Barbados’ volleyballers were looking for a face-saving third spot when they met Suriname in last night’s final preliminary game of the 2014 World Championship Group P series in the Colisea Cuidad Deportiva in Havana, Cuba.
That’s because both Barbados and Suriname lost their second game in two days on Thursday night with Barbados losing to the Dominican Republic 25-13, 25-16, 25-21 while Suriname were crushed by the hosts Cuba 25-13, 25-9, 25-11.
Left-hander Shawn Simpson continued his good form to score 12 points for Barbados but the next highest contributors were middle player Ammuniki Wood and Kyle Browne, who only entered from the second set to score five points each.
German Recio only played two sets for the Dominican Republic but he led all scorers with 13 points while the deadly Miguel Caceres racked up 10 points in the first two sets before retiring to the bench.
Barbados are trailing in almost all of the individual skills ranking with only libero Sheldon Roach ranking above Suriname in the third spot. Barbados are third in setting, spiking and receiving but fourth in blocking, serving and digging.
However, captain and setter Alain London is fourth in setting with Suriname fifth as the Dominican Republic’s second setter holds the third spot on the ranking chart. A win or loss yesterday would have still seen Barbados meeting Suriname for the bronze while The Dominican Republic would have battled hosts Cuba for the gold.
Both Cuba and The Dominican Republic would have qualified for the World Championship finals in Portugal. (KB)
