Saturday at the 2016 NYAC Race 4 Eight featured the Men’s R48 Pro quarterfinals and semifinals, the WR48 semifinals and the R48 Playoffs, all live on ESPN3!
Paul overcame a slow start in the first men’s quarterfinal of the day, serving eight aces in the first game and six in game two to defeat Daniel Cordova in two games. In the second men’s quarterfinal, Emmett Peixoto raced to a 14-1 first-game against Luis Moreno behind steady play. Moreno made adjustments with his back against the wall, finding his spots on his serve and scoring nine consecutive points to cut the deficit to 10-14. Peixoto closed out game one after a timeout, but Moreno had grabbed the momentum. Moreno cruised in the second and third games by playing more aggressively and overpowering “The Rock” to advance to his second consecutive R48 semifinal.
Mando Ortiz and David Fink renewed their rivalry that started in 2008 in the third quarterfinal, with Ortiz and Fink trading kills and passes and to meet at 11 in game one. Ortiz scored the last four points of game one and continued his hot play in game two, racing to a 10-2 lead. Fink slowed down the game with various lob serves, scoring 10 of the next 11 points to take a 12-11 lead. Just as Mando had done in game one, Ortiz scored the last four points of the game to advance to the semifinal. Killian Carroll was clinical in his dismantling of “Cinderella Schneider” in the final quarterfinal of the afternoon, needing just 17 minutes to advance to the semifinal.
Paul Brady eliminated his 2008 Simple Green U.S. Open vanquisher Luis Moreno in the first R48 semifinal in two games. Brady dominated game one with sensational movement and power. Moreno adjusted to Brady’s pace in game two, trading shots with the 11-time world champion and trailed just 7-8. Brady pulled away with ace serves and steady play, scoring the final seven points of the match to advance to the final.
Mando Ortiz and Killian Carroll faced one another for the fourth time this season in the second semifinal, with Carroll winning two of the first three. The pair played the best handball of the event in the first game, as the pace was high and the shot making outstanding. Ortiz and Carroll traded the lead six times before they found themselves tied at 13. Just as Mando had done in his earlier matches, he found his best late in the game and scored the final two points to take a one-game lead. Carroll started quickly in game two, building a 7-3 lead and seemingly on the verge on forcing a tiebreaker. Following a side out, Ortiz caught fire and scored 12 straight points to close out the match and advance to his second consecutive R48 final.
Final: Brady vs. Ortiz
Catriona Casey dominated a resurgent Sandy Ng in the first WR48 semifinal of the afternoon, pinning the 1-Wall star in the back court in cruising to a straight sets victory. Martina McMahon scored the first 36 points of the second WR48 semifinal against Danielle Daskalakis before Daskalakis rallied, scoring 12 of the next 17 points. The comeback was too late, as McMahon closed out the game to advance to the final to face her Irish rival Catriona Casey.
Final: Casey vs. McMahon
Log onto wphlive.tv, Like the World Players of Handball on Facebook, or follow the WPH on Twitter @dfwph and @wphlive for all of the updates from the 2016 Race 4 Eight NYAC. The live ESPN3 NYAC broadcast (here) continues on Sunday morning, March 13th at 10 am est with the R48 finals, WR48 finals, and Race 4 Eight playoff finals.
The World Players of Handball is a non-profit foundation aiming to grow the game of handball through innovation and inspiring the next generation of players through junior clinics with certified WPH coaches, junior tournaments and the Race 4 Eight tour.
SCHEDULE
WPH Race4Eight Professional Handball Tour @ the NYAC, New York, New York
Sunday’s Broadcast (Daylight Savings Time Calculated)
10:00am – Allan Garner vs Luis Cordova – Men’s R48Pro 9th Place Final
10:45am – Emmett Joseph Peixoto vs Mike Schneider – Men’s Pro 5th P{lace Final
11:45am – Catriona Casey vs Martina McMahon – WR48 Pro Final
12:45pm – Paul Brady vs Armando Ortiz Jr. – Men’s R48Pro Final
Watch LIVE on ESPN3, the WatchESPN App or at www.race4eight.com.
Big thanks to David Fink, Marcos Chavez, Allan Garner, Jean Kastner, Jeff Kastner, Linda Manning, Kristofer Gurrad, Lolita De Vincent and those helping with the live broadcast; those with ESPN, ESPN3, WatchESPN, the NYAC, John Duggan and the whole New York Athletic Club staff.
- To get results, see draws and event info for the NYAC Event, Go HERE>
- Daily write-ups from New York are HERE>
- Full WPH R48Pro Tour Schedule (Women, Elite Men & Senior 40+) HERE>
- What is WatchESPN? HERE>
The Broadcast Schedule for New York (Please Share) (PDF)