Alayo and Díaz duo
Havana, May 15 (JIT).- The pair of Jorge Luis Alayo and Noslen Díaz achieved the bronze medal in the Final of the 2024 Norceca Beach Volleyball Circuit, despite falling in the semifinals on the closing day itself.
In the sands of the Dominican tourist town of Juan Dolio, the Antilleans secured the podium by sweeping the Mexicans Miguel Sarabia and Gabriel Cruz with partial scores of 21-13 and 21-14 in 33 minutes.
The island duo could not compete for the title after losing in the penultimate round and with a notable difference of 21-9 and 21-17 against the American couple of Evans Miles and Budinger Chase.
Precisely, the northerners won the gold medals and 800 units, by beating the Canadians Samuel Schachter and Daniel Dearing in straight sets (21-18 and 21-19).
In the semifinal instance, the Canadian duo had to give their all to defeat Sarabia and Cruz in a tie break (18-21, 21-18, 15-7), after almost an hour of hard fighting.
In the women's section, Amanda Armenteros and Maykelín Drik finished in fifth place, although they did not need to step on the sand as the Puerto Rican duo of Allanis Navas and María González did not appear.
In the quarterfinals, our team fell 0-2 (12-21, 10-21) against the Canadians Sarah Pavan and Molly McBain, ultimately the runners-up of the tournament.
In the dispute for the title, Pavan and McBain were victims of their American neighbors Molly Shaw and Chloe Loreen, in two identical sets of 14-21 after 31 minutes of action.
The bronze medal went to the Mexican tandem of Atenas Gutiérrez and Susana Torres, by beating the Dominicans Julibeth Payano and Crismil Paniagua in a closer match that also ended in two sets (21-18, 21-16).
