Bajans storm into final

BARBADOS’ men appeared set to redeem their 2008 loss of the Caribbean Volleyball Championships title when they stormed into their 12th successive final at the 13th edition being staged in Paramaribo, Suriname, yesterday.Ignoring the disappointing semi-finals defeat of their girls by Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados’ men, led by inspirational captain Elwyn Oxley, hammered Guadeloupe 25-16, 25-17, 25-21.Guadeloupe had surprisingly carried the Bajans to five sets in their opening match last Sunday when most of the Barbadians were under the weather.With defending champions Martinique not appearing in Suriname, Barbados looked keen to exact some vengeance on a team that spoke French. Unfortunately, Guadeloupe were the target in every sense, as Oxley and a total team effort shut them down at the net and almost stunned them with the ball being hammered into their heads and bodies repeatedly.Coach Ludger Niles, who was also in charge when Barbados lost in five sets to Martinique in the Gymnasium of the Garfield Sobers Sports Complex in front of thousands of numb Bajans, had departed for the tournament indicating that his goal was to reach the final where his team had more experience in winning than all of the other teams.Barbados will meet either Trinidad and Tobago or The Bahamas who were locked in battle late last night.  Barbados defeated  Bahamas in four sets in the final in 1994 in The Bahamas and that venue was also the scene of Barbados’ triumph in straight sets over Trinidad and Tobago in 2006.