St Andrew, Portmore Missionary take TT titles
ST ANDREW and Portmore Missionary Prep schools crowned themselves All-island boys’ and girls’ team champions, respectively, at the 2018 Milo Primary and Prep Schools Champion of Champions Table Tennis Championships finals, at Excelsior High School Auditorium recently.
The St Andrew boys’ team retained their title by defeating primary school boys’ champions St Mary’s Primary 3-0.
Portmore Missionary, who are former champions, registered a 3-1 win over St Mary’s Primary — winners of the primary school girls’ section.
In the boys’ final, St Andrew Prep took a 1-0 lead over St Mary’s Primary in the best-of-five set, after Joshua Moore of St Andrew had to work very hard to win an exciting five-setter 11-5, 7-11, 5-11, 11-7, 12-10 against Amir Riley of St Mary’s.
Jayden Ebanks easily made it 2-0 in the second singles match by defeating Te-Var Hammond in straight sets 11-2, 11-5, 11-3. Brian Blake clinched the title 3-0 win for St Andrew but not before a keen tussle with Jonathan Sudlow, winning in four sets 11-5, 11-5, 2-11, 11-7.
Portmore Missionary Prep had to battle hard in the opening set as Zahar Murphy came from a set down before defeating Tamika Brown from St Mary’s Primary 9-11, 11-3, 11-9, 12-10, to give her school a 1-0 lead.
St Mary’s Shamoy Lamont won the second singles encounter by coming from a set down to defeat Navaen Scott 4-11, 11-6, 5-11, 11-3, 11-8 to level the play-offs 1-1.
Gabrielle McLean put Portmore Missionary back in the lead 2-1 when she defeated Adenike Deeble in straight sets 11-3, 12-10, 11-4, before Scott clinched the match and title in the fourth singles 3-1 with a straight sets win of 11-3, 11-1, 11-4 over Brown of St Mary’s.
Coach of St Andrew Prep Dale Parham said the victory came as a surprise, based on the inexperience of his players.
“It was a shock to everyone, and the players are very happy to have come out winners,” Parham said.
Meanwhile, Portmore Missionary Prep coach Maxeline Knuckle said: “The players are very proud and said they will be looking forward to defend and retain both titles next year.”
