Guatapé, Colombia, December 8, 2011 – The semifinal phase of the Continental Cup started on Thursday in the Colombian municipality of Guatapé. Four countries will qualify for the final phase to be held in 2012 and compete for a spot in the Olympic Games in London. Participants included two pairs from Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Uruguay and Venezuela and over the following four days they will contest 40 matches.
On the first day, the biggest game saw Brazil 1, made up of Camila Fonseca and Isabela Maio, win 2-1 (18-21, 26-24, 16-14) over Colombian sisters Andrea Galindo and Claudia Galindo in 66 minutes. The local pair got big support from the fans. In the first set Colombia was more effective in blocking and won 25-18, but in the tight second set, Brazil took advantage of a Colombia error to triumph 26-24. In the decisive set, the score reached 14-14, but another Colombian mistake allowed the Brazilian duo to clinch the match.
“We knew it would be a difficult game,” Camila Fonseca said. “The Colombian sisters know each other very well and that helps on court. They are one of the strongest pairs in the competition, so it was good to get the win.”
At the end of the first day, Brazil had eight points thanks to its four wins, while Argentina and Venezuela had two wins each. They were followed by Colombia and Uruguay, who both managed to pick up a single victory against three losses.
Results of the first day:
Game 1
Karelys Mosquera/ Norisbeth Agudo (Venezuela 2) def. Sara Fraija/ Yuly Salamanca (Colombia 2) 2-0 (21-13, 21-11)
Game 2
Orquidea Vera/ Frankelina Rodrigues (Venezuela 1) def. Luciana Forguez/ Gabriela Albano (Argentina 2) 2-0 (21-17, 21-14)
Game 3
Andrea Galindo/ Claudia Galindo (Colombia 1) def. Karina Cardozo/ Maria Eugenia Nieto (Uruguay 2) 2-0 (21-14, 21-18)
Game 4
Ana Gallay/ Virginia Zonta (Argentina 1) def. Karelys Mosquera/ Norisbeth Agudo (Venezuela 2) 2-0 (21-15, 21-17)
Game 5
Livia Mendonça/ Thais Ferreira (Brazil 2) def. Lucia Guigou/ Fabiana Gomez (Uruguay 1) 2-0 (21-13, 21-18)
Game 6
Camila Fonseca/ Isabela Maio (Brazil 1) def. Andrea Galindo/ Claudia Galindo (Colombia 1) 2-1 (18-21, 26-24, 16-14)
Game 7
Ana Gallay/ Virginia Zonta (Argentina 1) def. Orquidea Vera/ Frankelina Rodrigues (Venezuela 1) 2-0 (21-15, 21-15)
Game 8
Lucia Guigou/ Fabiana Gomez (Uruguay 1) def. Sara Fraija/ Yuly Salamanca (Colombia 2) 2-0 (21-11, 23-21)
Game 9
Livia Mendonça/ Thais Ferreira (Brazil 2) def. Luciana Forguez/ Gabriela Albano (Argentina 2) 2-0 (21-13, 21-13)
Game 10
Camila Fonseca/ Isabela Maio (Brazil 1) def. Karina Cardozo/ Maria Eugenia Nieto (Uruguay 2) 2-0 (22-20, 21-16)
