T&T will have its eyes set on revenge when it faces Mexico for fifth spot at the UANA Junior (Under-19) Pan American Water Polo Championship at the Riverside Aquatics Complex, Huntington Beach, California from 3.20 pm today.
This after the Alan Too-A-Foo-coached local boys played hard and battled throughout the game and in the end, led by Jonathon Gillette’s five goals came away with the narrow win, 9-8 over Puerto Rico in their fifth to eight semifinal, yesterday.
The prolific Kieron Emmanuel added two goals and Justin Bodden and Leon Daniel, one each in the win for T&T which trailed 2-1 and 4-3 at the end of the first two quarters before leveling the match at 5-5 by the end of the third quarter, and then outscoring their opponents 4-3 in the final quarter.
T&T goalkeeper, Sebastien Van Reeken also played a key role in his team’s win with eight saves, the same as Puerto Rican Jorge Torres.
Rey Castillo led Puerto Rico with four goals, two-days after both teams had battled to a 9-9 draw, while Angel Rosado got two and Abiel Quinones and Fernando Zayas, one each, in the loss after they led 4-1.
On Saturday, T&T was crushed 22-7 by Canada and 21-7 by Brazil to end with a record of one win, one draw and five defeats before battling past Puerto Rico ton set up today’s encounter, against the Mexicans who humbled Peru, 12-4 in their fifth to eight semifinal.
When T&T and Mexico faced off in the round-robin phase, the Central Americans came away with a 13-9 victory.
In the main draw semifinals which were carded for yesterday as well, host USA which ended as the top team in the round-robin met fourth placed Argentina while Brazil came up against Canada.
More importantly, the semifinalists have all qualified to the Fina World Under-19 Water Polo Championship.
Results
Junior Pan American Water Polo Championship results
Fifth to Eight semifinal:
Yesterday:
Trinidad and Tobago 9 (Jonathon Gillette 5, Kieron Emmanuel 2, Loon Daniel, Justin Bodden) vs
Puerto Rico 8 (Rey Castillo 4, Andel Rosado 2, Fernando Zayas, Abiel Quinones)
Round-Robin:
Sunday:
Canada 22 (Sean Spooner 5, Euan Scoffield 4, Gaelan Patterson 4, Matthew Halajian, Giordano Marconato, Chris Callaro 4, Sever Topan 3) vs T&T 7 (Justin Bodden 2, Jonathon Gillette 3, Kieron Emmanuel 2).
Saturday:
Brazil 21 (Pedro Stellat, Guiicherme Gomes, Luis Silva 2, Pedro Real 2, Enrique Vosconuelos, Roberto Frietas, Lucas Pinto 3, Rafael Real 3, Caio Reriero 3, William Psanquevich) vs T&T 7 (Leon Daniel 3, Kieron Emmanuel 2, Kyle Ferreria, Johann Callender)