Puerto Rico reaches semifinals at Final Six with 5-set win over Guatemala

Puerto Rico blockers turn away a spike by Guatemala’s Andy Alexis Leonardo Blanco (11) during their NORCECA Men’s Final Six match in Ponce on Wednesday. Puerto Rico won in five sets. (NORCECA)

By THE STAR STAFF

Puerto Rico secured its spot in the semifinals of the Men’s NORCECA Final Six by defeating Guatemala in five sets Wednesday at Juan “Pachín” Vicéns Auditorium in Ponce.

The set scores were 20-25, 25-22, 25-18, 19-25 and 15-7.

Puerto Rico improved its record to 3-1, while Guatemala fell to 0-4.

Jair Daniel Santiago Sánchez led the Puerto Rican offense with 24 points, followed by Antonio Luis Feliciano Bengoa with 16 and Klistan Lawrence Vidal with 15.

Andy Alexis Leonardo Blanco scored 17 points for Guatemala. Carlos Fernando López Santiago contributed 15 points, while José Pablo Pérez Alvarado, Christian Saúl Álvarez López and Jason Omar Hernández de León added 11 points each.

In team statistics, Puerto Rico outperformed Guatemala in attacks (64-58) and service aces (9-2). Guatemala prevailed in blocks (7-5).

Guatemala committed 26 errors, while Puerto Rico recorded 30.

Holding a 2-1 edge in sets but trailing in the fourth set, Puerto Rico went on a 6-2 run -- including an attack by Feliciano from zone four -- to narrow the gap to 18-19, but the push wasn’t enough to turn the tide of the set. Guatemala held firm, pulling ahead 23-19 with a block by Blanco on Feliciano and reaching set point at 24-19 with an attack from zone four. They closed the set 25-19, forcing a decider following an error by Puerto Rico’s Santiago on an attack from zone two.

In the deciding set, Puerto Rico took a 9-5 lead, a margin that proved sufficient to secure the victory. 

“Guatemala is a team that always puts up a fight; they compete hard and have talented players, so we knew it would be a tough match,” Puerto Rico libero Dennis del Valle said.