Cubans Gonzalez and Díaz to World and NORCECA Beach Circuits

The Cuban leading men’s beach volleyball duo begin their activity in the World and NORCECA circuits in April, with the main goal of defending the crowns of both genders in the beach volleyball of the XXIII Central American and Caribbean Games of Barranquilla 2018.

The male leading duo of Sergio González and Nivaldo Díaz travels next week with their coach Leonides Regüeiferos to Xiamen, China, where they will be participating for the second year in the event, this time in the Three-Star phase scheduled from April 18 to 22.

The bronze medalists at the Toronto 2015 Pan American Games will then return to the island, to defend the title in the NORCECA circuit at Varadero, this time the third on April 25-30.

They will return to the world arena for consecutive stops in Turkey (3-Star), from May 2 to 6; Switzerland (3-Star) from 9 to 13; and Brazil (4-Star) from May 17 to 21.

They will then train in Havana for three weeks and play the 4-Star Rounds in Ostrava, Czech Republic, from May 20 to 24; Warsaw, Poland, from June 27 to July 1; and Espinho, Portugal, from July 4-8.

Sergio and Nivaldo appear     in the 24th place in the world ranking, while their most dangerous rivals for Barranquilla, Juan Virgen and Lombardo Ontiveros (Mexico), Pan-American champions in Toronto, are placed at 15, because They have participated in phases of the World Tour.

Regüeiferos said that their students are well, although since they began the preparation only competed in the two rounds of the national circuit with couples from their respective provinces.

The experienced technician admitted that the duet he prepares is going to defend the gold in Barranquilla, but "we should not be over confident in front of a solid pair like that of Virgen and Ontiveros".

Meanwhile, the duos of Karell Peña-Daisel Quesada and Leila Martínez-Maylén Delis go to Aguascalientes, Mexico, for the opening of the season of the North, Central American and Caribbean area.

The men are guided by the Olympic Francisco Álvarez Cutiño, while the girls by Mayra Ferrer, with the purpose of dealing with the 13 to 15 April event.

This time Leila will not have Lidiannis Echevarría as a partner, since the latter is recovering from an injury. The Cubans will not continue to La Paz, Baja California, stage of the second race, but they will be in Varadero.

Last year Peña and Quesada equaled a circuit record, by winning three golds in row at La Paz, Virgin Islands and Jamaica.