Juarez, MEX, WPH Press, 9/17/23
The World Players of Handball and Handball y Frontón de Cd. Juárez were proud to present the WPH R48 Juarez Preseason Kickoff at the Deportivo San Ángel in Juárez, Chih. Mexico.
Known as the “Cradle of Champions” for producing dozens of pro players in the last five decades, the WPH R48 Juarez Preseason Kickoff featured four of the Race 4 Eight’s top twelve pros, to include tournament hosts and top six Race 4 Eight pros Lucho and Danos Cordova.
Lucho Cordova played his second tiebreaker in as many matches against Ivan Burgos (June Clarkbreaker), dropping the first game before rallying to dominate the second and third by a combined 30-7. “Ivan was killing everything in the first, especially off the back wall with his left hand,” stated WPH correspondent John Chapman. “Luis just started hitting more precise and crisp shots in the next two games and Ivan looked to run out of gas.”
Daniel Cordova and Leo Canales, Jr. continued what has become the best rivalry on the tour in the bottom bracket semifinal. After trading wins in five matches during the 2022/23 Race season, Danos and Leo would play one of the best matches of the event. The pair were tied at eleven in the first when Danos pulled away. “Danos and I played a really intense first game,” stated Canales. “We went back and forth. Danos hit some really good Z serves at the end and ran out the last four points.”
Danos raced to a 12-0 lead in game two and held off a charge from Canales to advance to the final. “I was able to bring it back to 12-8 (from 0-12),” stated Canales. “We traded a lot of side outs at 13-8 but he pulled it out.”
After losing to Danos in the semifinals of the WPH Ice Bowl last month, Lucho was motivated to dethrone his brother. Nursing what appeared to be a back injury, Danos was unable to push Lucho in the final, as Lucho clinched his first WPH title since March’s 2023 Juarez R48LTE.
Quarterfinals
Lucho def Canales Sr. 15-5, 15-8
Burgos def Fernandez 15-9, 14-16, 15-9
Danos def Chapman 15-6, 15-7
Canales, Jr. def Garcia, Jr. 15-8, 15-5
Semifinals
Lucho def Burgos 13-15, 15-5, 15-2
Danos def Canales 15-11, 15-8
Final: Lucho def Danos 15-8, 15-8
Follow all of the brackets from the WPH R48 Juarez Preseason Kickoff HERE
2023/24 Race 4 Eight schedule HERE
David Fink
WPH Senior Writer