Mazatlan, Mexico, June 23, 2012 – Canada booked a direct ticket to the men’s beach volleyball tournament of the London Olympic Games by defeating Mexico 3-1 in the NORCECA Continental Cup Finals held in Mazatlan, Mexico from June 19 to 23.

“I am so proud about this achievement for my country,” Canada´s Martin Reader said. “It was a dream since I was 11 years old about going to the Olympic Games when I started playing sport.”

“It was a real challenge to play under this hot weather,” Johsh Binstock said. “But playing on the FIVB SWATCH World Tour really helped very much to stay in shape and in a good mental condition.”

Mexico and Cuba, the second and third placed countries in the eight-team event, remain in competition for a chance at the Summer Games as part of the World Cup Qualification Tournament to take place in Moscow, Russia from June 27 to July 1.

The duo of Binstock/Reader sealed the spot to London by prevailing 2-1 (21-17, 11-21, 15-13) in a tough battle against Mexico’s Aldo Miramontes and Juan Virgen in the fourth match of the series.

Binstock/Reader opened the day with a 2-0 (21-11, 21-13) victory over Ulises and Rodolfo Ontiveros of Mexico-B, only to see Miramontes/Virgen coming back with a strong 2-0 (21-15, 21-18) showing against Christian Redmann/Benjamin Saxton.

Redmann/Saxton edged the brothers Ontiveros 2-0 (21-16, 21-18) to set the stage for the final clash of the competition in front of around 2,500 spectators.

Cubans Karell Piña/Sergio Gonzalez and Yaismel Borrell/Yadrian Escobar won their four matches of Saturday against El Salvador and Puerto Rico, to stay in competition for the London tickets.
 
Saturday´s results

Cuba 2, El Salvador 0
CUB-B d. ESA-A (21-11, 21-13)
CUB-A d. ESA-B (21-10, 21-11)

Puerto Rico 2, Guatemala 1
PUR-A d. GUA-B (21-17, 21-16)
GUA-A d. PUR-B (21-18, 21-18)
PUR d. GUA-A (15-5)

Third Place

Cuba 2, Puerto Rico 0
CUB-B d. PUR-A (21-19, 21-17)
CUB-A d. PUR-B (21-19, 21-12)

First place

Canada 3, Mexico 1
CAN-A d. MEX-B (21-11, 21-13)
MEX-A d. CAN-B (21-15, 21-18)
CAN-B d. MEX-B (21-16, 21-18)
CAN-A d. MEX-A (21-17, 11-21, 15-13) *

*Qualified to the Olympic Games