Kwesi Mugisa, Staff ReporterDESPITE A valiant effort to reach the under 12 final, Jamaica's lone representative in the ITF Jamaica Junior Tournament latter rounds, Randy Phillips, came up just short at going down in straight sets to Belizean James Flynn at the NCB Wellness Centre yesterday.
Phillips, who recently won the All-Jamaica Championships in his age group, had defeated the Belizean 8-5 in the tournament's preliminary rounds, but just could not get the better of him in the finals going down 4-0, 4-1.
Phillips had been Jamaica's only hope of a top spot with all the other contenders going out in Thursday's play. It wasn't a total loss, however, as Phillips then teamed up with Flynn to capture the boys' 12 doubles title, which was played in a round robin format.
HEAVY HITTERS
Over at the Eric Bell Tennis Centre, the unseeded Ignacio Toboada of the United States upset the number two seeded Patricio Alvarado of Ecuador 7-5, 6-2 to lift the boys' 18 title.
In a battle of the heavy hitters, Katarina Gajic blasted her way past Nicole Monterio of the Netherlands 6-3, 6-1 for the girl's under 18 title.
In the girl's 18 doubles final, Monterio and Hannah Berner (USA) went down 4-2, 4-2 to the team of Mia Fiocca and Joanna Mathers of the United States, while in the boy's doubles final Jamal Adderley (BAH) and Yohansey Williams (T&T) lifted the crown when they got by Santiago Ordonez and Juan Xavier Ponce of Ecuador 5-3, 4-1.
In the boys' 14 category, Adolfo Guerrero got the better of countryman Juan Carlos de Pedro 4-1, 4-2, while in girls 14 action Carolina Betancourt (MEX) came from behind to beat Marcela Zacarias (MEX) 0-4, 4-2, 4-0.
EXCELLENT TOURNAMENT
National technical director and coach Douglas Burke believes that despite the absence of a significant Jamaican presence the tournament was a successful one.
"The tournament was an excellent one in terms of the level of play and the international participation was very good. We had about 20 nations and about 80 overseas athletes represented here," he said.
"In terms of our participation in the tournament we had a number of players, who while not winning played well. There are some encouraging younger players coming up and we will work with some of our older players to help improve their level," he added.
