By BRENT STUBBS

Chief Sports Editor

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net    

The men’s team saved their best for last, sweeping host Trinidad & Tobago over the weekend in Trinidad & Tobago to join Guatemala in advancing from zone IV to Zone III in the Americas Davis Cup competition. 

As the top seeds out of Group B, The Bahamas blanked Puerto Rico - the number two seeds out of Group A - on the final day of competition on Saturday at the National Racquet Sports Center in Tacarigua.

Donte Armbrister won his No.2 singles match 6-3, 6-3 over Kamarn Curtis McIntosh-Ross and Denali Nottage clinched the tie in the No.1 matchup with a 6-2, 6-4 win over Vaughn Wilson.

The doubles match between the Bahamian duo of Armbrister and Kofi Bowe against McIntosh-Ross and Wilson didn’t play and the celebrations began and continued on the team’s return home yesterday. 

They had a celebration to greet them home on their arrival at the Lynden Pindling International Airport that included an appearance from Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario Bowleg and Acting Director of Sports Kelsie Johnson. 

Former Davis Cupper John Antonas, who returned as the captain after a long hiatus, said the experience felt like the old days when he was either the player or the captain. 

“It was so exciting and rewarding,” said Antonas, who was a part of Team Bahamas that included the “ageless” wonder Leo Rolle, John Farrington, Mark Knowles and Roger Smith back in the 1980s and 1990s. “It was nerve-racking at times which is normal. What fighters these guys were. They fought down to the last point. Consistent but aggressive fighting.”

Antonas said he liked the great team spirit and camaraderie exhibited by the players, calling it a performance The Bahamas should be proud of. 

He also commended the Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association and the parents for the support they provided to the players, both at home and at the competition.

The team returned home yesterday, but while in Trinidad and Tobago as they celebrated their accomplishments, the players concurred that it was their team work that pulled it off.

“What a team, what a week, what a journey we’ve been on this whole week. It was amazing,” he said. “Going into the match, I knew my match was going to be the toughest one to really give us that advantage to put us ahead in the promotion match.

“It was an exciting match. I would say playing against the home country, they brought the atmosphere, but me and the guys were prepared for that and we just tried to stay focussed. They did a good job cheering me on.”

Armbrister, playing in his third Davis Cup tie, said Nottage came through as expected and carried the team over the finish line for a tough win and they got the chip off their shoulders and they proved that they could get the job done.

In sealing the deal, Nottage, the national champion from Grand Bahama., said he was really happy that he got to complete the final piece of the puzzle in their amazing trip to Teinidad & Tobago.

“It was a great week of competition. Every guy on the team did their part from coach Anronas to myself to MJ, to Donteto Kofi,” Nottage said.

“We all had the same goal in mind to go out there and battle from the first point to the last point and give it our all. And that was what we did. It was a great tournament and we got the results that we worked for.”

Bowe, the rookie member of Team Bahamas, said it was a pleasure for him to help the team succeed.

“When the team was selected in May, we had the expectations to come out in Trinidad and to get us promoted back to Zone III,” said Bowe, another native from. Grand Bahama.

“It’s one thing to have expectations, but it’;s another to go out there and do it. So first and foremost, we want to thank God for allowing us to get through our practices and our matches without any major injuries.”

Although Major Jr couldn’t go out and play the first of the matches because of an ankle injury, Bowe said they all rallied behind him and got the job done. 

Now that they have completed their mission, Bowe said he can’t wait to see what the future holds as they work towards climbing back up the ladder to zones two and one respectively.

Once again, Michael Major, who played in the first tie against Cuba on the opening day on Monday when he won his opening singles, didn’t play, but was just as thrilled to be a part of the team.

“I’m very excited about the Bahamas being promoted back to Group three. That was our plan all along and it was extremely fun doing it with this group of guys,” Major Jr said.

“We bonded well and we had a lot of un a=off the court, playing cards and different games and just bonding as a team. We trusted the work we put in over the last couple of months and bonding and camaraderie really pushed us to the edge, along with our skills on the tennis court to get the job done in such a memorable fashion.”

The Bahamas won Group B with an 11-1 win-loss record, blanking all of their opponents except Cuba, whom they beat 2-1 in their opening match on Monday. 

Team Bahamas went on to whitewash Antigua & Barbuda, Panama and Suriname 3-0 in their respective matches on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday before they had a daybreak to relax on Friday.

They completed the mission on Saturday with their 2-0 win over Trinidad & Tobago, while Guatemala blanked Cuba 2-0 to earn the other promotional spot.

While Cuba and Trinidad & Tobago rounded out the top four, the US Virgin Islands got fifth with their 2-0 win over Antigua & Barbuda; Haiti got seventh with their 2-0 win as well over Panama and St Lucia ended up ninth with the 1-2 win over Suriname.

With the Bahamas and Guatemala getting promoted to zone III, the other teams will all remain in zone IV for next year.