A steely performance by Juan Velazquez and Vance Harding yesterday ensured their participation at this year’s Beach Volleyball Olympic qualifiers as Guyana’s representatives.
The duo will head to Argentina in March following their come-from-behind win over Ian Bagot and Quacy Matheson at the conclusion of the Guyana Volleyball Federation (GVF) Beach Volleyball Tournament at the Marriott Hotel beach front in Kingston, Georgetown.
It was Bagot and Matheson who were disciplined early on in the first set, executing well to take an early 12 – 8 lead. As the game rolled on and intensified, Velazquez and Harding began to claw their way back into the contest but were unable to stage a comeback win as they lost the first set 19-21.
The second set saw a laser-focused Velazquez and Harding, taking it 21-15 to send the game to a third set decider. Velazquez, in the third, dished out a number of well-placed serves which were too ‘hot to handle’ and not well retrieved to secure an 8-3 lead.
The winning pair eventually took the match 2-1 with a 15-10 third set win after Hardin slammed the ball into open areas on the court and booked their ticket to Argentina. (Royston Alkins)
