2006 World Championships
Barbados and Jamaica make winning starts to their World Championship campaign (FIVB)
06/15/2005
Bridgetown, Barbados, June 15, 2005 - Caribbean number one Barbados and number two Jamaica made slow but successful starts to the 2006 World Championship first round tournament – Norceca Pool A at the Garfield Sobers Sports Complex in Barbados on Wednesday.

Playing before an excited crowd, the Bajans lead by the high leaping Fabian Cox dismissed the inexperienced Virgin Islands 3-0 (25-20, 25-22, 25-15). Earlier Jamaica beat the Cayman Islands 3-0 (25-17, 25-14, 25-15).

The Caymans, in an admirable display of sportsmanship, agreed to play Jamaica on the opening day as Jamaica’s original opponents - the Netherlands Antilles - were delayed by flight problems. However, the Cayman islanders could not contend with the taller and more aggressive Jamaicans.

In the post match interview the long serving coach of Jamaica, Phillip Greenland indicated that his team was just trying to come to terms with the court and the conditions to get battle ready for the Netherlands Antilles and Barbados.

The Caymans’ coach Shannon Emslie stated that his team did not contain the depth of talent like the other squads but they were committed to developing and learning for future competitions.

The British Virgin Islands almost fulfilled their plot to take at least a set off the high ranking Barbadians as Barbados surprisingly played a flat game to allow the visitors to match them point for point. However, in the end, the experience and the power of the Bajans denied BVI a look-in.
Pic: Barbados' Renier Grace and Jason Griffith double block Denfield Solomon of the British Virgin Islands
Coach Ludger Niles enjoyed the chance of giving court time to all of his players with only Cox, the games’ highest scorer, playing the entire match. The action continues on Thursday with Jamaica playing the Netherlands Antilles and the Cayman Islands clashing with Barbados.
(Released by FIVB)