Long Island, NY, WPH Press, 3/5/23
The ICHA proudly hosted the 41st Long Island Open at New Hyde Park’s L.A. Fitness, featuring 110 players in small ball and big ball 4-Wall divisions, with the event serving as a fundraiser for the Inner City Handball Junior Development Fund.
21-time Race 4 Eight champion Killian Carroll made the trip from Boston to Long Island to headline the 22-player Men’s Open small ball field. Carroll was joined by the Bastidas brothers, San Francisco’s Rene Lopez, and a number of New York’s best players.
Carroll sent a message in Long Island, allowing just ten points combined in his semifinal and final wins, defeating Alvaro Rebaza in the semifinal and avenging his two losses to Tyree Bastidas at the last two 1-Wall Nationals to take the title.
Semifinals
Carroll def Rebaza 21-1, 21-1
Tyree def R. Lopez 21-6, 21-8
Final: Carroll def Tyree 21-7, 21-1
Watch Carroll vs. Tyree on Jared Vale’s Facebook page HERE
Women’s Big Ball Singles
4-Wall, 3-Wall, and 1-Wall national champion Danielle Daskalakis and perennial small ball and big ball contender Sandy Ng headlined the eight-player Women’s Open big ball singles field.
Playing in her first big ball event since winning the European 1-Wall Elite in December (HERE), Daskalakis was dominant in the women’s big ball singles, ousting Tiffany Lau Wu in the semifinals and scoring 22 of the last 25 points of the match in the final against Sandy Ng. “Sandy and Danielle was a great match,” stated New York handball mega donor and ambassador Jared Vale. “Sandy jumped out to a lead but stamina seemed to be the issue. Danielle caught up from 3-8, tied it at 11 and never looked back.”
Semifinals
Daskalakis def Wu 25-4
Ng def Lee 25-3
Final: Daskalakis def Ng 25-11
Men’s Big Ball Singles
California big ball stars Oscar Siordia and Sal Duenas made the three-thousand-mile trip from Southern California to challenge New York’s best big ball players for the big ball singles title. Siordoa overcame Eric Lee in the upper bracket semifinal, while Duenas defeated Shelkh Hossain to ensure an all California final. 2022 WPH Icebreaker champion Siordoa was able to edge Duenas in the final for the Long Island title.
Semifinals
Siordia def E. Lee 25-14
Duenas def S. Hossain 25-10
Final: Siordia def Duenas 21-18
“Players from all over made this the largest Long Island Open turnout in years,” stated Vale, who teamed with Killian Carroll to win the open doubles. “Thanks to L.A. Fitness. We need their continued support.”
For more on the the 41st Long Island Open, go HERE
For more on the ICHA, visit icha.org
David Fink
WPH Senior Writer