In the girls semi-final Barbados again started their tie with Trinidad &Tobago at a disadvantage having only four girls in the team. Once again Barbados’ two outstanding undefeated Caribbean champions prevailed in straight games with Meagan Best (U-13) dropping only one point in her match against Aimee DeVerteuil and Amanda Haywood (U-15) defeating Alex Yearwood 11-4, 12-10, 11-4 in a slightly more competitive encounter. In the U-17 age group Alyssa White was no match for Trinidadian Marion Gillezeau and lost 0-3 while Gylla Mackenzie also lost 0-3 to Trinidad’s Caribbean U-19 champion, Charlotte Knaggs, 6-11, 2-11, 5-11. Trinidad won the second U-19 match by default to record a 3-2 victory and reach the girls team final.
The other girls semi-final between defending champions Guyana and Jamaica was a tense hard fought encounter with the last three matches all going down to the wire in the U19, U13 and U15 age groups. Despite Jamaica’s best efforts pushing right down to the last point, it was Guyana who took the contest 3-2 in matches. The final on Saturday will be a rematch of the group stage tie with Guyana facing T&T. Barbados will take on Jamaica to determine third place.
In the boys semi-final the defending champions Guyana prevailed by beating Barbados 3-2 in a tie that could so easily have gone the other way. Barbados’ two other Caribbean champions Khamal Cumberbatch (U-13) and Josiah Griffith both won again, with Cumberbatch winning a close match against Shomari Wiltshire in four games 6-11, 11-6, 13-11, 11-8 while Griffith dominated Alex Cheeks 11-5, 11-2, 11-3. After Barbadians Stewart St. John and Brandon Straker both lost their U-19 matches in three hard fought games to higher ranked opponents it was the U-17 match that proved to be the decider between Benjamin Mekdeci (GUY) and Benjamin Griffith (BAR). This exciting match went the full distance and at two games all it was anyone’s guess who was going to win it. The two Benjamin’s battled it out in the fifth game going point for point all the way up to a nerve racking tie break which Mekdeci eventually won 17-15 to clinch the match by three games to two 11-6, 8-11, 11-7, 8-11, 17-15. It was a disappointing outcome for Barbados but they could be proud of taking the defending champions Guyana all the way to the wire the way they did. In the other semifinal Jamaica took on Trinidad &Tobago in another classic loud and entertaining battle. Jamaica eventually pulled off the win 4-1 by showing strong performances in the BU-19 #1 and BU-19 #2 spots as well as the BU-15 who were all finalists in the individual draw as well as the U-13 age group.
On Saturday Guyana will play Jamaica in the final and Barbados will take on T&T in the playoff for third place. The Barbados team will fly home from Bermuda on Sunday night.
Friday July 18, 2014 – Team Championships Selected Results
Girls Semifinals
Trinidad and Tobago def Barbados 3-2
U13 – Aimee De Verteuil lost to Meagan Best 1-11, 0-11, 0-11
U15 – Alex Yearwood lost to Amanda Haywood 4-11, 10-12, 4-11
U17 – Marion Gillezeau def Allysa White 11-2, 11-1, 11-0
U19 #2 – Jaime-Leigh Edghill won by walkover
U19 #1 – Charlotte Knaggs def Gylla Mackenzie 11-6, 11-2, 11-5
Guyana def Jamaica 3-2
U13 – Makeda Harding lost to Mia Mahfood 11-2, 11-9, 7-11, 5-11, 2-11
U15 – Rebecca Low def Sarah Conway 11-5, 11-4, 8-11, 13-11
U17 – Taylor Fernandes lost to Alyssa Mullings 11-9, 11-2, 11-8
U19 #2 – Victoria Arjoon def Ashley Lynch 11-4, 11-6, 11-3
U19 #1 – Akela Wiltshire def Mary Jo Mahfood 11-7, 11-5, 7-11, 8-11, 11-3
Boys Semifinals
Guyana def. Barbados 3-2
U13 – Shomari Wiltshire lost to Khamal Cumberbatch 11-6, 6-11, 11-13, 8-11
U15 – Alex Cheeks lost to Josiah Griffith 5-11, 2-11, 3-11
U17 – Benjamin Mekdeci def. Benjamin Griffith 11-6, 8-11, 11-7, 8-11, 17-15
U19 #2 – Nyron Joseph def. Brandon Straker 11-4, 12-10, 11-6
U19 #1 – Jean Claude Jeffrey def. Stewart St John 11-3, 11-7, 12-10
Jamaica def Trinidad and Tobago 4-1
U13 – Sebastian Levy def Christopher Anthony 11-6, 7-11, 11-5, 11-8
U15 – Jonathan Walker def Nicholas Caddle 11-6, 11-9, 11-5
U17 – Tahjia Lumley lost to Chad Salandy 10-12, 7-11, 9-11
U19 #2 – Jake Mahfood def Christian Edghill 11-7, 11-8, 11-9
U19 #1 – Julian Morrison def Nku Patrick 11-8, 11-9, 5-11, 11-8
