It took over two hours and five gruelling sets but in the end Barbados won the bronze at the 2014 World’s Championship Men’s Group P volleyball match in Havana on Saturday night.
Barbados, who dismissed Suriname in straight sets in their final preliminary match, were extended to two hours and 11 minutes before squeezing out the victory 31-29, 23-25, 25-14, 24-26, 16-14 in a rematch.
Hosts Cuba grabbed the gold and the ticket to the finals in Poland by stopping the Dominican Republic 25-14, 26-28, 25-18, 25-12.
Opposite player Shawn Simpson maintained his tremendous form scoring 19 points for Barbados with veteran Fabian Cox stepping up at the critical time with 15 points which were matched by the wiry Akeem Payne.
Middle player Ammuniki Wood ended a good series with 11 points.
Captain Alain London, who placed second among the best setters indicated that Barbados attacked Suriname with their strong serves as in the previous game but greater determination by the opponents as well as some errors in receptions by the Bajans saw the game going the distance.
Verny Vilet scored a game high 27 points for Suriname while Keven Sporkslede contributed 21.
Simpson ended third among the best scorers with 48 points but, unfortunately he could not clinch the best opposite player award since MVP, Best Server and Best Scorer, Cuba’s Rolando Cepeda (64 points) and Miguel Caceres (63 points) respectively, are all left-handers who played the opposite position.
Payne was Barbados next best scorer in 12th while Cox and Wood held a joint 14th and Kyle Browne placed 17th. Payne was seventh in blocks while libero Sheldon Roach was fourth in reception.
Cuba took 10 of the 12 individual awards shared out and the other two went to the Dominican Republic. (KB)