In other World Championship action on the weekend, Barbados advanced to the third round by topping NORCECA-D Pool, while second-place Jamaica and third-place Bahamas also moved on. In Asia Pool C, winners Thailand, runners-up Chinese Taipei and Fiji also earned tickets to the third round following their Round 2 competition in Nakhon Pathom, Thailand. Dominican Republic downed Mexico in straight sets 25-12, 25-10, 25-18 on Sunday to book their sixth appearance in a World Championship Final Round, following participation in 1974, 1978 and in the last three editions starting in 1998. "It is a great feeling to get the ticket to Japan," said Dominican Milagros Cabral. "This is a year when we have to prove to ourselves where we really are and how good we can become." As second-place finishers in Pool H, the Mexicans remain in contention for a spot at next year's Final Round via a playoff round to be held next month in Tijuana, where the four runners-up at NORCECA's third-round tournaments will fight for the last two berths available.
NORCECA-H (3rd Round) 1. Dominican Republic 6 pts. (advances to Final Round in Japan) 2. Mexico 5 pts. (qualifies for Playoff Round in Mexico) 3. U.S. Virgin Islands 4 pts. 4. Panama 3 pts.
NORCECA-D (2nd Round) 1. Barbados 8 pts. (advances to NORCECA-G in the United States) 2. Jamaica 7 pts. (advances to NORCECA-I in Puerto Rico) 3. Bahamas 6 pts. (advances to NORCECA-I in Puerto Rico) 4. St. Lucia 5 pts. 5. Haiti 4 pts. 6. Cayman Islands 3 pts.
Asia Pool C (2nd Round) 1. Thailand 6 pts. (advances to Pool D in China) 2. Chinese Taipei 5 pts. (advances to Pool E in South Korea) 3. Fiji 4 pts. (advances to Pool D in China) 4. Bangladesh 3 pts. |
