Day 2
Tucson, AZ, WPH Press, 4/13/24
Super Saturday at the Hall of Fame featured five tiebreakers in the R48’s six main draw matches, including all four quarterfinals.
Lucho did not look like he would need a tiebreaker in the day’s opening match, as his 
Vic Perez in game one in a rematch of their quarterfinal match from February’s Red won by Perez. Perez served just three times in the first game but quickly built a 6-0 lead in the second. Perez completely turned the tide, eventually leading 14-8. Perez should have won a game with a kill shot, but an egregious hinder call by the referee gave Lucho a second chance. Lucho capitalized on his good fortune, forcing overtime but could not take the overtime advantage. Perez regrouped, scoring the final two points of the game to force a decider.
Lucho built a sizable lead in the third and withstood a late Perez charge to move into the semifinals.
The second quarterfinal of the morning saw Leo Canales aiming for his third straight Race 4 Eight final, while David Fink was aiming to avenge his one-sided loss to Canales from February’s Red Death. Fink was sharp early, building 7-1 and 12-8 leads and seemingly in control of the match. Canales struck a thirty-nine-foot back wall kill off a three wall wrap around to earn a side out and halt Fink’s momentum. Canales scored the final seven points of the game, benefitting from two Fink errors and several clutch kills.
Fink was relentless in game two, serving his second bagel of the tournament with crack serves and precise kills. Fink continued his streak into the third, leading 6-0. Canales struck a left-handed back wall kill to score his first point and quickly cut the deficit to two at 4-6 with two ace serves. Fink would not allow Canales any closer, quickly regaining the advantage at 9-5, 12-7 and 14-8. Fink needed three serves at fourteen, eventually ending Canales’s historic finals run.
Martin Mulkerrins ran into Sean Lenning for the third time this season in the quarterfinals, having won their previous encounters this season in Portland and Juarez. Mulkerrins kept the pro-Lenning glass bangers at bay in the first, hitting laser serves and kills to take a comfortable one-game lead.
Lenning came alive in the second, at one point hitting three straight roll out serves to the delight of the glass bangers. Lenning was able to pull away and force a third, taking a game for the first time this season against Mulkerrins.
Lenning was exhausted midway through the third but still managed to make sensational shots to stay close. Playing a tournament for the fourth consecutive weekend, a weary Mulkerrins relied on his power and big match experience to avoid the upset.
Hall of Fame MVP Shorty Ruiz took game one against co-R48 #1 Danos Cordova after having already advanced to the finals of the 35+ with a two-game sweep against Vic Perez. Danos was able to extend rallies in the second game, forcing Ruiz errors and eventually evening the match. The third game was more of the same, as Danos pushed Ruiz into the back court and maintained control of the front court to advance to his sixth semifinal of the season.
Lucho Cordova was sharp in game one of the semifinals against David Fink, pinning Fink in the back right corner with a sliding power serve and executing first-strike kills. Fink turned the tables in game two, striking seven ace serves and finding the bottom board to force a third.
Lucho overwhelmed Fink in the third, not allowing him to serve until the score was 8-0 and cruising to the final.
Martin Mulkerrins had lost to Danos Cordova in close tiebreakers in both of their matches this season and emphatically ended that streak, playing conservatively in game one to win 15-9 and winning a Golden Game in game two, never allowing Danos to even serve.
Round of 8
Lucho def Perez 15-0, 14-16, 15-9
Fink def Canales 12-15, 15-0, 15-8
Mulkerrins def Lenning 15-4, 6-15, 15-11
Danos def Ruiz 8-15, 15-11, 15-7
Semifinals
Lucho def Fink 15-7, 7-15, 15-1
Mulkerrins def Danos 15-9, 15-0
Final (Sunday, 10:15 am PST): Lucho vs. M. Mulkerrins
Thank you!
Thank you to the USHA for a phenomenal tournament and an outstanding banquet at the USHA Hall of Fame on Saturday night. The players and fans were incredibly grateful for the wonderful food and camaraderie at the Hall of Fame’s outdoor dinner.
Follow all of the brackets from the 2024 R48LTE USHA Hall of Fame HERE
David Fink
WPH Senior Writer