the fourth, Costa Rica improved in blocking and spiking were unstoppable, mostly team captain Dowshel Smith.

Nicaragua’s 3 point lead reaching the first technical time-out (8-5) helped them close the fifth set and earning their first victory against one loss.

Nicaraguan Evans Solis scored 33 points, while Denis Espinoza contributed with 29, with Castillo coming off the bench moving pieces for his team. For Costa Rica, Dowshel Smith ended with 26 and  Jenher Denis 13 as well as Johan Cerdas.

Nicaragua was better in attacks 70-55, in serves 10-2, while Costa Rica was superior in blocking 14-5; Nicaragua committed 28 errors, against 44 from their opponents.

Cristhoper Castillo, setter of Nicaragua: “I am excited, I came off the bench, did mi job, I contributed with blocks and mostly I followed my coaches’ insctructions. The game was difficult, but we won; I am in the junio team and Costa Rica beat us 3-0 and now we are even”.

Jorge Mena, coach of Nicaragua: “I always say that the winner is that who’s strategy is best, not the one who strikes harder. We made a change in the fifth set which Costa Rica missed, and it worked well. You can also win with the bench, Denis Espinoza was outstanding during todays’ practice, and I decided to put him as a starter, also the change in setter helped us well”.

On Sunday, Costa Rica faces Panama at 4:00 p.m. and Nicaragua plays Honduras at 6:00 p.m.

Photo Gallery

MANAGUA, Nicaragua, October 22, 2022.- Guatemala continues undefeated in five outings and is one step away to the title after defeating Panama 3-0 (25-19, 25-22, 25-12) at the XIX AFECAVOL Men’s U21 Central American Championship.

Guatemala remained calm despite Panama´s pressure in the second set and reaching an even 19 and with effective blocks by the middle to win the set in route to victory.

Guatemala’s leading scorer was José Pablo Pérez with 16 points, Francisco Gamboa and Javier Lucero ended with 10 each. David de León was the best scorer for Panama with 12 points and Emanuel Pérez with 11.

Guatemala was better in attacks 38-29, in serves 6-1 and both scored 5 points on blocks; but Panama committed 26 errors against 18 from their opponents.  

Tournament Page

Adolfo Ariel Rivas, setter of Guatemala: “I am happy for the win, we just need to do well tomorrow to be the champions. Today we played well, I trust my team and things went well. Defending is really important for me to do my job, it’s a team effort, because the attack needs the rest, and we have all been doing a good job”.

Reider Lucas, coach of Guatemala: “We haven’t reached our goal, we are still in the competition, nothing is decided, we have our last game tomorrow against El Salvador. Our goal was to battle one match at a time and that’s what we’ve doing. The boys have been able to win, which is important, despite losing focus on occasions and their energy”.

On Sunday, Guatemala meets El Salvador at 2:00 p.m and Panamá plays Costa Rica at 4:00 p.m.

Photo Gallery