by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor

Team spirit was the order of the day for Puerto Rico, as three-two full distance victories were the end result in both contests.

The Puerto Ricans made the ideal start by overcoming Panama, the no.2 seeds. Jacobo Vahnish remained safe and secure for Panama; he beat Daniel Hernandez (13-11, 11-9, 11-4) and Angel Naranjo (11-8, 11-9, 11-6) but that was the sum total of success for the Central American country. John Chung was beaten by Angel Naranjo (11-7, 11-9, 11-6) and in the vital fifth match of the fixture by Daniel Hernandez (11-7, 11-3, 11-5); in the vital third match of the engagement, Jabdiel Torres overcame Gabriel Lewis (11-4, 11-9, 11-9).

An ideal start to the day; for Puerto Rico it was an ideal end with the same margin of victory being posted against Brazil.

Star of the show was Angel Naranjo. He accounted for both Kenzo Carmo (11-7, 11-4, 11-6) and Daniel Godoi (8-11, 11-9, 11-7, 2-11, 11-7) to prove the mainstay of victory. The one further success for the Caribbean island was secured by Jabiel Torres, in the vital fifth match of the fixture he overcame Kenzo Carmo (11-6, 11-3, 6-11, 9-11, 11-7).

The wins for Brazil were gained by Daniel Godoi against Jabdiel Torres (11-9, 11-5, 12-10) and by Diogo Silva in opposition to Gustavo Cruz (11-7, 11-5, 11-8).

Brazil with André Murchie preferred to Diogo Silva beat Panama by three matches to one to secure second place in the group and thus progressed to the main draw; teams finishing in first and second places in each group advanced to the quarter-finals.

In the remaining groups, Argentina, the top seeds, selecting from Luciano Alto, Matias Guadalupe and Mattias Velarde topped their group, as did Mexico, the third seeds, represented by Dario Arce, Adrian Castillo and Alberto Lopez.

Respective second places were secured by El Salvador’s Enzo Leiva, Mateo Martinez and Edgardo Sanchez alongside Colombia’s Daniel Guete, Santiago Montes and Julian Muriel.

Meanwhile, in the one group where there were no world ranked players on duty. The Peruvian trio of Adolfo Cucho, Carlos Fernandez and José Zapata clinched first place in style recording three-nil win on each visit to the table. Second place went to

Costa Rica’s Ricardo Azofeifa, Alfredo Sanchez and Bryan Solis.

The quarter-finals and semi-finals will be played on Wednesday 9th August, the final on Thursday 10th August.

2017 Latin American Cadet Championships: Prospectus (Monday 7th August

2017 Latin American Cadet Championships: Entries (Monday 7th August)

2017 Latin American Cadet Championships: Schedule of Play (Monday 7th August)

2017 Latin American Cadet Championships: Team Seeding (Monday 7th August)

2017 Latin American Cadet Championships: First Stage – Boys’ Team (Tuesday 8th August)

2017 Latin American Cadet Championships: Main Draw – Boys’ Team (Wednesday 9th August)

2017 Latin American Cadet Championships: First Stage – Girls’ Team (Tuesday 8th August)

2017 Latin American Cadet Championships: Main Draw – Girls’ Team (Wednesday 9th August)

2017 Latin American Cadet Championships: Main Draw – Boys’ Doubles (Friday 11th August)

2017 Latin American Cadet Championships: Main Draw – Girls’ Doubles Friday 11th August)

2017 Latin American Cadet Championships: Main Draw – Mixed Doubles (Friday 11th August)

2017 Latin American Cadet Championships: First Stage – Boys’ Singles (Thursday 10th August)

2017 Latin American Cadet Championships: First Stage – Girls’ Singles (Thursday 10th August)