Day 2, Saturday, 4/9/22
Super Saturday provided incredible R48, WR48, and SR48 action, as the game’s best showcased the sport at the highest level for all of the appreciative Salt Lake City fans and ESPN viewers across the country.
R48
Saturday’s quarterfinals kicked off with a white hot Max Langmack blitzing R48 #1 with a 10-0 start. “Max took about 12 swings to score those 10 points,” stated WPH ESPN play-by-play announcer Dave Vincent. “It definitely felt good to get off to that start, my serve was working, but Killian worked his way into the match,” stated Langmack.
Carroll reeled off 15 consecutive points to take the first game and was in control in game two to advance to the semis.
Good friends Sean Lenning and Danos Cordova renewed their rivalry in the next semifinal, with Lenning aiming to avenge his quarterfinal loss at December’s Stop #2 in Nashville. Lenning displayed his full arsenal in the two-game sweep, striking unthinkable left-handed kills into the right corner, blistering serves, and sensational court coverage. “Sean is streaky,” stated Danos. “I felt like I played well but when he is making his shots there’s nothing you can really do.”
Shorty Ruiz took a one-game lead against Lucho Cordova in the next quarterfinal, but could not sustain the pace, dropping the next two against one of the game’s best tiebreaker players. “I just got tired in there,” lamented Ruiz.
Martin Mulkerrins needed just 22 minutes to dispose of Loren Collado, turning the final quarterfinal into a clinic. “This was one of the single-most impressive games I’ve ever witnessed,” barked WPH Executive Director and ESPN Analyst this weekend, Dave Vincent. “I’ve only seen this type of dominance and pure wrecking-ball-like-play from Paul Brady …years ago.” This 22 minute match (including a 5-minute break between games and three time outs) ended with more time-outs than points; 15-1, 15-1.
Carroll faced longtime rival Sean Lenning in the upper bracket semifinal in one of the sport’s most compelling matchups. Lenning led 6-4 in game one before Killian took off, scoring the final none points of the game with serves that looked like kill shots and first strike kills on the serves that were returned. Despite battling fatigue, Lenning pushed Carroll to the limit in game two, fly-killing and ace serving his way to a 12-10 lead. Lenning could not score the final three points, falling to Carroll for the second time this season. “Even though Sean may not be properly training or fit, he is always dangerous because he can hit any shot,” stated Carroll.
In the second men’s semi, Martin Mulkerrins disposed of Lucho Cordova in Game two in the same fashion that he’s been playing throughout the event–Quick and Easy! However, game one was a barn-burner, as Lucho held the lead late before a series of strange calls disrupted the flow of the game. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen a foot-fault, broken ball, hinder, screen, bad bounce and a baby screaming in the gallery at match-point or to break a run, like I did in that first game,” stated WPH Announcer, Dave Vincent. Mulkerrins went on to take the bottom bracket as the 11-seed, 16-14, 15-6.
Match/Comeback of the Day
Shorty Ruiz led 10-0 in the fifth place semifinal against Loren Collado, seemingly closing in on the fifth place final. “I got bored and went for a crazy shot at 10-0 and that changed the match,” stated Ruiz. “Collado proceeded to score 23(!) points in a row, standing two points from his best R48 finish. Ruiz tied the score at 23, but Collado scored and served for the match at 24-23. Collado appeared to hit a match-winner from 35-feet with his right hand, a three-inch high laser down the right, but Ruiz read the shot and executed a perfect paddle re kill to earn a side out. Three consecutive kills ended the match, as Ruiz advanced to play Danos in Sunday’s (9 am MST) fifth place final.
