Brandon Baldie won two matches and Akesia Nedd one to help Mae’s `A’ stop the rampaging Bishops’ High School team in the final of the 18 years and under Guyana Table Tennis Association/National Sports Commission Business School sponsored schools’ team tournament Monday night at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.
Bishops High had entered the final on a high after claiming the U13 and U15 divisions and seemed set for a clean sweep of all the silverware on show but Baldie had other ideas.
In the first match a gripping four-setter, Baldie disposed of southpaw Jamaal Duff by a 3-1 score but Bishops’ High bounced back through Denzel Duff who defeated Denzel Hopkinson by a 3-0 margin.
This set the stage for the key encounter between Nedd and Chelsea Edghill and Nedd avenged her earlier defeat in the U15 final 3-1.
Down 1-2, Bishops’ High needed Denzel Duff to topple Baldie but, after five gripping games it was Baldie who emerged victorious to give Mae’s a well-deserved victory.
Earlier, Bishops’ High defeated Mae’s `A’ 3-0 in the U-15 final.
Denzel Duff took a 2-0 lead against Stephan Patoir who rebounded to claim the next two games before Duff prevailed in the fifth.
Jamaal Duff then made light work of Dillon Mahadeo 3-0 and Edghill wrapped up the match with a 3-2 win over Nedd.
In the U13 final, Jamaal Duff secured two wins over Kyle Edghill (3-1) and Rajiv Muneshwar (3-0) while Chelsea won the titanic battle of the Edghills (3-2) to give the two-player Bishops’ High team, a 3-1win and the U13 title.
The most poignant moment of the entire tournament was the show of affection between the two Edghills who hugged each other at the conclusion of their fierce battle.
It was a moment to cherish and the spectators lapped it up.
The competition attracted over 20 teams including teams from Berbice and Essequibo and general secretary of the GTTA Godfrey Munroe said he was heartened by the response especially from Dolphin Secondary School which had the largest turnout.
Denzel Duff, whose only defeat was to Baldie, was adjudged player of the tournament, while Queen’s College student Sachin Panday, who scored two upset wins over Patoir and Mahadeo in the Queen’s College versus Mae’s `A’ encounter, was voted the most improved male player. Chelsea Edghill was voted the most improved female player.
Bishops’ High School by virtue of their two title wins, was adjudged the champion school.
