Bermuda's Davis Cup squad showed heart as they lost to an International team made up of players from Puerto Rico, Panama and South Africa four games to two in the Shell/Billy Way Jr. Memorial Challenge Weekend at the Tennis Stadium.

Although Bermuda led 2-1 after the opening day on Saturday -- behind victories by James Collieson and the doubles unit of Ricky Mallory and Steve Bean -- the Internationals roared back to life yesterday by winning all three matches to capture the tournament's silverware.

Mallory and Bean couldn't repeat their magic from Saturday as they lost 6-2, 6-2 to Panamanians Gus Garibaldi and Jan Gelabert, extinguishing Bermuda's final hopes.

Yesterday's programme began with much emotion as an opening ceremony saluted the memory of Billy Way Jr., killed on July 2 when he was struck by a taxicab in New York City.

Way, a member of Bermuda's first Davis Cup squad in 1995 and a bronze medallist at the CAC Games in 1992, had been expected to compete in the event, which was named in his honour after his untimely death.

The poignant, 15-minute ceremony included several tributes, including a poem which was written and read by Pat Pamplin, followed by a moment of silence and a hymn sung by Al (Pop) Smith.

Michael Way then went on to display extraordinary courage by playing in yesterday's first match, but lost to Stephen Diaz of Puerto Rico 6-0, 6-2.

Way was never really in the match, his serve broken three times in each set and it took more than 30 minutes before he finally won his first game and that came in the second game of the second set.

Although Way left the Stadium immediately after the match, he perhaps said it all when he was trailing 0-1 in the second set: "I'm having a helluva time out here.'' Way did manage to string together back-to-back games in the second set, but quickly wilted under the heat while Diaz dominated with a solid approach shot and serve. With Way leading 40-15 in the sixth game, Diaz climbed back to take a 4-2 lead with the final result never in doubt after that.

"I felt that he wasn't mentally prepared to play the match,'' said Diaz of his opponent afterwards, seeking refuge from the heat under the shade of a VIP tent. "Obviously he hasn't practised because of what happened to his brother.

Tennis is such a mental game at this level and you can fall apart in a second and I think that's the way he was.'' Diaz was the most successful of the International players, also winning his match against Mallory 6-2, 6-1 on Saturday. "But I felt much better today,'' he declared. "On Saturday I was extremely erratic and I had a lot of problems with foot faults in the first game. And the wind was a factor.'' Collieson, the Island's future tennis star, showed why he belonged on the Davis Cup team after a 6-4, 7-5 triumph over Garibaldi on opening day. The teenager looked like he was in the mood for another upset yesterday, this time against 31-year-old South African John Fraser. But an injury to his wrist suddenly threw him off course, as he eventually lost to Fraser 5-7, 6-2, 6-3.

Collieson looked strong in the first set by breaking his opponent's serve twice, but Fraser took control in the second set by winning five of the first seven games. Fraser then appeared to be in trouble, trailing 15-30 in the eighth game. Suddenly, however, Collieson returned a shot and quickly threw his racquet down while grabbing onto his right wrist and writhing in pain.

After a delay of several minutes, Collieson opted to continue, but was never really the same.

"It was my whole forearm and my wrist locked up and my fingers locked up,'' said Collieson, still holding onto his wrist after the match.

Fraser said he made a point of watching Collieson's match on Saturday so he could be prepared against the youngster. "He's got plenty of potential because he's got weapons,'' said Fraser of Collieson. "He's got a big weapon in his forehand and he really hurts you with groundstrokes.'' Collieson said later he was hoping to win the match "for Billy and for me and for all the people who came out and watched.'' He said he was particularly moved that Michael Way opted to play in the event.

"Michael hasn't been playing much, especially the last two weeks,'' said Collieson. "It was good of him that he came out and played for his brother.

He tried pretty hard. It was nice to see him here today.'' Photos by Arthur Bean LAST RESPECTS -- Bermuda's top players (from left) Michael Way, Ricky Mallory, Steve Bean and James Collieson bow their heads during a minute's silence for the late Billy Way before yesterday's Shell Exhibition. Way, Bermuda's former number one, was killed in a traffic accident in New York earlier this month.

STEPHEN DIAZ -- 6-0, 6-2 winner over Michael Way.