Pan American Championships - Doubles semi finals

Americans Aimee Ruiz and Jackie Paraiso will have a chance to defend their doubles title at the Pan American Championships in Cali, Colombia on Saturday, but Mexicans Javier Moreno and Gilberto Mejia will not.

Ruiz and Paraiso, the reigning World Champions, defeated Canadians Josée Grand'Maître and Véronique Guillemette in the semis, 15-5, 15-10. They will play Mexicans Samantha Salas Solis and Paola Longoria in Saturday's final. Salas Solis and Longoria defeated Jenny Daza Navia and Carola Loma of Bolivia in the other semi-final, 15-8, 15-12.

A win on Saturday would be Ruiz and Paraiso's third Pan American Championship title, as they also won in 2006 as well as last year. Paraiso has won Pan Am gold on six other occasions: in 1991 and 2003 with Kim Russell, 2001 with Laura Fenton, and three consecutive years with her sister Joy MacKenzie from 1997-1999.

It's the first Pan Am doubles final for either of the Mexican women.

Men's Doubles

The American team of Ben Croft and Mitch Williams dethroned the defending champions Javier Moreno and Gilberto Mejia from Mexico, winning their semi-final match 15-11, 15-5.

Saturday, Croft and Williams will try to win the first Pan American gold medal for the USA since 2006, when Woody Clouse and Willie Tilton won. Their opponents will be Jorge Zambana and Ricardo Monroy of Bolivia who defeated Danny Maggi and Shai Manzuri of Argentina, 7-15, 15-10, 11-2 in the other semi-final.

It's the first time Bolivia has made the men's doubles final since 1993 when Juan Carlos Tapia and Leomir Sarmiento made the final in Cochabamba, Bolivia against Americans Joel Bonnett and Bill Sell, who won.

Pan American Championships
Women's Doubles Semi finals

Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas Solis (Mexico) d. Jenny Daza Navia & Carola Loma (Bolivia), 15-8, 15-12
Aimee Ruiz & Jackie Paraiso (USA) d. Josée Grand'Maître & Véronique Guillemette (Canada), 15-5, 15-10

Women's Doubles final

Aimee Ruiz & Jackie Paraiso (USA) vs. Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas Solis (Mexico)

Men's Doubles Semi finals

Ben Croft & Mitch Williams (USA) d. Javier Moreno & Gilberto Mejia (Mexico), 15-11, 15-5
Jorge Zambana & Ricardo Monroy (Bolivia) d. Danny Maggi & Shai Manzuri (Argentina), 7-15, 15-10, 11-2

Men's Doubles final

Ben Croft & Mitch Williams (USA) vs. Jorge Zambana & Ricardo Monroy (Bolivia)

Follow the bouncing ball....