Sampras
Fink
Registered: 03/16/07
Posts: 1,203
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| | 01/27/12 at 10:31 PM | Reply with quote | #1 |
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All of the top 12 were in action in Friday's round of 16 and quarterfinal matches. Atlanta was treated to the best of the best on the Race for 8 Pro Tour.
The first round of 16 match featured the hottest rivalry in on the Race For 8 Pro Tour. MDB Andy Nett drew David Fink for the third time this season. MDB had won two scintillating tiebreakers against the feisty lefty at the U.S. Open and Race Stop #3 in Tucson. Fink was able to neutralize the devastating Nett serve and built a comfortable 24-12 lead in game one. Nett made a late charge, but Fink captured the game 25-18. Fink appeared to be in complete control of game two, building a 21-12 lead when MDB switched to sixth gear. Cracking out four consecutive serves and converting incredible deepcourt kills, Nett took a 23-22 lead. Fink hit a completely flat flat kill to tie the score at 23, then won a 35 shot rally that saw both Nett and Fink on the floor fives times each to score the 24th point. Fink served a left crack ace to secure his first win against MDB 25-23 to setup a meeting with World #1 Sean Lenning.
Emmett "The Rock" Peixoto put his undefeated record against Charly Shanks on the line in the second Round of 16 match. The Rock and Shanks treated the appreciative galleries to the match of the event. Neither player was able to build significant leads throughout the first two games. Shanks ended the first game with a flurry of rollouts to win 25-21, but Peixoto's retrieving ability was the difference in game two. Peixoto was able to wear down Shanks by tracking down seemingly unretrievable Shanks kills and passes. Peixoto win game two 25-20, and seemed to have the momentum going into the 25 point tiebreaker. Shanks raced to a 13-8 tiebreaker lead, but Peixoto stormed back with three consecutive aces and a kill to cut the deficit to 12-13. Shanks missed the ceiling on Peixoto's next serve, but the ball hit the crack on the backwall. Peixoto had no play on the ball, and Shanks parlayed his good fortune into a 25-17 win.
TBB Allan Garner faced the resurgent Chip Morales. Morales was unable to find the magic that propelled him to wins over Shanks and Peixoto in Fresno, and a hot TBB cooled off Morales in a lopsided 30 minute 25-12, 25-10 thrashing to setup a clash with Luis "The Natural" Moreno.
Luis Cordova took Tommy Little to the woodshed for the second time this season, easily defeated the veteran 25-12, 25-9 to face #2 ranked pro Naty Alvarado for the second time this season.
Lenning and Fink renewed their rivalry in a fiercely contested contest. Lenning was unable to pull away from Fink in game one as the two exchanged aces and rollouts. Fink was unable to seize several opportunities with the score tied at 15, and Lenning built a 21-17 lead, and closed out the first game win a rekill to win 25-21. Lenning built a 10-2 lead in game two behind two-foot hop serves and incredible fly kills. Fink rallied, but was never unable to erase the early game deficit. Lenning advanced to the semifinals with a 25-21, 25-21 victory.
Shanks was determined to defeat David Chapman for the first time in the second quarterfinal match. Chapman was clearly hobbled by a balky knee, but still managed to build a 20-17 lead. Several controversial calls seemed to inspire Shanks, as Shanks ended the last three rallies in the game with 35 foot kills to win 25-22. Shanks controlled the action in game two, maintaining a 5-7 point lead throughout. Shanks earned his first victory over the current national champion 25-22, 25-17 to advance to his second semifinal of the season.
Luis Moreno entered his quarterfinal match with TBB with a career 1-10 record. The Natural quickly erased any lingering doubts he had going into the matchup with his nemesis by overpowering and completely outplaying The Bombshell. Moreno stunned TBB in just 32 minutes, 25-13, 25-12.
Naty Alvarado defeated the vastly improving Luis Cordova in an exciting offensive showdown. Alvarado struggled to find his range on his serve, but Jr. was able to capitalize on his opportunities against one of the quickest players on the tour to advance to the semifinals with a 25-17, 25-18 win.
Tune into raceforeight.com at 11 am for both semifinals to be followed by a live pro player clinic immediately following the second semifinal.
Semifinals:
11 am: Lenning vs. Moreno
Noon: Alvarado vs. Shanks
5th Place Playoff:
TBB vs. Fink
Cordova vs. Chapman
9th Place Playoff:
Morales vs. Nett
Little vs. Peixoto
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Pat_Boyd
Registered: 12/04/09
Posts: 166
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| | 01/27/12 at 10:55 PM | Reply with quote | #2 |
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BIG SHOUTOUT
To Dave Vincent
David Fink
Ashley Moler
Omar Lemus
Linda
and Jason
For doing a great job of promoting handball. We are thankful to have you here in Atlanta.
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