Trinidad and Tobago are the 2014 Americas Federation of Netball Associations champions after defeating Barbados 53-46 last night in Alberta, Canada.
The two teams went into the final with unbeaten 5-0 records but though Barbados suffered their first loss, both teams have qualified for next year’s Netball World Cup in Sydney, Australia.
Barbados started the game with Shanice Wharton, Nikita Piggott, Samantha Browne, Damisha Croney, Kizzy Marville, Latonia Blackman and Shonette Bruce.
Barbados were playing catch-up from the start of the game and after the first quarter trailed by six goals at 16-10. They narrowed this by the half-time break, trailing only by four goals at 27-23.
After a spirited third-quarter period which saw Barbados lock the score at 32, Trinidad and Tobago exerted significant pressure on Barbados at both ends of the court to maintain their advantage until the final whistle.
In the other final matches played last night, the USA defeated Canada 42-40 while Argentina, in their first tournament, went down to Grenada 70-39.
Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago will now join regional powerhouses Jamaica at next year’s tournament.