BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – Barbados pounded archrivals Trinidad and Tobago in straight sets to retain their boys’ title while Haiti’s girls dished out an identical whipping on Barbados in the corresponding final, as the 10th CAZOVA Junior Championships wrapped up here Sunday night.
Playing at the Wildey Gymnasium, the local boys dismissed T&T 25-15, 25-19, 25-22 while the Haitians hammered the local girls, 25-15, 25-8, 25-19, to silence the vocal home crowd and deal a blow to the Barbadians’ hopes of clinch both titles.
Curacao, meanwhile, took the bronze medal in the boys’ competition when they beat Haiti 25-20, 22-25, 25-23, 22-25, 15-13 in a tense five-setter.
Trinidad and Tobago’s girls also came away with some glory when they carved out an impressive 25-21, 26-24, 25-23 straight sets win over the United States Virgin Islands.
It was the men’s final, however, that took precedence as Barbados confirmed themselves as kings of junior volleyball in the region.
They were led by captain Andriy Stapleton who scored 15 points while Adam Niles finished with 13 points and Carlos Cyrus, ten points.
T&T were led by their main attacker, Marlon Philip, who posted a game-high 22 points.
Significantly, Barbados did not drop a single set throughout the tournament.
Haiti’s girls, meanwhile, stormed to victory behind the hitting of Solaida Pierre who scored 15 points while Jackie Graziella Cherry got 12 points.
For Barbados, no attackers made into double figures with Shonte Seale the leading scorer with nine points.
Haiti had also beaten Barbados during the group phase and finished the tournament unbeaten.
In the boys’ third place playoff, Shruendy Valeriano slammed 33 points to guide the Dutch side, which also got 21 from Marlison Kleinmoedig and 17 from Gideonis Eisden.
Haiti fought bravely, however, with Denilson Paul scoring 19 points to be leader and Love Cothiere added 17 points.
