From NORCECA

GRAND CAYMAN, Cayman Islands, April 26, 2015 – Cuban pair, Nivaldo Diaz and Sergio Gonzalez made a winning start to the 2015 NORCECA Beach Volleyball Circuit with a rather surprising easing win over Puerto Ricans, Erik Haddock and Roberto Rodriguez at Seven Miles Beach on Sunday.

Watched by a packed audience under brilliant sunshine, second-year pairing Gonzalez and Díaz, winners of three gold medals in Guatemala City, Antigua Guatemala, and Huixquilucan in Mexico last year, and silver at home in Varadero won 21-13, 21-15 in 33 minutes.

The win for the Cubans who also won a bronze medal in the finale in Trinidad and Tobago last year and gold at the Central American and Caribbean Games tournament in Veracruz, Mexico dashed the hopes of Rodriguez and Haddock earning a third gold medal in four years in Cayman Islands.

This after the Puerto Ricans won gold in 2012 and 2013, but had to settle for silver last year.
Commenting after their dominant showing, the 24-year-old Gonzalez said the match was a very high level one against their rivals.

“We came up against a team we knew that was involved in the World Championship in Poland, and are very consistent on the NORCECA Tour, so we knew we had to be at the top of our game.”

“This was also a nice start to the season to see what level we are at and we are happy for the win.
Diaz added, “We observed over the first two days the top level of all the teams and prepared well for today and we are happy for the win.”

Earlier on in the morning session, Diaz and Gonzalez spanked USA-A’s Mark Burik and Curt Toppel 21-13, 21-18 while Haddock and Rodriguez got the better of Canada-B’s Garrett May and Daniel Dearing 21-15, 14-21, 15-10.

May and Dearing got some redemption in the third place playoff when they got the better of Burik and Toppel, 21-13, 19-21, 15-11.

It was the second win for Day and Dearing over the USA pair in the tournament after also earning a 23-21, 21-19 victory in their Pool B clash on Friday.

Men Day Three Results:
Semifinals: CUB d USA-A 21-13, 21-18; PUR d CAN-B 21-15, 14-21, 15-10; Bronze Medal: CAN-B d USA-A 21-13, 19-21, 15-11; Gold Medal: CUB d PUR 21-13, 21-15.
SOURCE: http://www.norceca.net/Diaz,%20Gonzalez%20spike%20Cayman%20Islands%20gold.htm