ORANJESTAD-The Toco-born duo of Daneil Williams and Fabien Whitfield continued their impressive form on the Norceca Beach Volleyball Circuit when they won their two Pool C matches contested on Friday's opening day of the 11th and final stop, at Druif Beach in Aruba.
The T&T pair, who secured a first medal for this country at the previous leg of the tour held in their own backyard on Missions Beach, Toco two weekends ago, a bronze, first swept aside Barbadians, Kyle Browne and Hugh Sealey 21-17, 21-12 and then overcame USA-2 pairing, Matt Motter and Derek Olson, 14-21, 22-20, 15-8 ahead of their pool decider with Mexicans Juan Virgen and Lombardo Ontiveros who also won over the Barbadians, 21-9, 21-6 and USA-2, 21-17, 19-21, 15-12.
Also winning both their matches on the opening day were Dominican Republicans, Luis Adames and German Recio, 21-18, 21-18 victory over Domingo Avila and Otto Penso of Panama and then, Curacao's Holmi Cathalina and Algidio Juliana 21-10, 21-10 as well as St Lucian pair, Joseph Clercent and Julien Biscette who won over the same teams.
The St Lucians won against Panama, 21-16, 21-12 and Curacao, 21-15, 21-16 and met Dominican Republic for top spot in the pool yesterday ahead of the double elimination rounds.
However, among the women, the T&T youthful team of Shenelle Gordon and La-Teisha Joseph tasted defeat in their opening match in Pool B against St Lucians, Dania Hamilton and Indira Laurencini 12-21, 14-21 ahead of their second match versus USA-1 duo, Tealle Hunkus and Summer Ross.
Even if the local women's team which reached the quarterfinal round on home soil failed to win the match against the American pair, they were assured of a spot in the round-of-16 kncokout stage against the Pool A runner-up from Canada, Nicaragua or Cayman Islands.