ST CROIX, US Virgin Islands (CMC) — Ten-time champions Barbados put up a fight but Jamaica went down with hardly a whimper as both teams exited the senior men Caribbean Zonal Volleyball Association Championship in the semi-finals here Friday night.

Playing at the Ronald Charles Gymnasium, Barbados battled hard but the Bahamas proved best in the end with a 24-26, 26-24, 25-17, 15-25, 15-12 victory, in entertaining five-setter.

Jamaica, meanwhile, offered no such resistance as defending champions Trinidad and Tobago remained on course for a successful title defence with a 25-20, 25-21, 25-21 flogging in 71 minutes.

Chasing their second final in four years, Barbados started well when they won the opening set but they lost the next two to trail 1-2 in sets.

They battled back to set up the fifth and decisive set but came up short when it mattered.

Veteran outsider Fabian Cox posted 20 points to lead Barbados while Shawn Simpson contributed 18 and Akeem Payne, 11.

For the Bahamas, Byron Ferguson had a game-high 22 points and was one of three players in double figures as captain Prince'tanique Wilson added 21 and Ronaldo Knowles, 18.

Jamaica, meanwhile, failed to find their stride unlike the preliminary round when they took the Trinidadians to five sets before losing.

They were undone by the outstanding T&T captain Nolan Tash who racked up 16 points, with Marc-Anthony Honore getting 13 and Ryan Stewart, 10.

For Jamaica, Ryck Webb was the only hitter in double figures with 11 points.

T&T coach Gideon Dickson said the tournament has gone according to plan and he was now expecting his side to put the finishing touches on in the final.