by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor
A notable absentee but Cuba is still strongly represented in the Men’s Singles competition. Livan Martinez, Jorge Campos and Juan Damian Rondon all secured first places in their respective groups and thus advanced to the main draw.
Likewise, Juan Garlobo, Leudes Serrano, Carlos Hernandez and Carlos Sanchez Espinosa all finished in runners up spots and thus progress to the second stage; players finishing in first and second places in each of the 15 groups advanced to the main draw.
First places for three Cuban players, it was the same for the Dominican Republic but most creditably for Puerto Rico it was four in number. Sebastian Echevarria, Hector Berrios, Ricardo Jimenez and Gabriel Perez, flew the flag for Puerto Rico; for the Dominican Republic, Emil Santos and Mariano Lockward, stood firm to secure pole positions, whilst Isaac Vila took full advantage of the absence of Andy Pereira.
Meanwhile, in the remaining groups, Barbados enjoyed first places in the guise of Trevor Farley and Mark Dowell, for Guyana Christopher Franklin reserved pole position; whilst in the two remaining groups it was first place for St. Lucia’s Chris Wells and for Jamaica’s Simon Tomlinson.
The destiny of the titles yet to be decided; the country of the destiny of the Men’s Doubles title is known, it is going to Cuba. Carlos Hernandez and Livan Martinez face Jorge Campos and Andy Pereira in the final.
After accounting for the Dominican Republic’s Samuel Galvez and Emil Santos in the quarter-finals (11-5, 6-11, 11-9, 6-11, 11-4), Carlos Hernandez and Livan Martinez overcame colleagues Juan Garlobo and Juan Damian Rondon (11-9, 11-7, 7-11, 11-5) to reserve their place in the final.
In the opposite half of the draw, following success against the Dominican Republic’s Mariano Lockward and Isaac Vila, (8-11, 11-6, 11-9, 11-2); Jorge Campos and Andy Pereira accounted for Guyana’s Shemar Britton and Christopher Franklin (11-7, 11-8, 11-9) to reserve their place in the title decider.
The final will be played on Saturday 22nd July.
2017 Caribbean Region Championships: Prospectus (as on Monday 17th July)
2017 Caribbean Region Championships: Schedule of Play (Updated – Tuesday 18th July)
2017 Caribbean Region Championships: Entries (Updated Tuesday 18th July)
2017 Caribbean Region Championships: Seeding – Team Events (Updated Tuesday 18th July)
2017 Caribbean Region Championships: Results – Men’s Team Event (Thursday 20th July)
2017 Caribbean Region Championships: Results – Women’s Team Event (Thursday 20th July)
2017 Caribbean Region Championships: Results – First Stage Under 21 Men’s Singles (Thursday 20th July)
2017 Caribbean Region Championships: Main Draw – Under 21 Men’s Singles Event (Friday 21st July)
2017 Caribbean Region Championships: Results – First Stage Under 21 Women’s Singles (Thursday 20th July)
2017 Caribbean Region Championships: Results – First Stage Men’s Singles 45 Years (Thursday 20th July)
2017 Caribbean Region Championships: Main Draw – Men’s Singles Over 45 Years Event (Friday 21st July)
2017 Caribbean Region Championships: Results – Women’s Singles 45 Years (Thursday 20th July)
2017 Caribbean Region Championships: Results – First Stage Men’s Singles (Friday 21st July)
2017 Caribbean Region Championships: Results – First Stage Women’s Singles (Friday 21st July)
2017 Caribbean Region Championships: Results – Men’s Doubles (Friday 21st July)
2017 Caribbean Region Championships: Results – Women’s Doubles (Friday 21st July)
2017 Caribbean Region Championships: Draw – Mixed Doubles (commences Saturday 22nd July)