Belize play for gold against Guatemala with better probability than opponents in U-21 Women’s Central American Volleyball Championship

Posted: Saturday, July 20, 2024. 7:02 pm CST.

Team Belize before the game against El Salvador on Friday – Photo Credit: AFECAVOL

By Rubén Morales Iglesias: Belize have the best probability ever of winning their first Central American championship when they meet Guatemala at 8:00 pm on Saturday night in the final game of the XX U-21 Women’s Central American Volleyball Championship at the Belize City Civic Center. Belize go into the game with a 3-0 record and 15 points, while Guatemala, who fell to Nicaragua, have 12 points from two wins and one loss.

Any victory gives Belize the title, while Guatemala would have to beat Belize 3-0 to win outright or 3-1 and then depend on points ratio to win. In fact, Belize can afford to lose 3-2 and still win the competition, as that would leave Belize with 17 points to Guatemala’s 15. A 3-1 win for Guatemala would tie them both at three wins-one loss and 16 points. The points ratio would be the deciding factor, but more than likely, Belize would win as they go into the last game with a 1.52 ratio over 1.222 for Guatemala. Guatemala would have to aim at winning every set by a wide margin to overturn the points ratio.

In the extreme and unlikely probability that the teams would be tied in points ratio, the sets ratio would be used to break the tie. In that respect, Belize are far ahead with a max record of 9-0 to Guatemala’s 8-3 (2.66). A 3-1 loss would put Belize at 10-3 sets, which would give a ratio of 3.33, while Guatemala would improve to 11-4, which would put them at 2.75.

Last night, Belize downed El Salvador 3-0 (25-22, 25-14, 25-14) to put them at 3-0. Outside hitter and captain Gareth Bruce and opposite Nisaan Martinez scored 17 points each, while Blessed Omamurhe scored 15. Bruce was brutal, hammering ten aces and getting the other seven from attacks. Martinez tallied 14 points from attacks and the other three from superb blocking. Omamurhe got 14 from attacks.

Team Belize celebrate win over El Salvador on Friday – Photo Credit: AFECAVOL

For their part, Guatemala bounced back after the loss to Nicaragua and beat Honduras 3-0 (25-14, 25-8, 25-13), led by María Andrea Santa Cruz with 11 points, eight from attack, and three aces. Dulce Trigueño got nine.

While Belize will be depending on Bruce, Martinez, and Omamurhe, Guatemala will be banking on Santa Cruz, Naomi Monney, and Trigueño to lead them to victory.

Santa Cruz is the tournament’s top scorer with 62 points in three games. She is followed by Belize’s Gareth Bruce and Nisaan Martinez with 51 and 49 points, respectively. Monney is the fifth top scorer with 35, while Dulce Trigueño, who is 14th, has scored 24.

Bruce and Martinez are the second and third best attackers of the tournament with 52.11% and 48.24% success rates, while Santa Cruz is the fourth best with 42.11%.

Belize have the best blocker in Martinez but have to try to nullify Andrez Mendizábal, who is the second-best blocker behind Martinez.

So far, Bruce is the best server with an average of 1.44 per set, though Santa Cruz, who is second, has actually recorded 14 blocks but with an average of 1.27 per set.

Belize will also try to get Karel del Cid, the second-best digger, with four per set, to stretch to her utmost. Belize’s best digger is Kaleigh Cardinez, who is fourth in that category with 3.67 per set.

Guatemala before game against Honduras on Friday – Photo Credit: AFECAVOL

Belize have the tournament’s best setter in Ziane Henderson, who has an average of 4.33 per set, but they have to look out for Guatemala’s Monney, who has an average of 3.91 per set.

Cardinez is the tournament’s best receiver with 54.05% effectiveness. The Guatemalans are strong in this category with Monney, Santa Cruz, and del Cid as the second, third, and fourth best with 52.08%, 48.78%, and 44.44% effectiveness. Bruce is fifth with 36.59% effectiveness.

In the libero field, Guatemala’s del Cid is tops, while Belize’s Dasialynn Thurton is fifth in the category.

By whole team statistics, Guatemala have a big advantage since they have the tournament’s top scorers, blockers, servers, receivers, and liberos. Belize have the best attackers and setters. In digging, Guatemala have the second best, and Belize, the fourth best.

But when it comes to Belize and Guatemala, you just can’t analyze the numbers. What’s more important is the archrivalry that has political undertones, which makes losing to each other the worst possible thing. So, expect both teams to give their max and more, when they meet on Saturday night.

For Belize, this is the best possibility we’ve had of gaining a gold medal, and you can bank your last dollar that the young women will do their utmost to deliver what has come so close but has evaded them and our teams in other categories for so long.

Meanwhile, Nicaragua, who can now only aspire to finish in second place, have beaten Honduras 3-0 (25-4, 25-12, 25-20) in Saturday’s first game. With a 3-1 record and 13 points to their credit, ne loss, and a Belize win gives second place as they would have a better win-loss record than Guatemala.

Team Belize (white and black) attacks El Salvador on Friday – Photo Credit: AFECAVOL

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The post Belize play for gold against Guatemala with better probability than opponents in U-21 Women’s Central American Volleyball Championship appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.

Posted: Saturday, July 20, 2024. 7:02 pm CST. Team Belize before the game against El Salvador on Friday – Photo Credit: AFECAVOL By Rubén Morales Iglesias: Belize
The post Belize play for gold against Guatemala with better probability than opponents in U-21 Women’s Central American Volleyball Championship appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.