Saturday at the 2025 R48 Juarez
Day 2
Juarez, MEX, WPH Press, 3/1/25
An action-packed Friday saw the four semifinalists play three matches, multiple overtime games and tiebreakers, and two Irish and two Juarez stars collide on Saturday. The stands were rocking in Juarez on Saturday, as the appreciative galleries were treated to sensational handball.
Semifinals
R48 #1 Martin Mulkerrins met R48 #8 Ivan Burgos for the second consecutive Race 4 Eight event in the quarterfinals, with Burgos holding a seemingly commanding 12-6 lead in the tiebreaker in their last encounter four weeks ago at the 2025 R48 Red. Burgos would be seeking his first win against Mulkerrins and his first Race 4 Eight final, while Mulkerrins was aiming for his third win of the season and to maintain his undefeated record in Juarez.
Just as he had done in Montana four weeks ago, Burgos pounced on Mulkerrins in the first game, using his movement and power to place Martin on his back foot. “Ivan really had Martin standing up straight and paddycaking,” stated 2024 R48 Portland Classic semifinalist Mark Doyle watching the match courtside.
“Ivan went up big in the first game with his two-handed kills,” stated Leo Canales. “Martin found his groove and brought the score back to 13-14 but Ivan got the serve back and closed it out.”
Martin remained calm, talking to his brothers after the first game and seizing control, comfortably thwarting the Burgos attack to win and the second. Mulkerrins was ruthless in the tiebreaker, building a 14-0 lead before an eight-point run from Burgos.
R48 #2 and 11-time Race 4 Eight champion Lucho Cordova met Diarmaid Nash for the first time since the 2022 Race 4 Eight Houston semifinals, a match dominated by Nash. Nash was seeking his first Race 4 Eight title but would have to contend with Lucho’s Army, a rabid gallery that lives and dies with every shot that Lucho hits.
Lucho gave his army the afternoon off, blitzing the 2024 World Handball finalist in two stunningly quick games. “That was vintage Lucho,” stated Doyle. “Looks like the Tucson Memorial pro stop from 2022. Crisp right corner kill, power serve down right and powerful shots all over.”
“Lucho dominated game one playing very intense and hitting great right corner shots,” stated Canales. “Diarmuid began directing traffic with his strong front court game but Lucho was too strong today.”
Final: Martin vs. Lucho
Lucho entered the final on a nine-match Race 4 Eight winning streak, while Mulkerrins entered the final having won thirty of his last thirty-one Race matches, with his only loss since early 2024 coming to Lucho at the 2025 R48 Red. Both were seeking their second R48 Juarez titles, with Martin undefeated in his career coming into the 2025 R48 Juarez final (13-0).
The first game of the final was one of the Race’s most exciting games, with the tour’s two top players sacrificing their bodies on virtually every rally and playing deep into overtime. Very few points came easily, with many of the rallies extending into double digits. Both players were completely exhausted playing their fifth match in thirty hours, but both summoned the energy to make outrageous shots.
“If the ball isn’t rolling, the Cordovas can get it,” stated New Orleans Race 4 Eight tournament director Bob Calluda years ago. Lucho proved that to be true, picking up nearly every shot Martin hit, while Martin demonstrated he can also pick up nearly every shot as well.
Both served to win the first game several times, with each failing to convert. With the score tied at eighteen, the two had matched the longest final game in Race history (Shanks def Alvarado, game two, 2013 Houston, 20-18).
Mulkerrins converted on his sixth game point, gaining a huge edge in the grueling encounter.
“That first game was really good handball,” stated Canales. “Overtime was nuts with the ups and downs.”
Mulkerrins appeared to be on the verge of running away with the second game, building a 4-0 lead. Lucho would not go away quietly in pursuit of his second R48 Juarez title and second consecutive Race title, scoring six consecutive points to take the lead. “That is the Mexican in me that never gives up,” stated Lucho. “Kind of like Mexican boxers are known for that sort of warrior mentality.”
