WPH Press, Tucson, AZ, 3/26/22
The WPH proudly collaborated with the USHA on the Inaugural USHA National Three-Wall Masters Doubles & WPH Icebreaker Pro Doubles, as Tucson’s Clark Park played host to many of the game’s top pros and the country’s top 3-Wall masters doubles teams.
Five of the top nine Race 4 Eight Men’s pros were in action on the one-day pro version of the event, with R48 #2 Lucho Cordova and R48 #3 Danos Cordova earning the top seed.
The Flying Cordovas cruised to the final in the upper bracket, defeating WR48 pro Ashley Moler and Mikaila Esser in the quarterfinals to set up a matchup with former 3-Wall national pro singles finalist and R48 #9 Abraham Montijo and Tucson’s Buddy Key. The Flying Cordovas were in control in game one but Team Montijo/Key stunned the Juarez brothers in the second, forcing a decider. The Cordovas regrouped, taking control on the third to advance to the final.
R48 #3 David Fink and R48 #5 Leo Canales, Jr. teamed together for the first time and met current 3-Wall national pro doubles champions Shorty Ruiz and Sam Esser in the bottom bracket semifinal. Team Fink/Canales trailed 7-14 in game one before staging a furious rally, catching the national champions at 14 and eventually taking a one-game lead, 17-15. Team Ruiz/Esser took a commanding lead in game two and would not allow a late comeback, evening the match at one-game all.
Team Ruiz/Esser led throughout the third on the strength of power ceiling drives from Ruiz and front court kills from both of the current national champions. Serving at 14-10, Team Ruiz/Esser were unable to put the match away, opening the door for Team Fink/Canales. After scoring three consecutive points to cut the deficit to one at 13-14, Team Ruiz/Esser earned a side out and closed out the match in their first inning.
The Flying Cordovas started hot on a 90 degree Tucson afternoon in the first game of the final, blitzing Team Ruiz/Esser, 15-1. “Daniel were just serving a lot of aces down the right,” stated Lucho. “Thery really couldn’t do anything with that serve.”
Tucson’s Ruiz/Esser fell behind 9-3 in the second, and despite several deep court Ruiz kills, were not able to apply scoreboard pressure on the Cordovas, falling 15-1, 15-8. “I didn’t play well at all,” stated Lucho. “I was mishitting a lot, but Daniel’s serve kept us in control.”
Semifinals
Flying Cordovas def Montijo/Key 15-4, 12-15, 15-5
Ruiz/Esser def Fink/Canales 15-17, 15-8, 15-13
Final: Flying Cordovas def Ruiz/Esser 15-1, 15-8
Playoffs
Team Fink/Canales defeated Team Montijo/Key for third (25-17), while Danny Perez and Chicago’s David Elkin defeated California’s Dylan Hernandez and Daniel Badillo and Tucson’s Ashley Moler and Mikaila Esser to take fifth.
“This event has a really great vibe and definitely our best collab to date,” stated USHA Executive Director Matt Kruegger.
“Having the pros here mixed with the Masters players really made this a perfect event,” stated Ohio’s Bob Bardeau. “This is just the first year and I think it’ll get bigger each year.”
“I loved the event,” stated Chicago’s David Elkin. “The courts are awesome and I got to play some really great players. I’ll definitely be coming to as many events as I can here.”
Thank you to the USHA, WPH, Scott Cleveland, Con Man Jim, and all of the players and volunteers who made the Inaugural USHA National Three-Wall Masters Doubles & WPH Icebreaker Pro Doubles a huge success.
Follow all of the brackets HERE
For much more on the Inaugural USHA National Three-Wall Masters Doubles & WPH Icebreaker Pro Doubles, visit ushandball.org
View pictures from this event on Facebook:
David Fink
WPH Senior Writer