Press release

Bahia Blanca, Argentina, August 28, 2011 –the FIVB Boys’ Youth World Championship of the season is coming to an end but a lot of dazzling action will go on at both venues, Bahía Blanca and Almirante Brown on Sunday, when all the medals and places among the best 16 teams of the planet are at stake.

Also the individual awards will have the names of the best athletes of the competition, including the MVP in promising excitement matches full of action with no one wanting to lose against their rivals.
 
Spain arrives for the first time to a Gold Medal match playing against the title holder Serbia that of course, will do its utmost to maintain the title. Meanwhile, the battle for features Cuba which never reached this far against a France that won its only podium with a third place two editions ago in 2007.
 
Bahia Blanca
 
Gold Medal Match
 
Spain v Serbia 21:00
 
After defeating Cuba on Saturday’s first semi-final very fought match the Spanish Team secured itself its first Podium place in three appearances at the FIVB Boys’ Youth World Championship.  Its best finish was in the 2009 edition as 5th ranked team.  It is a duel between two European teams that know each other pretty well from their continental competitions. The Spaniard Andres Villena had a wonderful Saturday with a tournament-high 34 points and needs to come back strong again for his country. The Serbian trio of Uros Kovacevic, Milan Katic and Luka Medic is as consistent as they come.
 
Bronze Medal Match
 
Cuba v France 18:00
 
While for Cuba it will be the first chance of stepping onto the Podium winning a Bronze Medal, France won the bronze medal two editions ago in the edition 2007.  No doubt, it will be a fight for two very strong teams that are improving their performances day after day with promising new talented athletes. The Cuban Lazaro Fundora is the new scoring leader by slight margin and teammate Yordan Bisset came back solid after one subpar outing. France will need a heavier contribution from Thibault Rossard but on the other hand it has the best setter in Antoine Brizard who is also among the top servers.

Places 5-6

Bulgaria v Argentina 13:00

The two squads battled for five sets in Pool A during the opening day of the competition in Almirante Brown with the outcome in favor of Bulgaria. The trio of Velichkov, Nenkov and Ivanov accounted for 53 points in the victory while Argentina’s Lapera totaled a personal best 29 points with Quiroga chipping in 14. Bulgaria’s Velichkov is confident about a remake of that match but Argentina’s pair of Gonzalo & Gonzalo might be thinking of something different. Neither team will be able to improve their best finish as Argentina won the bronze Medal in the last edition in Italy 2009 while for Bulgaria the 1989 third place was its best result.
 
Places 7-8
 
Greece v China 10:00
 
Their Saturday’s defeat on the fight for places 5-8 sent them directly to play for the 7th place.  After a great start Greece lost track and could not find any answers to fight for a podium place.  They won their three matches of the first round without dropping a single set in Pool B and one of the victims was China in straight sets when the Asian could only score 48 points. The Chinese side also has lost four in a row and was downed by Bulgaria in three sets on Saturday.

Almirante Brown
 
Places 9 – 10
 
Brazil v Iran 21:00
 
Brazil won Saturday’s very tied match over USA to fight for the best place to be fought in Almirante Brown venue.  It is the second consecutive edition in which the six time title holder will play for the 9 place. Iran, that won on the last edition the Silver Medal will try to obtain at least the best place at stake in this venue, dreaming on returning to the winning path on the next edition of this competition.
 
Places 11 – 12
 
USA v Egypt 18:00
 
USA lost a well fought match with. Brazil after not being able to maintain their level on the fourth set and now goes for the 11 place playing against Egypt that lost Saturday’s last match in Almirante Brown against the last edition’s second runner up Iran. The Americans made 33 unforced errors and need to reduce the amount to increase their chances.
 
Places 13 – 14
 
Russia v Korea 13:00
 
Russia suffered several frustrations along the competition and now after Saturday’s victory over Tunisia will play for the 13th place.  Korea has compiled and overall win-loss record of 2-5 but three of those losses were in five sets. The Russians have a 3-4 mark and prevailed in a five-set battle when the two teams clashed last Wednesday in Pool H.
 
Places 15-16
 
Tunisia v Puerto Rico 10:00
 
Both teams will battle to leave the tournament with a sweet taste, hoping to achieve a better performance in the years to come with their countries’ best talented volleyball promises. It is the last chance for Puerto Rico to obtain its first victory after piling up 7 losses and a 2-21 win-loss record in sets. Tunisia’s best moment in the competition was during the 3-0 victory over Puerto Rico last Friday which lasted 1 hour 15 minutes.