Santo Domingo.– The manager of the Queens of the Caribbean, Marcos Kwiek, highlighted the adjustments made by the Dominican team during the match against Puerto Rico, which allowed the local squad to recover and secure a 2-1 victory at the 2026 Santo Domingo Central American and Caribbean Games.
After the match, the manager explained that the team mainly had to correct defensive aspects to regain control of the game, after dropping the first set, something that had not happened previously in the tournament.
“We were slow to adjust on defense, we took a little while to adjust blocking and defense. That transition in the game cost us a set. So, we have to keep working on that so it doesn’t happen again,” the manager explained.
The coach pointed out that, after that first set, the players managed to regain their focus and better execute the adjustments proposed from the bench.
“In the third set we dropped off a bit, we adjusted and played a good fourth set, more focused, more serious, and we got the victory,” he stated.
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According to the manager, the key to closing out the match was precisely improving defensive work and achieving a more effective offensive transition. “It was just a matter of adjusting blocking and defense and having a more forceful transition,” he indicated when referring to the strategy used in the decisive stretch.
The triumph against Puerto Rico also allowed the Queens of the Caribbean to maintain their good performance in the regional tournament and continue focused on the goal of advancing to the final stages.
Regarding the responsibility of playing as hosts and the expectations of the Dominican fans, the manager acknowledged the commitment the team has to the public.
“We know our responsibility, we know what it is to play at home and what the people expect. We are working to achieve a victory, but that is sport, you have to achieve it not only off the pitch, on the pitch you have to do it,” he expressed.
The coach avoided getting ahead of other commitments and assured that, although the team has important challenges ahead, the immediate priority is the Central American and Caribbean Games.
“Actually, right now I am thinking about the semifinal of the Central American Games, after that it is another step,” he stated, when asked about the importance of playing at home ahead of the next qualifier.
With the victory over Puerto Rico, the Queens of the Caribbean continue their path in the regional competition and now focus their attention on the semifinal, where they will seek to maintain their level and correct the aspects that were evidenced during the match.
The coaching staff understands that the match against the Puerto Ricans also provided important lessons ahead of the decisive phase, especially regarding the need to make defensive adjustments more quickly to avoid conceding runs and to maintain control from the start.
