by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor
An impressive three matches to nil win was the order of the day in the final of the Men’s Team event.
Ideal start
Samuel Galvez gave the Dominican Republic the ideal start by beating Hector Berrios in a close five games duel (9-11, 9-11, 11-1, 11-8, 11-9) to give his team the perfect start against Puerto Rio.
Emil Santos followed suit with victory over Luis Echavarria (11-7, 11-9, 11-7), before Isaac Vila concluded matters with success against Gustavo Gonzalez (11-3, 11-9, 11-2)
Penultimate round
Earlier at the semi-final stage the Dominican Republic had beaten the Trinidad and Tobago trio of David Mahabir, Yuvraaj Dookram and Arun Roopnarine by three matches to nil.
A comfortable penultimate round win for the Dominican Republic, it was much closer for Puerto Rico; they were extended the full distance by Guyana’s David Mahabir, Yuvraaj Dookram and Arun Roopnarine.
Hector Berrios
Man of the moment for Puerto Rico was Hector Berrios; he accounted for both Nigel Bryan (11-7, 11-8, 11-5) and Shemar Britton (11-3, 11-4, 11-8).
The one further win for Puerto Rico was recorded by Gustavo Gonzalez, he accounted for Nigel Bryan in the vital fifth and deciding match of the fixture (11-7, 12-10, 11-9). The wins for Guyana were recorded by Shemar Britton against Gustavo Gonzalez (11-3, 11-9, 9-11, 11-6) and by Elishaba Johnson against Luis Echavarria (11-9, 11-8, 10-12, 11-5).
Defeat at the semi-final stage for Guyana, it was same in the bronze medal; against Trinidad and Tobago they experienced a three-nil defeat.
Group competition
Gold in the Men’s Team event, it was the same in the Women’s Team competition, play being organised on a group basis; the crucial contest for the host nation being against Puerto Rico.
A three matches to two score-line was the outcome. Caroline Cordero beat both Yasiris Ortiz (11-4, 11-6, 12-10) and Eva Brito (11-4, 11-8, 11-9) but those were the only wins for Puerto Rio.
Mileysha Sanchez was beaten by both Eva Brito (9-11, 11-5, 8-11, 11-7, 11-5) and by Yasiris Ortiz (10-12, 13-11, 11-5, 11-5), whilst Paola Sanabria suffered at the hands of Johenny Valdez (9-11, 11-7, 11-7, 15-13).
Trinidad and Tobago with Brittany Joseph, Aleena Edwards and Linda Partap-Boodhan finished in third place.
Entry
A total 70 players from eight national associations are competing in Santo Domingo: Barbados, Curacao, Dominican Republic, Guyana, Martinique, Puerto Rico, Saint Lucia, and Trinidad and Tobago .
Play concludes with the individual events on Friday 9th September.
Results of team events
58th Caribbean Championships: Team events – full results