by Ian Marshall, ITTF Editor
One day earlier it had been semi-final disappointment at the hands of the United States in both disciplines; one day later emotions were somewhat different.
Star of the show for the Girls’ Team was Bruna Takahashi; she remained unbeaten throughout the whole event.
In the vital contest against Puerto Rico, to decide which outfit would gain the precious invitation to Bendigo and which would be the reserve; she beat Fabiola Diaz (11-3, 11-3, 11-4) in the opening match of the engagement prior to recovering from a two games to nil deficit against Adriana Diaz the fourth match (7-11, 9-11, 11-5, 11-7, 11-5).
The two wins set the scene for Livia Lima to complete matters; she duly obliged, she accounted for Fabiola Diaz in three straight games (11-6, 11-5, 13-11) to secure a three matches to two success. Earlier for Puerto Rico, Adriana Diaz had beaten Livia Lima (11-7, 11-5, 11-6), Mileysha Sanchez had beaten Tamyres Fukase (4-11, 11-8, 17-15, 11-7).
Bruna Takahashi, the backbone of Brazilian success, in the immediately preceding contest against Guatemala’s Hidalynn Zapata, Lucia Cordero and Mercedes Mendizabal; it had been the same scenario in a three-one success.
Supported by Tamyres Fukase and Livia Lima, as against Puerto Rico; Bruna Takahashi beat both Hidalynn Zapata (6-11, 11-4, 11-4, 11-4) and Lucia Cordero (11-6, 11-7, 12-10).
Hard fought wins, it was the same for Enzo Nakashima, Guilherme Teodoro and Eduardo Tomoike in the Boys’ Team event.
In their opening fixture of the day they were extended the full five match distance by the Chilean outfit comprising Nicolas Burgos, Jorge Paredes and Andres Martinez; the player to cause the Brazilian problems being Nicholas Burgos, he beat both Eduardo Tomoike (8-11, 11-8, 11-8, 7-11, 12-10) and Guilherme Teodoro (11-9, 11-3, 11-9).
However, defeats for Jorge Paredes at the hands of Guilherme Teodoro (12-14, 11-5, 11-5, 11-6) and Eduardo Tomoike (11-9, 10-12, 12-10, 13-11) plus a reverse in the third contest of the fixture for Andres Martinez when facing Enzo Nakashima (13-11, 11-7, 8-11, 11-13, 11-8), cost Chile dear.
A place in the vital deciding fixture secured, Brazil faced Canada; the team against whom they had experienced a three-two defeat in the group phase on the opening day of action.
Revenge was extracted; a three-one win was recorded. Star of the show was Guilherme Teodoro; he beat both Terence Yeung (7-11, 11-9, 11-9, 2-11, 11-7) and Jeremy Hazin (6-11, 11-2, 11-6, 8-11, 11-6). The one further Brazilian win was secured courtesy of Enzo Nakashima against Edward Ly in the third match of the contest (11-13, 11-6, 11-5, 15-13); for Canada the one success came courtesy of Jeremy Hazin. In the second match of the fixture, he accounted for Eduardo Tomoike (11-6, 8-11, 11-9, 15-13).
Play in the team events over, attention now turns to the individual events; play concludes on Sunday 15th July.
