Juarez, MEX, WPH Press, 4/2/23
Sunday featured the conclusion of the first Race 4 Eight event in Mexico, as hometown hero Lucho Cordova was aiming for his fourth title of the season against Sean Lenning, while valuable R48 ranking points were on the line in the fifth and ninth place Playoffs.
Final: Lucho vs. Lenning
Both Lucho Cordova and Sean Lenning entered Sunday’s R48LTE Juarez final with seven Race 4 Eight titles, but had never faced one another in a Race final. Lucho had won three Race 4 Eight events this season and was appearing in his sixth final of the season in his seventh start, while Lenning was making his first appearance in a Race 4 Eight final since the 2019 Tucson Memorial.
Lenning continued the sensational play that carried him to the finals in the first game of the final against the hometown hero, keeping Lucho off-balance with hops, power, and unpredictable shot-making. Although appearing to be fatigued, Lenning was able to maintain a lead throughout the first, clinching the game with a flurry of ace serves and fly kills.
Lucho took control of the match in the second, extending rallies with incredible retrieves and completely exhausting Lenning. Lucho led 6-1 and continued to build his lead with a nearly perfect power serve down the right and back wall kills. Lenning continued to grind, calling all of his timeouts and scrambling to stay in rallies. Lucho clinched the second and completely dominated the third, holding Lenning to just three points and exiting the court to a raucous ovation from his passionate fans. With his hometown win, Lucho has now won four titles this season and has all but locked in the R48 year-end #1 ranking.
Final: Lucho def Lenning 10-15, 15-6, 15-3
Playoffs
5th place final: Esser def Canales, Jr. 25-8
Sam Esser stunned his longtime rival Leo Canales, dominating the fifth place final from start to finish with ace serves down the right and back wall kills to end Canales’s seven-match R48 Playoff winning streak.
9th place final: Burgos def English 25-10
Ivan Burgos defeated Kyle English for the third time this season, relying on a left-handed serve to keep the former Arena Football receiver on his heels.
R48LTE Juarez Finishes
1st: Lucho
2nd: Lenning
3rd: Fink/Danos
5th: Esser
6th: Canales, Jr.
7th: Cooney/Montijo
9th: Burgos
10th: English
Thank you
Thank you to Lucho Cordova Sr., Lucho Cordova Jr., Danos Cordova, and the entire Juarez handball community for an outstanding tournament. Thank you to Campestre Juarez for playing host to the 2023 Juarez R48LTE.
Watch the matches live on Facebook HERE
Follow all of the brackets from the 2023 R48LTE Juarez HERE
David Fink
WPH Senior Writer