2023-06-22 23:54:56
San Salvador. The Men’s National Table Tennis Team secured the first medal for the Puerto Rican delegation at the San Salvador 2023 Central American and Caribbean Games by beating the Costa Rican team 3-0 this Thursday followingnoon in the quarterfinal stage. final and advance to the semifinal of the tournament.
The national team – made up of Brian Afanador, Daniel González, Oscar Birriel and Ángel Naranjo – will face the Guatemalan team, which plays under the banner of Centro Caribe Sports and beat Guyana 3-1. This action will take place on Friday, the day in which the final will also be played.
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“The most significant achievement of this victory was securing the bronze medal and at the same time preparing for tomorrow to secure silver and then look for gold,” said team leader Eladio Afanador.
The coach stated that he was happy with the team and acknowledged that the players were able to control the humidity factor that was felt on the field, located in El Polvorín, following the incessant rain that fell on the area.
“These are mental aspects that come and that we were able to overcome. I feel very proud of each and every guy,” he articulated.
The first match was a double starring Afanador and González once morest Jeison Martínez and Alejandro Montoya. The Puerto Ricans came out on top 3-1. Costa Rica started strong with a first victory and with a second match in which they caused them to go to extra points before falling 12-10.
In the last two, the Puerto Rican duo won comfortably 11-3.
When talking regarding the set they lost, González acknowledged that humidity was one of the factors that affected his game.
“The fact that we were playing with a little bit of humidity got into our heads. In the end we realized that we are better and we began to do what we know how to do thinking regarding the now”, explained González.
The second game was between Naranjo and Daniel Araya. The Puerto Rican won 3-1 (11-7, 11-4, 8-11 and 11-4).
Afanador returned for the third and final meeting once morest Martínez, to beat him in three straight sets (11-3, 11-7 and 11-5).
Ángel Naranjo was responsible for the second point by winning one of the singles of the match. (David Villafane Ramos)
For its part, the women’s team – made up of Adriana and Melanie Díaz, Brianna Burgos and Alondra Rodríguez – will compete later today once morest the El Salvador team to define who goes through to the semifinals, which will be tomorrow.
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