Joshua Lubin and Manie Eleuthere finished off Saint Lucia’s representation at the Junior Pan Am Games in Asunción, Paraguay on Thursday, with the opening rounds of the team competition, where they played Canada, Paraguay, and Puerto Rico at the National Sports Secretariat.
Playing in Group B, Saint Lucia succumbed to the hosts 3:0. Eleuthere lost to Axel Bertolo in straight sets, 11-:7, 11:6, 11:7. Lubin was defeated by Ivan Pastore, also in straight sets, 11:8, 11:6, 11:7. The Paraguayan pair stopped their Saint Lucian counterparts in doubles action 11:3, 11:4, 11:8.
To open up against Canada, Eleuthere battled hard against Kenny Xiao Ly, who is 19, three years older than Eleuthere. The Canadian took the first two sets, only for the Saint Lucian to draw level by winning the next two. But Xiao Ly eventually prevailed 11:6, 11:5, 9:11, 9:11, 11:5.
Lubin took one set from Laurent Jutras, falling 10:12, 11:2, 11:5, 11:4. Eleuthere and Lubin also took a set from Ly and Jutras, falling 11:8, 11:13, 11:9, 11:2.
Against Puerto Rico, Eleuthere was beaten by Enrique Rios 11:6, 11:4, 11:4. Lubin lost to Steven Moreno 11:5, 11:9, 12:10. The Saint Lucians then fell in straight sets in doubles, 11:9, 11:7, 11:7.
The well-travelled Lubin and Eleuthere are now off to the Pan American Youth Championships, beginning this weekend in Argentina. They will be joined by former secondary school champion Stephen Steele, 2023 Under-11 Caribbean champion Shatal Charles, and 2025 Under-15 Caribbean bronze medallist Leshon Francis.
Charles will compete in the Under-15 Girls Singles. Francis will play in the Under-15 Cadet Boys Singles and Under-19 Teams. Charles and Francis will play Under-15 Mixed Doubles.
Eleuthere, Lubin, and Steele will take part in the Under-19 Men’s Singles and Under-19 Men’s Teams.
(TF)
