The 5.0 race tightened up last night as the Met lost to a revitalized Lost Forest team. Ricardo Rivas didn't do well in the singles, but the Lost Forest doubles were strong as Hernan was able to get Otis Sadler and Bryan Taylor into the lineup. With the Met apparently struggling in last week's rain-shortened contest, it's quite possible that Lost Forest is now the team to beat in 5.0.
In 4.5, the battle between Division III co-leaders Yutts and Mob Squad was as close as many predicted. As usual, the Mob was strong in the singles, as Steve Phan and Aadrian Hasker straight-setted James Bui and Daniel Morales, respectively. Lines one and three doubles both went to a third set, and the Yutts were stronger in both tie-breakers. Alain Tran/Miguel Morales beat Red Benzon/Nikki Lieu and Khang Quach/Andy Diep beat Minh Nguyen and Tam Pham. Line two doubles was a fairly comfortable win for Thang Pham and Alex Chang as they beat the Dugas brothers. The Yutts have been practicing and playing consistently, and their doubles improvement this season reflects it.
The other division leaders in 4.5 kept rolling along. Both Kingwood and the Met breezed past their opponents. The Met bested an overmatched Lakeside Estates team while Kingwood shut out a competent Westside bunch who gave them a bit of trouble in their earlier meeting. Brandon Burris played one singles for Kingwood and his three set win over Hal Hale would seem to indicate he may have trouble with the toughest guys in the league. Much ballyhooed Stephen Valentine rolled in his league debut as Gary Armstrong's partner. The Met beat a Lakeside Estates team that should have stuck to 4.0. Jason Freeman got his first 4.5 league win at line 3 doubles for the Met, pairing up with crafty veteran Charlie Smith.
The other headline 4.5 match of the night featured Westside against always-tough Jedi Knights. The Knights brought out a solid lineup. Ryan Cooper returned but was unable to take down Humberto Alzate. At line one, youngster Samuel Holmes beat Murray Fonseca of the Black Sheep. Westside's line one doubles team again proved itself a formidable force: Dimitrijevic and P. Hansen beat Ted Erck and Dan Courson in three, providing the margin of victory for the Black Sheep in their 3-2 win. Westside has a huge leg up in it's quest to win the division.
In 4.0, there was one big match between Copperfield and Bear Creek. Unfortunately, I've not heard any news on the outcome. In the other three divisions, the top teams continue to roll. Chancellor's had a test against the WSTC Phoenix. Chancellor's won 4-1, but four of the five matches went 3 sets. Jonathan Hao-Nguyen, who has played for Rice in recent years, continues to dominate for Chancellors. He's dropped just six games in 3 league matches as he and Jerry Pham breezed at 3 doubles. Mark Berglund won the only line for the Phoenix
Sienna's Toppspinners again won 5-0. They've met little resistance thus far. Will they be tested enough to withstand the rigors of city playoffs? The Hurricanes have also had an easy time of it thus far. They dropped their first line last night as the Rice team brought out a solid lineup. Harold Graham and Brian Arellano won for Rice. Reef Merhi was solid for the Hurricanes in a competitive line one singles match. Alex Montes also won with Jerome Meyer in his first appearance for the Hurricanes this season. Freeman will have some interesting options for the playoffs.
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Copperfield beat Bear Creek 4-1
ReplyDeleteDo you think this win will get Freeman bumped to 5.0?
ReplyDeleteFreeman is rated 4.0 now isn't he.
ReplyDeleteScrew 5.0, I watched those guys last night - WEAK!!! I'm on my way to 5.5 :)
ReplyDeleteI'm Toney's secret weapon/late roster addition. I'll probably take Arun's spot later in the season.
I doubt Freeman will get bumped when he is playing against 4.0 rated guys. The Lakeside team looks like they played 4.5, so the few 4.5 rated guys they have could participate in league.
ReplyDeleteAnyone know where Randy Marino is?
ReplyDeleteJack Scholl beat Ismael Dutchover last night in the 4.0 Westside/Chamcellors match (not Mark as stated in the post). Dutchover just won Corpus main draw and Scholl won the consolation draw. Nice match.
ReplyDeleteCongrats Jack!!!!!
Anyone hear that woman yelling behind the LLTC courts for over an hour last night?
ReplyDeleteWhen dont you hear someone yelling at LLTC? That place has gone down over the past several years. Almost as bad as Homer Ford.
ReplyDeleteLooks like a nice match set up for next week at MPTC when Swhing and Yuttes fight it out for playoff positioning behind the Mob Squad.
ReplyDeleteAlso Copperfield will host Rice who are both fighting for a playoff spot as well.
I like him, but he has to be the most overrated player in the area. Red Benson looses more than he wins. Look at his record this year. Two wins four losses. He looses when he plays with Alan Tran and when he plays against him. Last year he always plays with ringers. When he plays with regular guys, he loses almost all the time. OVERATED
ReplyDeletei agree red benzon is overrated
ReplyDeleteRed will load up his NOHO team with 5.5 players so he can say he's good. He got average 4.5 talent but knows how to hype himself by pairing up with ringers.
ReplyDeleteYou might be right about him loading up the NOHO team but the 4.5 players he has now are not average, they are good players who could probably beat most of the 4.5 field playing on Thursday nights right now.
ReplyDeleteRed is like the guy who drives the sports car to cover up having a small c*ck. He signs up ringers to cover up for having no game.
ReplyDeleteMost of Red's 4.5 guys are good, but do not give them all the credit. They are all beatable, look at their records.
ReplyDeleteAll those guys are decent but they have also been riding the coat tails of others. No offense, just the truth. This happens on any good league team.
ReplyDeleteThe people on the roster now would not win NOHO 4.5 by themselves. They'll need to bring in some hired guns to get to Dallas.
Give an example of riding the coat tails of others.
ReplyDeleteFreeman... hello... haven't heard from you in a while. What are your thoughts thus far on 4.0 and 4.5?
ReplyDeleteRed's not that bad of a player, and he's actually good. However, he's not great. I don't blame Red for teaming himself up with a better doubles partner. who wouldn't want to team up with a better partner? i feel bad for his partner, because if he's playing against a team that has two great players, then Red would be the one not holding his own.
ReplyDeleteSo that team that Rice 4.0 brought out was (since I'm lazy to look it up) not the same one that lost to the Acers right? Or were they just having a bad day? Not that the Acers if they play their best lines are bad at all...
ReplyDeleteThe Rice 4.0 team is good and they will make the playoffs despite their 1-2 start.
ReplyDeleteHow about those Copperheads. Great win guys.
ReplyDelete