Latest update December 23rd, 2024 3:40 AM
2017 Junior CASA…Cheeks beat Brewster in see-saw battle as tournament serves off yesterday morning
By Sean Devers
The 2017 Juniors CASA tournament served off yesterday morning at the Georgetown Club and the National Racquet Centre and the Boys U-19 singles between Guyanese Alex Cheeks and US based Bajan Reginald Brewster was the most exciting match of the opening session at the Racquet Centre.
The temperamental Cheeks played with plenty of passion and emotions and won the second, fourth and fifth games, while Brewster won the first and the third, which had all the ingredients for a pulsating and intensely fought set.
In an epic battle at the National Racquet Centre yesterday morning, temperamental Guyanese Alex Cheeks beat US based Bajan Reginald Brewster 3-2 in the most exciting match of the opening session. (Sean Devers photo)
After comfortably taking the first set 11-3 the left-handed Brewster seemed set to dent hopes of Guyana’s first U-19 win, but Cheeks resurged with a fire in his belly and from 3-3 in the second game the Guyanese registered four unanswered points.
Brewster dug deep and scored consecutive points to narrow the gap at 7-10 but Cheeks prevailed, winning 11-7 to set up a riveting third game with began with a 25-shot rally in a match in which long rallies were a highlight.
Brewster played intelligent Squash and several drop shots had the fitter Cheeks diving full length on the Court to keep the ball in play as the action intensified with the Guyanese leading 10-7.
But Brewster was not short of vociferous support and at one period it seemed the contest was being played in Barbados as the Bajan flag (the Broken Trident) was being waved lustily.
This support seemed to energize Brewster as he rebounded to win five consecutive points to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat to take the game 12-10 in a set that Cheeks should not have lost.
With the visitor leading two sets to one the fourth stanza produced a see-saw contest and with Cheeks desperate to show his worth to home fans, forging ahead at 7-3.
However, Brewster, who is set to commence playing Squash at College level in the USA in the next semester, continued to push Cheeks and leveled the score at 8-8 and must have been harboring thoughts of his come from behind win the previous game. But Cheeks finished the game at 11-8.
The deciding game saw Brewster taking the first point but looking physically and mentally tired, the Guyanese left nothing to chance and dominated the rest of the set with 11 unanswered points to win the game 11-1 and the match 3-2. Guyanese Rithew Saywack beat Isaiah Robinson 3-2 in Guyana’s other U-19 match yesterday morning over at the Georgetown Club.
Guyana’s Micheal Alphonso was dominant in a 3-love win over Bermudian Graham Moss in the first game of the day at the Racquet Center in the U-13 Category, while Jamaica’s Adam Ardito was too good for Guyana’s Anthony Islam, beating him in straight sets (11-7, 11-8, 11-0) in the U-17 singles.
Trinidad & Tobago’s Kobie Khan, shrugged off an injury to his left hand to defeat US based Jamaican Dhiman Karan 11-8, 11-7, 11-9 in a U-17 match at the Racquet Centre in a competitive battle despite the results.
Guyana’s Michael Alphonso steps out of his shoes to beat Bermudian Graham Moses 3-love. (Sean Devers photo)
Other Guyana results for yesterday’s morning session:
In the Boys U-11s Guyana’s Nathan Rahaman lost to Motara Zishan of Barbados and Guyana’s Chad De Abreu lost to Andrew Cox.
Boys U-13s, Guyana’s James Mekdeci lost to Jamaica’s Tobias Levi, Guyana’s Demetrius De Abreu beat Neil Mc Comb, Guyana’s Michael Alphonso beat Graham Moss of Bermuda, and Ethan Jonas beat Ringer Daniel.
Girls U-13s: Guyana’s Paige Fernandes beat Sigourney Williams, Guyana’s Haley Carpenter was defeated by Hailey Moss and Guyana’s Kirsten Gomes beat Olivia Kluyver.
Action continued last evening and more play is set for today as the tournament continues.
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