Last season’s runner-up Saints are gathering momentum in the 26th staging of the KPMG Squash League, strengthening their bid to finally capture the title that has narrowly eluded them in recent years.
After finishing second twice in succession, the team has begun this year’s campaign with renewed determination. With only one preliminary-round match remaining, optimism within the camp is growing, especially with defending champions Blown absent from this year’s competition.
Dominant performance at Liguanea
Saints received a bye in the opening round due to an uneven group, but wasted no time making an impact when they stepped onto the court in the second round.
Competing at the Liguanea Club, home of Jamaica Squash Association, Saints delivered a decisive 3-0 sweep over JDF B in a lively encounter.
Matches in the league are contested in a best-of-five format to 21 points, but none of the Saints players required a fifth game to secure victory.
Darren Latchman set the tone, dispatching JDF B’s Daniveen Campbell in straight games, 21-18, 21-17, 21-18.
Jerazeno Bell followed with another composed performance, defeating O’Dayne Edwards 21-18, 21-19, 21-19.
Team captain Mario O’Connor completed the sweep with a convincing victory over Rohan Samuels, posting scores of 21-14, 21-16, 21-18 to seal the tie.
Captain praises team focus
O’Connor said the team’s discipline and concentration were key to managing the unique demands of the league’s handicap format.
“I was pleased with our performance because in a handicap situation like this, where these guys, their handicaps were pretty high, we had to focus in such a way to avoid giving away crucial points because some of the matches were 17-0,” O’Connor explained.
“I think Jerry’s game started at 18-2. So in terms of room for error, there was really no room for error. So we had to focus so that we could get the points, catch up and then win the game. So I’m really pleased with how we were focused enough to get it over the line. And we’re just looking forward now to playing Campion.”
How the handicap system works
The league’s distinctive handicap system is designed to create balanced competition across players of varying ability levels.
Tournament director Nathlee Boreland explained that the system assigns starting points to lower-ranked players while stronger competitors begin at zero, or even negative scores, forcing them to rally during the match.
“A handicap tournament basically evens the playing ground for advanced players who will play against persons of a lower level, therefore the lower skilled player will start with points assigned them whereas the higher skilled level player will start at zero or minus and these games are played to 21,” Boreland said.
“So the lower skill level may start with 17 and the higher skill level may start at zero going to 21. So it’s for the person with the higher skill level to concentrate in order to get even to the 17 and then go on to win so its not gonna be easy to win for the higher skill level player.”
Crucial final preliminary round ahead
The third and final preliminary round of matches were scheduled to begin on Tuesday at the Liguanea Club.
Following the conclusion of that stage on Thursday, the top two teams from each group will progress to the quarter-finals, where the tournament will shift to a knockout format.
The preliminary stage is being contested in a round-robin format among groups of four teams, setting the stage for what promises to be an intense race toward the championship.
For Saints, the mission is clear: maintain their momentum and transform steady progress into a long-awaited league triumph.