Quarterfinals
Carroll def Langmack 15-10, 15-6
Lenning def Danos 15-12, 15-10
Mulkerrins def Collado 15-1, 15-1
Lucho vs. Ruiz 13-15, 15-7, 15-4
Semifinals
Carroll def Lenning 15-6, 15-13
Mulkerrins def Lucho 16-14, 15-6
Final: Carroll vs. Mulkerrins (11:30 am MST)
WR48
One of the WR48’s strongest draws in the 25-event history of the tour staged its quarterfinals and semifinals on Saturday. Catriona Casey was flawless in her quest for her twenty-second WR48 title, defeating Tracy Davis and Aimee Tuohey en route to the final. “Aimee and I played in the 2018 final here and she seems to be playing even better now,” stated Casey. “It’s great to see that we didn’t lose any of the players due to COVID, and it seems that no one has even lost a step!”
After being sidelined for nearly a year with a back injury, Martina McMahon ended Danielle Daskalakis’s eight-match WPH winning streak in the quarterfinals to set up a showdown with Irish compatriot Fiona Tully. The highly anticipated matchup fizzled, as Tully was unable to gain any traction in the showdown. McMahon’s power and offense were too much for the one-time WR48 finalist, as McMahon will aim for her first WR48 Player’s Championship on Sunday.
Quarterfinals
Casey def Davis 15-1, 15-3
Tuohey def Moler 15-1, 15-11
Tully def Esser 15-11, 15-6
McMahon def Daskalakis 15-10, 15-4
Semifinals
Casey def Tuohey 15-1, 15-8
McMahon def Tully 15-5, 15-7
Final (10:30 am MST): Casey vs. McMahon
SR48
Top 15 R48 pros David Fink and Bill Mehilos will meet in their first SR48 final on Sunday (9:45 am mst), as Fink battled past hometown favorite Jim Karner and Mehilos overcame George Garcia, Jr.
Semifinals
Fink def Karner 15-8, 15-9
Mehilos def Garcia 15-8, 15-7
Final: Fink vs. Mehilos (9:45 am MST)
The Aces Banquet
The Aces crew once again rolled out the red carpet for all of the players, throwing the Race 4 Eight bash of the year at the Ace headquarters. Players were treated to endless ribs, chicken, salad, dessert, drinks and more before heading to the Ace 3-Wall courts to play into the early morning. “Every pro I have spoken to says that this is the best tournament in the sport,” stated the WPH’s David Fink. “Thank you to the entire Ace team and all of the sponsors and volunteers who make the Aces Player’s Championship THE destination for handball every spring.”
Watch Sunday’s action live on the Watch ESPN App starting at 10 am MST HERE
Follow all of the brackets HERE
2022 WPH Aces Player’s Championship #7
Salt Lake City UT
Apr 8-10, 2022
ESPN3 & WatchESPN App Broadcast Schedule (Local Salt Lake Time Zone: Mountain Daylight Time)
Friday’s Wrap-Up (April 8th, 2022) HERE
Saturday’s Wrap-Up (April 9th, 2022) HERE
Brackets/draws HERE
ESPN Link for SUNDAY
Sunday, April 10th, 2022: 9a to 1:30p MDT (8a-5p PDT/MST, 10a-2:30p CDT, 11a-3:30p EDT, 4p-8:30p IST) on ESPN3 HERE
09:00 5th Place Singles – Final Daniel Cordova (TX) vs Shorty Ruiz (AZ)
09:45 Men’s 40+ Senior – Final Bill Mehilos (IN) vs David Fink (AZ)
10:30 Women’s Singles – Final Martina McMahon (IRE) vs Catriona Casey (IRE)
11:30 Men’s Pro Singles – Final Killian Carroll (IRE) vs Martin Mulkerrins (IRE)
Time Zone Key:
Zone +/- HR CITY/STATE
PDT -1 (Los Angeles, CA)
MST -1 (Phoenix, AZ)
MDT 0 (Salt Lake City)
CDT +1 (Chicago, IL)
EDT +2 (New York, NY)
IST +7 (Dublin, IRE)
Daily write-ups/wrap-ups at wphlive.tv and social media. To watch this broadcast, go to WatchESPN.com, select Network ESPN3 and Sport HANDBALL. WPH Patreon Supporters at patreon.com/wphlive may have extras, features and special blackout viewing options. Join today and make a pledge! Info@wphlive.tv