The T&T senior men’s volleyball team was the third biggest climber when the Federation International Volleyball (FIVB) issued its latest world rankings. In the latest ranking issued by FIVB on October 2, the T&T men’s team, coached by Gideon Dickson, was ranked 34th in the world, up 30 places from its previous position of 64th in August. The only other teams which had better gains than T&T on the rankings were St Lucia, up 34 spots to 53rd and Republic of Congo,the biggest mover, up 82 spots to 43rd. What made the move by T&T so interesting is that the reigning Caribbean champion only participated in one tournament since capturing the regional title in Suriname last year.
This was the Norceca Continental Cup in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico in late August where it finished sixth in the eight-team event. In Group B play, T&T was beaten by top-ranked Norceca team and world second-rated USA 25–15, 25–7, 25–12 and Cuba, ranked sixth in the world and second in Norceca 25–14, 25–15, 25–13, before whipping Costa Rica 25–16, 25–12, 25–9 to reach the quarterfinals. However in the last-eight, T&T was ousted by Puerto Rico 17–25, 15–25, 19–25 before beating fellow English-speaking Caribbean team, St Lucia 25-20, 25-21, 25-17 in a fifth to eight spot playoff.
And in the battle for fifth spot, Mexico stopped T&T, 25–20, 25–12, 25-–21. Commenting on its highest ever ranking Dickson said, “I think its a big over achievement by the team considering our resources.”
“We have reach this level without having a home for the sport and at the same time I still don’t think enough is being done to help us get to the next level,” noted Dickson.
The closest Caribbean team to T&T on the ranking are Barbados and Bahamas, joint 53rd while St Lucia is 59th. In Norceca, T&T is ranked sixth behind USA, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Canada and Mexico while Dominican Republic is seventh after a slide of 14 places and Costa Rica, eighth. However, the T&T women have slipped four spots in the ranking to 34th and eight in Norceca. At the Women’s Norceca Continental Cup, the “Calypso Spikers” finished seventh among the nine teams after beating Costa Rica 26–24, 25–21, 25–12 in their playoff encounter. The win came after the Francisco “Panchee” Cruz led T&T team was beaten in its two pool matches by Canada 25–15, 28–30, 25–22, 25–11 and USA, 25–14, 25–16, 25–11.
Earlier in the year, the T&T women also competed at the Ninth Pan American Cup where it ended tenth out of 11 teams. In its six-team pool, T&T, the four-time reigning Caribbean champion had wins over Mexico (25–21, 25–15, 25–23) and Costa Rica (25–15, 25–22, 25–21) while it was beaten by USA, Peru and Puerto Rico. The “Calypso Spikers” were also beaten by Canada in their playoff encounter before the Mexicans got in their ninth to tenth playoff encounter. Brazil men and women teams head their respective ranking.
Rankings
FIVB men rankings
1. Brazil; 2. Russia; 3. Italy; 4. USA; 5. Serbia; 6. Cuba; 7. Bulgaria; 8. Poland; 9. Argentina; 10. China.
Norceca:
1. USA; 2. Cuba; 3. Puerto Rico; 4. Canada; 5. Mexico; 6. T&T; 7. Dominican Republic; 8. Costa Rica; 9. Barbados, Bahamas, St Lucia
FIVB women ranking:
1. Brazil; 2. USA; 3. Russia; 4. Japan; 5. Serbia; 6. China; 7. Italy; 8. Cuba; 9. Germany; 10. Turkey.
Norceca:
1. USA; 2. Cuba; 3.Dominican Republic; 4. Puerto Rico; 5. Canada; 6. Mexico; 7. Costa Rica; 8. T&T; 9. Panama; 10. Jamaica
Source: www.guardian.co.tt
By Nigel Simon