Okay the flights for sectionals in Dallas are set for Aug. 3, 4, and 5.
4.0 Playoffs
Flight 1- Dallas, SETX, Lubbock, San Antonio, Wild 1
Flight 2- Ft Worth, Amarillo, Wild 5, Waco, Wild 2
Flight 3- NETX, San Angelo, NOHO, Valley, Wild 3
Flight 4- Houston, Midland, Austin, Corpus Cristi, Wild 4
4.5 Playoffs
Flight 1- SETX, Valley, Austin, Wild 3
Flight 2- Dallas, NETX, NOHO, Wild 1
Flight 3- Corpus Christi, Ft Worth, San Angelo, San Antonio
Flight 4- Houston, Waco, Amarillo, Wild 2
Who do feel has the toughest flight? Who would you say are the favorites to win their flight in 4.0 and 4.5?
**The teams that recieve a wild could change predictions
depending on which flight they draw.
4.0 Wild - Houston, Dallas, Austin, San Antono, ??
4.5 Wild - ??
With a little research, here is what I came up with for Dallas Sectionals.
ReplyDeleteToughest flights: 4.0 - Flight 1& 4, 4.5 - Flight 2
4.0 Flights -
1- Dallas will be favored
2- Ft Worth but Wild could make impact
3- NOHO or San Angelo, both solid
4- Houston looks to have easiest flight
4.5 Flights -
1- Austin looking really tough
2- Dallas us always good
3- Ft Worth or SA
4- Houston
It should be fun to watch all this tennis and see which team is ready to step up.
I like your predictions but I'd have to put San Antonio as the favorite in Pool 1 of 4.0. This is a down year for Dallas and Houston. It looks like a good year for San Antonio.
ReplyDeleteHere are my semis:
San Antonio vs. WILD (Houston if they end up in this pool)
WILD vs. Houston
I'll take San Antonio to win it all in a down year for 4.0.
In 4.5, San Antonio has a shot and they should win their flight. I'm not sure if they can beat the Houston team in the semis but I believe it will be a good battle. Austin should make it through their pool and Dallas or Wild (Houston or Austin) should represent pool 2 in the semis.
Here is my 4.5 semis:
Austin vs. WILD (Houston or Austin)
San Antonio vs. Houston
I'll take one of the Austin teams to come out on top but it won't be easy. Should be some great tennis.
I don't get why this is a "down year" for 4.0. Is it because all the "better" 4.0's that normally compete at sectionals from Houston, Dallas, etc., got bumped up to 4.5? Does that mean that the 4.5's have regularly had "down years", but this year have an "up year" because of the 4.0's that got bumped to 4.5? Regardless of who is there, sectionals should be always be tough and competitive since all 4.0's and 4.5's are supposedly on equal ground within their rating level so I don't buy the "it's a down year" theory.
ReplyDeleteI believe this is the year for San Antonio (Borg) 4.0 to get to nationals. This group assimilated some of the states top tournament players and that was so they would have good backups for the five fingers of death that is the primary lineup. If they take everyone to sectionals and stay healthy the other cities are screwed. Too much depth.
ReplyDeleteTournament players tend to be fairly meaningless in league play at sectionals. I can't think of one team that has ever advanced to nationals with primarily "tournament" players.
ReplyDeleteI think the "down year" is a comment made in relation to the competition teams will actually see when they get to Dallas. Being from Dallas, I know the level of the Dallas 4.0 teams is way down as compared to the 2 teams that didn't even advance to nationals last year (both would crush this years crop of Dallas teams). Both of those teams got slaughtered by a ridiculous Houston team that was loaded with players noone had ever heard of. Also, it looks as if Houston is way down this year as well (as expected) because the teams that are coming to sectionals are full of "known" players. This is my best guess as to what was meant by a "down year." If so, I agree. It doesn't matter one way or the other if it is a down year or not because you still have to win 2 matches on Sunday to advance - so line them up.
Has anyone ever put a team like this together that includes "top" tournament players? Maybe this is why you have never witnessed it. Oh, to make good argument, league players tend to be worthless in tournaments. Two matches a day can be too taxing.
DeleteMost of the Borg's "top tournament players" only play one event. They are beating (and occasionally losing to) guys on their 6th or 7th match in a 48 hour period.
ReplyDeleteAre you questioning the fitness of doubles exclusive players or the players who enter both singles and doubles? In regards to that, I think it is better to be a champion of one event than a participant in two events. Some players excel when they get to hit a lot of balls and others will use the " the out of gas card" when they lose to more skilled opponents. Most singles players lose at doubles because they struggle with hitting through an opponent, not from a lack of conditioning.
