84 Degrees Poolside in Phoenix as PSA Cactus Classic Wraps Day 2 by Dave Foley February 10, 2016
- Another bluebird day in Phoenix. The official high was 84F/29C,
although the gauge in my truck reached 89F while collecting supplies
keeping the boys in food and drink. One of the players was
overheard saying he was loosing on court but was having so much fun
that he did not care. Sounds like a good tournament to me.
After
the day of practice, the court was spotless and ready for the
qualifying finals. Play began with Joe Chapman facing Valentino Bong.
Chapman did not seem to be playing his best and Bong was sharp winning
3-0 in 34 minutes. Next up was Sean "Speedy Gonzales" Conroy
versus Reuben "Slugger" Phillips. The crowd was entertained with the
power of Phillips and the retrieval ability of Conroy. Sean
seemed to have an answer for everything that Reuben threw at him, and
was able to win 3-2 with the final two games ending in 12-10
tiebreakers.
Tiebreakers were the order of the
evening. The next match ended with two games scores of 14-12 and 13-11
finding Clinton Leeuw beating Mark Broekman 3-0. Whatever
brilliance Broekman exhibited the night before seemed to have eluded
him this evening.
The final match proved to be the best of
the evening. David Baillargeon jumped off to any early 2-0 lead. Taking
the ball early and attacking everything David appeared to be having his
way with number 2 seed Addeen Idrakie. With a change of tactics Addeen
was able to take the third game in yet another tie break winning
12-10. David seemed to loose focus and "left the building"
falling 1-11 in the fourth. The seesaw game five was marred by
some questionable decisions by the referee. With the crowd rallying
behind the young Canadian, Baillargeon was able to win the game 12-10,
sending him in to a spot in the main draw where he faces the number one
USA player Todd Harrity.
Players and patrons snuggled away
while I struggle to finish this and sleep before my 7 AM patient in the
morning. The forecast for tomorrow is 86/51F. Good night from the
desert!
Valentino Bong 3-0 Joe Chapman 12-10, 11-9, 11-6 Sean
Conroy 3-2 Reuben
Phillips 11-7,
7-11, 4-11, 12-10, 12-10 Clinton Leeuw 30 Mark Broekman 11-5, 14-12, 13-11 David Baillargeon 3-2 Addeen Idrakie 11-7, 11-5, 10-12, 1-11, 12-10
