Las Vegas Night Owls and Brooklyn Aces Battle Into MLP: The Las Vegas Night Owls and Brooklyn Aces have booked their spots in the finals of the Challenger division at the MLP Mid-Season Tournament, both securing dramatic semifinal victories Friday afternoon.
Las Vegas Night Owls Showcase Undefeated Streak
The Las Vegas Night Owls, led by Zoey Wang, Judit Castillo, Mohd. Alhouni, and Anderson Scarpa, came into the tournament as the only undefeated team. Their dominance was clear in their tightly contested match against the Atlanta Bouncers, showcasing their strength in the singles-focused DreamBreakers format.
Wang played an important role, clinching wins in both women’s doubles and mixed doubles alongside Alhouni, setting the stage for a decisive final contest. A crucial tactical decision from Atlanta saw Genie Erokhina play the No. 2 slot instead of the expected Todd Fought. This led to Erokhina facing Scarpa, while Castillo squared off against one of the top women’s singles players, Fought.
Scarpa capitalized on the matchup, scoring nine out of eleven points in his rotations against Erokhina, including the final three points to secure a 21-18 victory for Las Vegas. Castillo, who performed admirably with a 3-5 record against Fought, noted the strategic advantage: “When that change happens, I know one of my guys is going to be playing one of their girls so that just gave me a lot of confidence in my own game.”
With this win, the Las Vegas Night Owls remain undefeated and will face the Brooklyn Aces on Sunday, with a championship prize of $30,000 on the line.
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Brooklyn Aces Triumph in Thrilling Match
The Brooklyn Aces, featuring Pablo Tellez, Lina Padegimaite, Daniel de la Rosa, and Layne Sleeth, reached the finals through their own thrilling DreamBreaker showdown against the California Black Bears. In a nail-biting moment, California’s Brandon French saved a match point against Padegimaite to tie the score at 20-20, but de la Rosa responded with two consecutive points against Michelle Esquivel, sealing the victory for Brooklyn.
Tellez is making his debut with the Brooklyn Aces following a trade from the Texas Ranchers and has made an immediate impact, boasting a 4-0 record through two matches. Now, his team stands just one win away from claiming the title in Beer City.
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Championship Match Details
The championship match is set for Sunday at 11 a.m. ET and will be broadcast live on PickleballTV, promising an exciting showdown as both teams look for the trophy.
News in Brief: Las Vegas Night Owls and Brooklyn Aces Battle Into MLP
The Las Vegas Night Owls and Brooklyn Aces secured their spots in the finals of the Challenger division at the MLP Mid-Season Tournament with dramatic semifinal victories. The Night Owls, led by Zoey Wang and Mohaned Alhouni, remained undefeated, defeating the Atlanta Bouncers in a tight match. Wang excelled in women’s and mixed doubles, while Scarpa clinched a crucial 21-18 win. The Aces, featuring Pablo Tellez and Daniel de la Rosa, triumphed over the California Black Bears, with de la Rosa sealing the victory after a tense 20-20 tie. The championship match is set for Sunday at 11 a.m. ET, broadcast live on PickleballTV, as both teams vie for the $30,000 prize.
Our Readers Queries:
Ques: Who owns Las Vegas Night Owls?
Ans: The Las Vegas Night Owls are owned by Gary Vaynerchuk, the well-known entrepreneur and media mogul. Vaynerchuk’s foray into pickleball ownership reflects his passion for the sport and his knack for spotting emerging trends. His involvement is expected to bring a fresh, dynamic energy to the team and the league.
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