The National female and male table tennis teams pushed on from some strong group performances to finish joint third and sixth respectively at the Central American and Caribbean Games (CAC) Qualifiers in Cuba on Thursday.
National Men’s team: (L-R) Nigel Bryan, Joel Alleyne, Christopher Franklin and Shemar Britton at the CAC qualifiers in Cuba
Both sides prior to the knock-out stages already had their spot at the July 19 to August 3 Games in Colombia sealed as the top eight teams were secured.
The women reached the semi-finals but suffered a 0-3 loss to Mexico and finished joint third with El Salvador.
Trenace Lowe pushed Marbella Aceves but in the end went down 12-14, 11-8, 8-11, 13-11 and 9-11 while Natalie Cummings suffered straight sets defeat (5-11, 6-11 & 2-11) to Yadira Silva.
The combination of Jodyann Blake and Cummings could not do the trick against Monica Munoz and Aceves as the Mexicans sauntered to 7-11, 8-11 and 5-11.
Only seven teams in Venezuela, Mexico, El Salvador, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, Guatemala and Barbados took place in the female competition.
Over in the men category, where they Guyanese entered as the fifth ranked team ahead of Barbados, suffered a shocking 1-3 loss to the islanders in the fifth place play-off after defeating Trinidad and Tobago 3-0.
In their clash against Barbados, Shemar Britton loss to Tyrese Knight 11-5, 11-6, 8-11 and 11-7 while Nigel Bryan suffered a similar fate at the hands of Mark Dowell 11-8, 11-1 and 11-8.
Their lone victory came in the doubles match when Britton and Joel Alleyne delivered the goods to win 11-9, 11-6 and 11-7 against Marcus Smith and Dowell. Unfortunately, second time did not bring the same charm as Allyene and Bryan went down to Knight and Smith 6-11, 8-11 and 7-11.
They missed out on a top four spot by going to Guatemala who reached the final against Dominica Republic in three straight sets.
Including Guyana, the eight qualified men’s team are the Dominica Republic, Guatemala, Barbados, El Salvador and Trinidad and Tobago.
The top eight outfits in each of the Men’s Team and Women’s Team events join the four national associations who receive direct entries.
Cuba and Puerto Rico receive direct entries to the Central American and Caribbean Games in both the Men’s Team and Women’s Team events; it is the same for Colombia, as the hosts.
Additionally, for the men, Mexico are direct entrants; for the women, the Dominican Republic are already on the Barranquilla entry list.
The qualifiers will conclude on Sunday after which Britton and Alleyne stay in Havana for the Latin America Championships from March 4-9.
