| Emanuel
and Tande continue their winning steak
Mallorca,
Spain 16 September - In one of the best
final days of the season the top two
seeded teams of Emanuel/Tande (BRA) and
the 2001 World Champions Baracetti/Conde (ARG)
battled out a 78-minute epic final.
The
Brazilians saved match point in the third
set being down 13-14, then Emanuel rallied
some amazing scrambling saves as they
fought back to gain match point twice. The
Argentineans leveled the score at 18-18,
then Tande made a successful attack to
bring up match point once again 19-18.
Emanuel gave his team the victory in this
exciting grand final with an attack, after
saving the ball in defence.
Another
Brazilian success came in the 3rd/4th
place match, were the veterans
Lopes/Franco made the best finish of the
2001 season, winning over the Russian team
of Ermishin/Kouchnerev 2-0. The 4th place
was also the best finish also for the
Russian team in this 2001 season.
In
the first semi-final, Emanuel/Tande had to
go through three sets against compatriots
Lopez/Franco. In an amazing comeback from
5-11 down in the third set, the eventual
tournament victors rallied with some more
of their stylish defense to overcome,
winning the game 16-14.
The
event had everything to make the Mallorcan
crowd come alive on the last day of
competition. Even it was played without
the usual music and entertainment
activities, due to the respect paid to the
victims of New York tragedy.
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