Lucho’s warrior mentality could not force a tiebreaker, as Mulkerrins took control of the match in the second half of the second game, scoring ten of the next twelve points to arrive at match point. Martin would close out the match on his third match point, giving him his fourteenth match win in Juarez against no losses, his third Race title of the season, his sixth Race title in his last seven starts, and the twelfth Race title of his career.
“That was one of the best matches I have ever seen,” stated Sean Lenning.
Final: Martin def Lucho 20-18, 15-9
Playoffs
5th place playoff: Sam Esser notched his best finish of the season in his fifth start of the season, defeating Sean Lenning in the fifth place semifinals and Danos Cordova in the final
Final: Esser def Danos 25-17
9th place playoff: Leo Canales erased the disappointment of losing in the round of sixteen, defeating Shorty Ruiz, Mark Doyle, and Coleman McGrath to win ninth. Leading 22-12 in the ninth final, Canales withstood a furious rally from McGrath, who’s tenth place finish was the best finish of his Race career.
Final: Canales def McGrath 25-19
2025 R48 Juarez Finishes
1st: Mulkerrins
2nd: Lucho
3rd: Nash/Burgos
5th: Esser
6th: Danos
7th: Lenning/Perez
9th: Canales
10th: McGrath
11th: Ortiz/Doyle
13th: Ruiz/Langmack/T. Schmitt/Palma
17th: A. Cordova
The 2025 Juarez Race 4 Eight Top 8 Receive Their Checks and Poncho at the Lienzo Charro
The 2025 Juarez Race 4 Eight top eight finishers were honored at Juarez’s Lienzo Charro, the famous Juarez charrería, rodeo events, traditional skirmishes, and more, all in a family-friendly atmosphere rich in tradition. After watching an exciting charreada and in the company of the charro skirmishes, Martin Mulkerrins, Lucho Cordova, Ivan Burgos, Diarmaid Nash, Sam Esser, Danos Cordova, Vic Perez, and Sean Lenning were awarded their 2025 Juarez Race 4 Eight prize money checks, in addition to a traditional poncho.
JR WPH Clinic Juarez
Race 4 Eight pros Max Langmack and Ivan Burgos led a one-hour JR WPH clinic with fifteen junior handballers before the 2025 R48 Juarez final, teaching the side arm stroke, back wall technique, and various games for prizes, to include lowest kill and target-hitting. “The clinic went great,” stated Burgos, who is a hero to virtually every aspiring handball player.
Thank you to Max and Ivan for inspiring the next generation of players.
Race 4 Eight Juarez Named the 2024 Race 4 Eight Tournament of the Year
The Race 4 Eight pros voted the 2024 Race 4 Eight Juarez the 2024 Race 4 Eight event of the year. Tournament director Luis Cordova Sr. proudly accepted the award from the WPH, the culmination of a dream to bring pro handball to Juarez. Luis Sr. not only brought pro handball to Juarez, he built and ran what the players considered to be the tournament of the year. “My dad is pretty much the main guy (putting on the event),” stated Lucho Cordova. “He has a lot of help from locals but it was his idea. He put the idea forward, he’s always wanted to have one in Juarez and with the help of the locals and with Daniel and I to recruit players, I think he was able to have an awesome tournament that many look forward to each year. This year I think will be the most fun out of all. Every year they get more sponsors and more interest from the locals and even from the city.”
Thank you
Thank you to Luis Cordova, Sr. for hosting and directing an outstanding event in Juarez. Luis is one of handball’s greatest coaches, ambassadors, and tournament directors and the WPH is so grateful to all of his contributions to our great game. Thank you to all of the Juarez donors and sponsors for making the 2025 Race 4 Eight Juarez so successful. Thank you to the WPH staff for continuing to do outstanding work and providing the world’s best players with a platform to showcase their incredible skills.
Watch the matches from the 2025 R48 Juarez on the Handball y Fronton de Cd. Juarez Facebook page HERE
Friday at the 2025 Juarez R48 HERE
Follow the brackets from the 2025 Race 4 Eight Juarez HERE
Next up on the Tour: LAAC R48/WR48/SR48, March 21-23, 2025
Enter the March 21-23, 2025 LAAC R48/WR48/SR48 HERE
David Fink
WPH Senior Writer