Phoenix, AZ, WPH Press, 3/4/18– Phoenix’s Camelback High School and Arizona handball ambassador Don Stewart hosted the 3rd Annual Arizona 3-Wall Shootout, featuring more than 60 players from Arizona, California, New York, Colorado, Texas, and Mexico competing in 3-Wall small ball doubles in the early March Arizona sunshine. Three-time defending 3WallBall small ball world champion and R48 #17 Shorty Ruiz, R48 #16 Abraham Montijo, Phoenix’s Edgar Medina and David Munoz, Juarez’s 2017 JR WPH Coach of the Year Richie Fernandez, and Los Angeles’ R48 qualifier hopeful Christian Luna headlined a strong open doubles field at Camelback High School.
In the open doubles, 3-Wall specialist and cross over star Shorty Ruiz teamed with Tucson Memorial tournament director and “Commissioner” Scott Cleveland. Ruiz and “The Commish” cruised to the final, ousting David Munoz and Pat States (NY) in the semifinals. “States is a really good player and he and Dave really made Shorty and Scott work for it,” reported Montijo.
Abraham Montijo teamed with L.A.’s rising star Christina Luna, advancing to the semifinals and overcoming Edgar Medina and Alberto Tevares to advance to the final. “We were down big early in the first game but got hot with the serve in the middle and towards the end to take game one, then played steady in game two,” stated Montijo.
Montijo and Luna picked up where they left off in the middle of the semifinals in the final, never allowing Ruiz and Cleveland into the match and sweeping the final in two games. “It was really nice playing with Christian,” stated Montijo. “Christian has really improved his game over the past couple of years and it’s great to see him traveling to tournaments. He should do well in the R48 Houston next weekend.”
Semifinals
Ruiz/Cleveland def Munoz/States
Montijo/Luna def Medina/Tevares 15-10, 15-11
Final: Montijo/Luna def Ruiz/Cleveland 15-1, 15-9
David Fink
WPH Senior Writer