Argentine men make positive start to World Championships year
05/31/2006
Tokyo, May 30, 2006 -- Under new head coach Jon Uriarte, Argentina won four out of five friendly matches against visiting Spain as they began their preparations for the World Championships.
Argentina won two matches in straight sets and two more by 3-2, losing the other 3-2. The matches were played in Resistencia, Gral Pinedo (Chaco), Formosa and Misiones.
It was a very young Argentine team that took to the court, with all the members drawn from different clubs in the national league. The last match was particularly significant, as Argentina showed great character to fight back from 2-0 down to win 3-2 -- something they had not always been able to do in the past, despite wearing the light blue and white jersey.
Argentine victory in the last match of the first friendly tour*
In the last match of the series, Argentina won 3-2 (23-25, 20-25, 29-27, 25-23, 19-17) at the overcrowded El Zaiman Stadium in Posadas. It was the closest of the five matches, and the best players, scoring 23 points each, were Gustavo Sholtis of Argentina and Iban Perez of Spain. Demian Gonalez replaced setter Nicolas Efron, who had sprained a finger on his right hand in the previous day's game, and helped his team to an incredible victory.
Players such as Marcos Milinkovic, Pablo Meana, Spajic and Porporatto, who have been playing in European leagues, will join the training next Monday.
Argentina 3 - Spain 2
Sets: 23-25, 20-25, 29-27, 25-23, 19-17
Referees: Casamiquela - Salazar
Stadium: Polideportivo El Zaiman, Misiones
Argentina 3: Demian Gonzalez, Lucas Chavez, Matias Macor, Matias Zublena, Juan Pablo Alanis, Gustavo Scholtis, Martin Meana (L). Coach: Jon Uriarte. Substitutes included: Martin Hernandez and Jesus Nadalin.
Spain 2: Alfonso Flores, Iban Perez, Israel Rodriguez, Marlon Palharini, Jose Javier Subiela, Julian Garcia Torres, Oscar Rodriguez (L). Coach: Andrea Anastasi. Substitutes included: Ruben Antequera, Adolfo Chaso, Vicente Ferrandez and Pau Sans.
June 3 will be the start of the friendly matches against the Venezuelan men's team in Azul, followed by Bolivar, Los Toldos, Rojas and Buenos Aires, spreading top level volleyball all over the country.
Argentine victory in the last match of the first friendly tour
(Picture WGS Press Dept.)
