Source: www.trinidadexpress.com
Trinidad and Tobago's Under-17 male water polo team have qualified for the Junior World Water Polo Championships, to be held in Perth, Australia in 2012, after earning themselves the distinction of being among the top four junior squads in the Western Hemisphere.
In their final round-robin match in the ongoing UANA Pan American U-17 Water Polo Championships in Puerto Rico on Wednesday evening, T&T went under 7-5 to the USA. However, their victories over 2010 Pan Am champions Canada, 2011 CONSANAT semi-finalists Peru and 2011 CCCAN champs Puerto Rico pushed them into the top four. None of the three teams beaten by Trinidad and Tobago progressed to the semi-finals.
With "Worlds" on their mind, the T&T Under-17s went into the USA match with confidence and determination. They were always competitive, with Russell Ferreira top-scoring with two goals, with teammates Daniel Tardieu, Jonathan Gillette and Shaquille Mitchell accounting for the other three goals. But, USA got the better of them with their seven goals.
In the semis, Trinidad and Tobago faced Brazil after press time last night, while Colombia played USA.
The winners and losers of the respective matches will compete for medals tonight.
The national boya and girls Under-17 teams return on Saturday via Liat at 7.15 p.m.
T&T U-17s march to the 'Worlds':
Lost to Brazil 5-17
Lost to Colombia 6-10
Beat Peru 10-6
Beat Canada 8-6
Beat Puerto Rico 5-4
Lost to USA 5-7
T&T Boys U-17 team: Russell Ferreira, Christian Chee Foon, Adrian Hinds, Daniel Tardieu, Shaquille Mitchell, Kieron Emmanuel, Andrew Chin Lee, Marc Stauble, Jonathan Gillette, Sebastian Van Reeken, Justin Bodden, Johann Callender
Head coach: Adam Foley; assistant coach: Alan-Too-Foo: head delegate/manager: Peter Gillette