From Iva Wharton in Trinidad
After their one year absence the Jamaica’s national netball team on Saturday reclaimed the Americas Federation of Netball Association (AFNA) title from defending champions Trinidad and Tobago who fell to third place.
The final game between Jamaica and Trinidad, the two regional powerhouses of the sport, was played in front of a nearly packed Jean Pierre Complex and saw the Jamaicans running out winners 60-40.
Trinidad fought hard and scored their goals from a 57 attempts while the mighty Jamaicans scored their goals from a mere 69 attempts.
The Jamaicans used their athleticism and height to dominate the championships and showing the crowd why they are currently the best team in the Caribbean.
Anna Kay Griffiths who played goal attack throughout the match because of her height, was able to free herself most of the time to get the ball from their centre player and either pass it to goal shooter Jhaneile Fowler or take the shot herself.
She was adjudged the Most Valuable Player of the tournament.
The Trinidadians missed several opportunities to score as they were unable to take long shots which saw them passing the ball until they were closer to the ring to take the shot.
But the Jamaicans were there waiting from them to make a mistake and grab the ball sending it down the court with in three or four passes.
Trinidad, who also lost to Barbados saw Barbados snatching the runner up spot.
Molly Rhone, president of AFNA in her closing address said that the competition was a success but the absence of several teams saw the championship being played in a round robin format as opposed to there being two groups.
Special mention was made of Guyana, Bermuda and Canada by Rhone.”And I would like to encourage you all not because you have not won, but I hope you would have learnt something from this year and you would take that back home to your country and we will see you in two years’ time in Canada who will be hosting the next AFNA senior championships and hope that you would have improved,” she said.
