On the way “to beat the clock”, the Puertorrican Volleyball Federation hired Javier Gaspar Concepcion as New Head Coach of Puerto Rico’s Seniors’s National Team in substitution of David Aleman who resigned a couple of disagreements with the institution.
Gaspar is a well-respected coach in the local league and was also a great player, representing USA National team from 1987 to 1993. In the period 1991- 1993 he played at FIVB World League Tournaments, winning Bronze Medal in 1992. Now he needs a permission of a private Pharmaceutical company that he is working for in order to sign with the National Team.
Puerto Rico will compete this summer season in Pool F of FIVB World League and their rivals are Turkey, Montenegro and Tunis.
Thanks to the new formula of World League, non-top teams had the opportunity to be presented to the world of volleyball.
The Boricuas (as they are called by Puerto Rico’s people), made their debut in this sports event in 2011 taking part in Pool A, facing World Top Ranking Teams like Brazil, (Silver medal), USA (7th place) and Poland (Bronze Medal).
Their set up a negative record in terms of won-lost (0-12 in games, 5-36 in sets and they were ranked 16th on competition), but taking in mind the quality of the teams in this pool, Puerto Rico gained an experience.
After a break of two years, in 2014 the “Boricuas” returned to FIVB World League – taking part in the competition in the new format. They were competing in Pool G where they faced China, Slovakia and Spain. They registered two 2 wins and 4 defeats with a 9-16 on sets, ranked this time on the 27th spot.
The results from 2014 could be a strong challenge for Mr. Gaspar because he is running out of time! In one month time Puerto Rico Team should meet Montenegro on the court…. Let’s see what are they volleyball players of Gaspar show us.
While waiting for the summer volleyball campaign to begin, you can watch some highlights of Gaspar (#11) as a player:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yL4ux9qCMnY
