Jamaica's captain Delford Morgan (left) hits one by his Bahamian Ian Pinder opponent while Jamaica's libero Ricardo Chong looks on during their World Volleyball Championship qualifying match at the National Indoor Sporting Centre on Saturday. The Bahamas won 3-1 (19-25, 25-18, 25-22, 25-22). In other results Saturday, Mexico beat Haiti 3-0 (25-16, 25-16, 25-20) and St Lucia beat Cayman Islands 3-0 (25-11, 25-15, 25-14). - Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer
KINGSTON, Jamaica (CMC):
Hosts Jamaica tumbled out of contention for the 2010 FIVB Men's World Championship on Saturday night, when The Bahamas rallied to beat them three sets to one at the National Indoor Sports Centre.
In a pivotal NORCECA Group D qualifying series match, the Bahamians outgunned Jamaica 19-25, 25-18, 25-22, 25-22 to secure a spot in the next round of regional qualifying with Mexico.
"We are happy to go home with this victory," said winning Bahamian coach Raymond Wilson.
The Mexicans, who played The Bahamas for Group D honours yesterday, secured their spot earlier in the evening with a victory over Haiti.
Fighting qualities
The Bahamians, who had come back from a two-set deficit to defeat St Lucia on Wednesday, advertised their fighting qualities again with a huge win over the home side against the odds.
Shedrick Forbes led the Bahamians in scoring with 15 points, with sturdy support from Byron Ferguson (12) and Renaldo Knowles (11).
Danny Wilson (19) and Dellan Brown (13) were the chief scorers for Jamaica, whose coach David Jack lamented his side's slip at the crucial stage.
"We still need to overcome those hurdles and win the big games. You have to give a lot of credit to The Bahamas," he said.
Secured their spot
Mexico secured their spot in the next phase by wiping out the Haitians 25-16, 25-16, 25-20 behind Leonardo Manzo (13) and Tomas Aguilera who logged 10, including four blocks.
The winners of the group decider will advance to the NORCECA Group G in Puerto Rico from July 6-11 and the runners-up will go to NORCECA Group H in Cuba from August 12-17.
St Lucia picked up their first win when they beat the Cayman Islands 25-11, 25-15, 25-14 in the fifth-place play-off earlier.
Kaji Charles was St Lucia's standout player with 11 points, that included three blocks and four serving aces.
Amobi Armstrong also had 11 tallies for the St Lucians, while Olney Thompson led Cayman's effort with 10 points.