Colombia upsets Guatemala to reach Women's Team final at 2018 Central American & Caribbean Games

Colombia upset Guatemala to reach the final of the Women’s Team event at the 2018 Central American & Caribbean Games in Barranquilla, Colombia on Friday. They will play the top seeded Mexican team for gold in the final on Saturday. Colombia had to come from a match down to defeat Guatemala in their semi-final, while Mexico beat Costa Rica in two straight matches. The Men’s Team final will see #1 Mexico play #2 Costa Rica.

In their semi, Gabriela Martinez got Guatemala off to a good start against Colombia, as she defeated Adriana Riveros, 15-13, 7-15, 11-6. But the Colombians levelled the match by winning doubles, as Riveros and Cristina Amaya won in three games against Martinez and Maria Renee Rodriguez, 13-15, 15-10, 11-7. In the deciding third match, Rodriguez won the first game against Amaya, but then the Colombian veteran took the next two games to carry the day for her country, winning 14-15, 15-6, 11-8.

In the other women’s semi, Paola Longoria of Mexico beat Melania Sauma of Costa Rica, 15-2, 15-9, and then teamed up with Samantha Salas to defeat Sauma and Maricruz Ortiz in doubles, 15-3, 15-3.

In the Men’s Team semis, Mexico beat Guatemala, 2-0, as Daniel De La Rosa defeated Edwin Galicia, 15-2, 15-14, and he and Alvaro Beltran beat Galicia and Christian Wer in doubles, 15-8, 15-4. Then Costa Rica needed three matches to fend off Cuba.

In the first match, Cuban Maykel Moyet took out Costa Rican Felipe Camacho in straight games, 15-6, 15-13. But Camacho and Andrés Acuña were able to level the contest at 1-1 as they won the doubles match against Moyet and Enier Chacon, 15-7, 15-11. Acuña then won it for Costa Rica by defeating Chacon, 15-6, 15-2.

2018 Central American & Caribbean Games - July 20-29
Barranquilla, Colombia

Men’s Team - Semi-finals - Friday

Mexico d. Guatemala - 2-0

1. Daniel De La Rosa (Mexico) d. Edwin Galicia (Guatemala), 15-2, 15-14
2. Alvaro Beltran & Daniel De La Rosa (Mexico) d. Edwin Galicia & Christian Wer (Guatemala), 15-8, 15-4
3. Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico) v. Juan Salvatierra (Guatemala), not played

Costa Rica d. Cuba - 2-1

1. Maykel Moyet (Cuba) d. Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica), 15-6, 15-13
2. Andrés Acuña & Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica) d. Maykel Moyet & Enier Chacon (Cuba), 15-7, 15-11
3. Andrés Acuña (Costa Rica) d. Enier Chacon (Cuba), 15-6, 15-2

Men’s Team - Final - Saturday

Mexico v. Costa Rica

Women’s Team - Semi-finals

Mexico d. Costa Rica - 2-0

1. Paola Longoria (Mexico) d. Melania Sauma (Costa Rica), 15-2, 15-9
2. Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas (Mexico) d. Maricruz Ortiz & Melania Sauma (Costa Rica), 15-3, 15-3
3. Alexandra Herrera (Mexico) v. Maricruz Ortiz, not played

Colombia d. Guatemala, 2-1

1. Gabriella Martinez (Guatemala) d. Adriana Riveros (Colombia), 15-13, 7-15, 11-6
2. Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros (Colombia) d. Gabriella Martinez & Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala), 13-15, 15-10, 11-7
3. Cristina Amaya (Colombia) d. Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala), 14-15, 15-6, 11-8

Women’s Team - Final - Saturday

Mexico v. Colombia

Follow the bouncing ball….