Utuado Celebrates, Adriana Diaz and Brian Afanador Royal Subjects
Courtesy of ITTF
February 5, 2016 – The host nation celebrated on the evening of Friday February 5th at the 2016 ITTF-Latin American Championships in the Coliseo Municipal Pedrín Zorrilla in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Brian Afanador brought the day to a close by beating Paraguay’s Alejandro Toranzos in three hard fought games to arrest the Under 21 Men’s Singles title (11-3, 11-8, 11-9), the success coming immediately after sisters Adriana Diaz and Melanie Diaz had contested the Under 21 Women’s Singles final; the former emerging successful.
Adriana Diaz won in four games (11-7, 11-8, 5-11, 11-6) to add yet another trophy to her already extensive collection of silverware.
Fought Tooth and Nail
A hug at the end of the contest but from the very first point to very last, the two siblings fought tooth and nail; the point that took the score to 8-5 in favor of Adriana in the third game being one that gained the adulation of the crowd.
A long protracted top spin rally with neither sister prepared to give an inch was a delight to behold.
Fun to Play
“We looked at this match as though it was training”, said Adriana Diaz. “We love each other, we often practice together; today it was fun to play.”
A tremendous contest and whilst the crowd may not have gone totally bonkers had it been one of their own playing an adversary from foreign shores; there was a special atmosphere in the hall.
It was one of pride; the feeling was “look how these two girls play table tennis, they are ours, they are born and bred in Puerto Rico.”
Declaration of Independence
They did their Caribbean island proud and they did the town of Utuado, located in the very center of the island proud; in fact there are so many players, coaches and enthusiasts present at the tournament from Utuado that I’m beginning to think there might be a unilateral declaration of independence!
Family Win
“I was prepared, I knew that the match would be hard; if I won, it would be fine and if she won it would be fine”, said Melanie Diaz. “She is my sister, her victories are my victories”
Great Credit
Great credit to Adriana and Melanie Diaz; equally the contest between Brian Afanador and Alejandro Toranzos was played in the best of spirits.
In recent times Paraguay has relied heavily on Marcelo Aguirre; Alejandro Toranzos is different, he is hard working, powerful and above he possesses a first class attitude.
Just as Brian Afanador was a credit to Puerto Rico, so Alejandro Toranzos was a credit to Paraguay.
Toronto Avenged
“The final was a revenge for Toronto last year, I lost to him in the semi-finals”, said Brian Afanador; at the semi-final stage of the Men’s Team event at the Pan American Games, Puerto Rico had suffered a three-nil semi-final defeat at the hands of Paraguay.
In the opening contest Alejandro Toranzos had beaten Brian Afanador in four games (11-9, 11-7, 5-11, 11-9).
“Today I was in my country and I wanted to take revenge here”, added Brian Afanador. “I had my ideas about how to play the match but because I lost in Toronto I can’t really explain how much I wanted to win.”
Focused
Brian Afanador was focused; there was a definitive goal. Perhaps the match was not a classic but it underlined the fact that the level in Latin America is rising and the continent is an increasing force.
“I knew that it would be a hard match, in Canada I won but I was more confident there”, said Alejandro Toranzos. “Today I didn’t feel confident and that was the reason why I lost the final.”
Honor
Defeat but defeat with honor; but the honor went to Brian Afanador, from the same town as Adriana and Melanie Diaz.
The honor went the “Royal Kingdom of Utuado”.
Watch the live streams from the 2016 ITTF Latin American Championships.
