Day 2
Portland, OR, WPH Press, 10/7/23
Saturday in Portland featured the quarterfinals and semifinals of the R48 Men’s Pro Portland Classic, with the game’s best dazzling the large Multnomah Athletic Club galleries. After the semifinals, JR WPH proudly hosted a clinic for the Pacific University Handball Team and several junior players.
Lucho raced to a 14-1 lead in the first game of the first quarterfinal of the day against Sam Esser. Esser found some rhythm, scoring six consecutive points. The comeback was too late, as Lucho seized a one-game lead. Esser played even with Lucho throughout the first half of the second game, ending numerous rallies with left-handed kills. Lucho broke away from a six-all tie to serve for the match at 14-10. Lucho would need four serves at match point to close out Esser, ultimately hitting a second serve crack ace to move into the semifinals.
“Nothing was effective (at the end of the second game), I could not score at the end and I just went for a crack and it worked out,” stated Lucho on the court with ESPN’s Kara Mack. “I am definitely motivated to keep it (#1). I want to keep it for as long as I can.”
Danos was in control throughout his two-game sweep against Shorty Ruiz in the second semifinal, neutralizing Shorty’s hops and fly kills dominating the front court.
“I think age is catching up to me,” lamented Ruiz.
“Shorty was kind of lazy and popping the ball up and gave me more time for me to get into my groove,” stated Danos, who travels nine hours just to get to the airport from where he is living in Mexico. “A lot of meditating in Mexico, it’s really silent, just a lot of thinking. To workout I can really just run. I just want to be able to play at a full potential because last season I really couldn’t.”
Martin Mulkerrins buzz-sawed #NextGen star Ivan Burgos in just eighteen minutes in the third semifinal, keeping Burgos in the back court and forcing a number of errors.
Sean Lenning and David Fink met for the second time in four Race stops, with the pair’s rivalry spanning three different decades. Lenning took control in game one with ace serves and shoulder-height kills, building a 13-7 lead. Fink closed the gap to one with a five-point streak, but a diving re kill from Lenning ended Fink’s momentum and Lenning closed out the game. Game two played out similarly, with Lenning grabbing a 9-3 lead. Fink closed the gap to 11-13 but would stall there, sending Lenning to the semifinals.
Lucho met his brother for a spot in the final, aiming for his second consecutive R48 Portland Classic final. Danos played with tremendous precision and power, overwhelming his older brother en route to an 8-0 first game lead. Lucho was never closer than four points, as Danos took game one. Danos grabbed a 4-0 lead to start the second, but Lucho rallied, taking his first lead of the match at 5-4. “Lucho is just so consistent and he makes so many gets,” stated R48 pro and ESPN color analyst Max Langmack. Lucho outscored Danos 15-3 after the slow start to force a decider.
Lucho is one of the Race 4 Eight’s best tiebreaker players in history, entering this tiebreaker with a 19-13 mark in deciders. This tiebreaker would be no different, as Lucho took control and overcame several uncharacteristic right-hand errors to advance to the final.
“I didn’t really have a strategy, just to play my game,” Lucho would later tell ESPN’s Kara Mack. “I changed my serve to the hard serve after the first game. I did learn I can use the power serve down the left to use for the finals.”
Martin Mulkerrins and Sean Lenning renewed one of the most exciting rivalries in handball in the bottom bracket semifinals. Mulkerrins was sharp in game one, overwhelming Lenning with power and kills. “It just looks like Sean’s timing is a little off,” remarked Langmack.
After dropping game one, Lenning charged in game two, taking an 8-1 lead with a highlight reel of kills, including a shoulder-high kill from forty feet. Mulkerrins was not about to hand Lenning the game, inching his way back into the game and eventually catching Lenning at eleven. Mulkerrins arrived at match point at 14-11 but could not close on his first attempt. Lenning was only able to score one point before a side out, and Mulkerrins ended the match with a mishit kill, avoiding the fate he experienced at April’s Tucson Hall of Fame R48LTE which saw Lenning rally from 8-15, 10-14 down to win.
“I’m here to win all the tournaments,” Mulkerrins would tell Mack. “It’s one step at a time and it’s one step closer. Things went my way and a lucky last shot. Happy to win it in two. I was working hard and chasing it down. It was ridiculous intensity. You just don’t know where Sean is going because he can change direction with the wrists. You have to be on top of your game with Sean. Obviously, looking forward to playing Luis tomorrow. We only played three times last season. I’m expecting a huge challenge tomorrow, Luis has a lion’s heart. I’m pleased with my court time today.”
Quarterfinals
Lucho def Esser 15-7, 15-11
Danos def Ruiz 15-2, 15-7
Mulkerrins def Burgos 15-4, 15-1
Lenning def Fink 15-12, 15-11
Semifinals
Lucho def Danos 8-15, 15-7, 15-8
Mulkerrins def Lenning 15-7, 15-12
Final (Sunday): Lucho vs. Mulkerrins (11:30 am PST)
JR WPH Clinic
WPH Race 4 Eight pro and Master Instructor David Fink led a JR WPH clinic for the Pacific University Handball Team and several junior players, taking them through the warm-up and how to self-practice, in addition to discussing the proper fundamentals and footwork to hit each shot. The young players had an opportunity to hit all of the shots under the watchful eye of Coach Fink. “This was one of the most appreciative and enthusiastic groups I have ever coached,” stated Fink. “They asked a lot of questions and were very keen on improving and learning.”
Best of luck to Pacific University in their upcoming tournaments. We will be following you!
Thank you to Noho’s Hawaiian Café for catering an outstanding dinner for all of the players and fans. Thank you to Conor Casey and his family and band of volunteers for another outstanding day at the MAC.
Follow the draws and results from the 2023 Race 4 Eight Portland Classic HERE
David Fink
WPH Senior Writer
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2023 (ALL TIMES PACIFIC)
10:00 MEN’S 5TH PLACE FINAL – Sam Esser (AZ) vs Ivan Burgos (AZ)
10:45 MEN’S 9TH PLACE FINAL – Dylan Hernandez (LAAC) vs Vic Perez (LAAC)
11:30 MEN’S PRO FINAL – Luis Cordova (MEX) vs Martin Mulkerrins (IRE)