DeleteI'm not questioning the fitness of anyone and more power to you for your room of plastic champion trophies. There is no way around it... 3 or 4 singles matches in the Texas heat will take it's toll on most people and only playing one event is a huge advantage.
DeleteThese guys know what they are in for when they sign up for singles and doubles. If they did not feel up to the challenge they wouldn't pay these excessive tournament fees (especially in SA).
DeleteDoubles points are usually fast and require much less energy required than singles. Blisters and injuries are usually the problem with playing 2 events, not fitness.
I'm confused. Are you not willing to acknowledge that playing multiple events puts a person/team at a disadvantage and that the best team might not win? Same thing goes for playing one event and getting a bye the first round. It's an advantage and that is why the top seeds get a bye.
DeleteThe tournament fees are minor compared to the costs of traveling. That's why some people play multiple events. Why travel, pay for the hotel, etc, and only play 1 event?
I stick by my original statement. Most of the Borg players only play one event and it's an advantage. It will be interesting to see how they do at Sectionals.
San Antonio is definitely the "heavy" favorite (pun intended). Look at statewide tournament results plus the number of team members that got bumped to 4.5. They have a very good chance to win it all. I'd be shocked if they didn't - look at what they did to very respectable Sonterra and Fair Oaks squads in the playoffs. I'm not a big fan of all the guys on that team, but you have to respect their talent level.
ReplyDeleteFair Oaks was a strong team yet was dominated in doubles. Sonterra had the team to go up against "the borg". The bad draw of having to play 1 match before meeting that team crushed Sonterra's chances. That is not how playoffs were done in the past.
DeleteThis team looks really good on paper but we will see what the Dallas heat does to their games.
San Antonio 4.5 should win it all.
ReplyDeleteIt's going to be 106+ degrees on Friday in Dallas. If the San Antonio teams are fit and if they have their best players available they should do well. If they play favorites like last year they will lose again. Best of luck guys.
ReplyDeleteLooks like the ringers got rung.
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ReplyDeleteSan Antonio 4.5 gets beat by Fort Worth in pool play. Time to go home.
ReplyDeleteSan Antonio 4.0 losses to SETX???
ReplyDeleteThey must not have had their best players. Maybe they were trying to save them for hot matches and underestimated that team. Either way you have got to come out swinging and win that first match to pressure on everyone else, not your own team. Looks like they still have a chance if they can Winn out
DeleteWild Fort Worth here. We played San Antonio today, had our chances to win by tie break as a team, but lost. The SA team was a class act, we honestly enjoyed playing them. Not sure the history, but I met and interacted with a lot of very cool guys today. Team captain was a great guy to talk with.
ReplyDeleteArmando is a great guy. He built a solid team (not quite the "Dream Team" since many of the best SA players were left out). But "The Borg" may have left SA with too much hubris or just not enough players in good enough shape to handle the heat (see pic below).
DeleteWe did have the team to compete with any team out there this year. We just fell short of our goal, much credit to the other teams at Dallas. I hope SA will again put a tough team together for next year. But will it be a team that laughed more than we did would almost impossible!!
DeleteAs we look reflect on our season, we will remember our accomplishment and move forward. Thank you everyone for your support and great season.
The Season of The Borg!!
If you lose your first team match at sectionals you might as well go home. As "The Borg" found out, resistance is not always futile. Poor preperation and strategy are futile. What a waste of proven talent on the big stage.
DeleteSeriously, where did you get proven? More like YO TE ESQUINEO or something like that, blah blah blah!!
DeleteI played the best players that gave us the best chance to win on every match. We gave it our all and that is all can expect. If you know more than I do about this team, please give me a call or stop signing anonymous.
DeleteIt sounds like u have ur personal issues and r having problems being part of team.
Take comments with a grain of salt. We have had a lot of traffic redirected from the Houston blog. We have made many friends and a few hecklers. Our green shirts attracted attention. The SETX team that beat us just got lucky. When your season comes down to tie breakers anything can happen. Other good teams had their seasons come down to tiebreakers including Dallas in the final against Houston. One ten point breaker decided it all. I have never been a fan of the third set breaker at sectionals because fitness is replaced by a 10 point coin toss. The best we can do is try to get to sectionals again and work on tie breakers in practice. When you look at our record, tiebreaker losses did the damage.
DeleteIf your bald and play for SETX, it is $5 an overhead. Hope to see you at sectional tourney.
Can't we all just get along?
