SAN SEBASTIÁN, Puerto Rico, November 7, 2024.- In a match with the intensity of a final series, the champions and runners-up of the Men’s Superior Volleyball League (LVSM) faced off in a thrilling encounter that was decided in the maximum number of sets. The home team, Caribes of San Sebastián, emerged victorious.
The match took place at the Luis Aymat Cardona Coliseum in San Sebastián. The scores in favor of Caribes were 25-20, 25-18, 17-25, 22-25, and 15-12.
Marcos Liendo Sivira, head coach of Caribes de San Sebastián, commented: “Even though we were contenders during the regular season, the semifinals are a different step. You see the atmosphere here; nothing is given, and nothing will be easy. We know facing Naranjito is no walk in the park. At one point, there was provocation, and we became part of it, which completely changed the match for us and distracted us from our game plan. To steal a game in the Gelito Ortega, we must stay focused on what we’ve done and what we need to do, follow the plan regardless of situations, and understand that these things are bound to happen.”
Naranjito managed to recover from a two-set deficit. In the third set, by playing fast through the outside hitters and improving their reception, they managed to extend the match to a fourth set. They reached set point at 24-16 with a block by Luis Candelario; the set ended 25-17 with a red card issued to the home team.
The fourth set was intense and animated for both teams. With the score at 15-10, Jalen Penrose of Caribes and Luis Candelario of Changos were sent off due to a red/yellow card, allowing the visitors to go on a 13-5 run with strong blocking, taking the lead at 23-21. An ace by Luis Vega closed the set in favor of Changos at 25-22.
In the fifth set, Jalen Penrose returned to the court, taking charge of the Pepino offense. With an attack down position two and two consecutive aces, he gave Caribes a definitive lead over Changos, setting the score at 9-4. Penrose himself sealed the victory at 15-12 with his 30th point of the match, attacking effectively down position two.
In addition to Jalen Penrose’s 30 points, the San Sebastián offense was led by Pelegrín Vargas with 19 points and Pablo Guzmán with 10. For Naranjito, Félix Chapman scored 26 points, Johansen Negrón added 13, and Luis Vega contributed 11.
San Sebastián outperformed Naranjito 65 to 55 in attacks, 50 to 47 in digs, 50 to 37 in passing, and 21 to 10 in assists, while Naranjito led in blocks, 14 to 5.
This series will continue on Saturday, November 9, at the legendary Gelito Ortega court in Naranjito, starting at 8:00 PM.
The semifinal series are best-of-7.
The KIA Cup Grand Final begins two days after the last semifinal game.
SEMIFINAL B SERIES SCHEDULE
GAME #1 – Thursday, November 7 – 8:00 PM
Naranjito at San Sebastián – 2-3 (25-20, 25-18, 17-25, 22-25, and 15-12)
GAME #2 – Saturday, November 9 – 8:00 PM
San Sebastián at Naranjito
GAME #3 – Tuesday, November 12 – 8:00 PM
Naranjito at San Sebastián
GAME #4 – Thursday, November 14 – 8:00 PM
San Sebastián at Naranjito
GAME #5 (IF NECESSARY) – Saturday, November 16 – 8:00 PM
Naranjito at San Sebastián
GAME #6 (IF NECESSARY) – Tuesday, November 19 – 8:00 PM
San Sebastián at Naranjito
GAME #7 (IF NECESSARY) – Friday, November 22 – 8:00 PM
Naranjito at San Sebastián
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