Deletehate to break it to you SA ACE, but all your team's best players got bumped up to 4.5. If you want to "get to sectionals again" you should consider joining Sonterra
DeleteI would have to disagree that we lost all our best players to 4.5, especially in doubles. When year end ratings come out, that is when tournaments and sectionals are taken into consideration. Then we will see what we can build for the spring. Last I heard, I was unwelcome at sonterra. I appreciate your invitation but have no idea who you are.
DeleteI just wonder if an old invitation from fair oaks might still be on the table if we can keep some of the borg players ratings at 4.0. I will keep my options open. Any sonterra guys looking to jump ship, you know who to talk to. Combining city-wide talent is the only way to make it to nationals. (oh and maybe bring in a few guys from eagle pass)
This comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteEagle Pass? I heard Eagle Pass guys were nothing but a bunch of scrubs.
Deletewho is it to talk to, sa ace?
DeleteAnyone that was on the Borg team.
Deleteis this the new Shadow Cliff team? not even a shell of the old Borg. Reminds me of the Blossom Blast team that Jeff B unsuccessfully captained after they lost Hector. Armando was the glue that held it all together.
DeleteIn case you have not noticed, they spring season is the main focus. Take a look at what happened last fall to all teams that had borg players. Three unsuccessful fall teams managed to stay 4.0 and dominate the Spring. Wonder what will happen this Fall.
DeleteFor the record, Blossom Blast never had Hector or Jeff on their rosters. As far as Armando goes, the Borg is his idea and you can talk to him regarding 4.0 or 4.5. He was not on the 7.5 combo either, if that was your point. We will see who joins us for the Spring as we recruit in the Fall.
I am just throwing this out there. I feel the only way San Antonio will ever reach nationals is if we extremely stack one team by working together. If anyone wants to join the Fair Oaks Raiders let me know, remaining 4.0 Borgs are welcome too, we are always looking for talented players. The real challenge here is staying at 4.0 long enough to make a run. The other cities are very skilled at staying down at this level to really start the season at sectionals.
Delete-GM
Greg,
DeleteWe regret not having yourself and a couple of your most solid players on our roster this year. The Borg has good things planned for the spring and if fair oaks finest stay at 4.0 we will be contacting you. The Borg will play out of blossom in the spring since it is a central location for those who assimilate into the collective. Lol
We are expect to get our core roster back and add players of equal caliber. Hope you get to join us.
Resistance is futile.
The Borg
Completely agree! From what I saw from the Dallas and Houston teams at sectionals this year, combining city wide talent is the only way for San Antonio to make a run at nationals.
DeleteAlthough the 2-2 record the Borg put up at sectionals does not seem impressive, in the two matches we lost, 4 of the 6 individual losses were third set tie-breaks. Had those tie breaks gone the other way, we are that close to being 4-0 and making it to the semis. WOULD-A,COULD-A,SHOULD-A always gets you in the end.
U borg guys r so I'll of yourselves. Green Tree went 2-2 as well and can claim to be the only team that beat the eventual champs from Houston. WIthout Armando u guys will have a tough time recruiting.
DeleteI think he meant blossom smash. Hector's old team that went to sectionals.
SA doesn't have the leadership to put together the best team. Mabrito, I hope u can do it.
Good luck, if anyone can win more than one match against the Borg in the playoffs next year it would be an improvement. Green tree had a good team but were swept by the Borg. The match they won against Houston looked like a throw by Houston. Being their last match in their flight Houston could lose and still advance. It looked like they only had to win one line so they played their scrubs. Still a good win but a bit deceptive.
DeleteHey Guys,
DeleteThe Borg will rise again in this spring. We are still a very close group and would welcome anyone who could mesh and help us get back to sectionals. We will be really strong again. See you out on the courts.
Armando
We were in flight I with Dallas, SA and Wild Fort Worth, SETSX- didn't see the severe sandbagging ludicrous talent that Houston showed up with last year. Lots of top notch great 4.0 talent - crafty veterans, some ball basher young one's, etc. Not sure what Houston looked like this time.
ReplyDeleteOverHeard some interesting rumors about some non-roster players who might be playing in the semis tomorrow under the theory that all Asains look alike
ReplyDeletehttp://dallasleaguetennis.blogspot.com/2012/07/45-sectionals-preview.html#
ReplyDeleteWow, this is hilarious!!!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bg7xHsrw2Tw&feature=autoplay&list=ULBg7xHsrw2Tw&playnext=
ReplyDeletesorry wrong link.
That was hilarious. I especially loved his comments about the women in mixed doubles and the matching shirts at 4.0.
Delete