MLP Orlando DAY 1

First game of the season!  One of these teams is starting out 1-0, and this is a tough call, but I’m going say Miami 3-2 in a Dreambreaker.  I find myself leaning towards the veterans in the individual matchups though.

• MENS:  Devilliers & Khlif over Hovenier/Fu/Jakovljevic:   just a little more experience gets it done, but really close
• WOMENS:  Castillo & Tereschenko over Rane & Bui:  I believe in Judit in MLP and need to see Mya Bui play before I can start picking her to win
• MIXED 1:  Khlif & Rane over Hovenier & Tereschenko:  Honestly no idea how these teams will split and match up, that will be a problem with making picks, but it makes sense to me to have Noe and Millie together.
• MIXED 2: Jakovljevic & Castillo over Devilliers/Bui:  Judit big sisters Mya

Couldn’t watch this one, and the official MLP site is having major issues.  I think Miami won this one in a dreambreaker, but I can’t be totally sure it’s not an error.  Ryan Fu and Blaine Hovenier got the start here, and it seems like it was hard fought on both sides.

• WOMENS:  SOC wins 11-7
• MENS:  MIA wins 11-3
• MIXED:  SOC (Fu & Castillo) wins 11-8 (Khlif & Rane)
• MIXED:  MIA (Devilliers & Bui) wins 12-10 (Hovenier & Tereschenko)
• DREAMBREAKER:  MIA wins 21-18
• My peformance:  Winner wrong, but dreambreaker was right.  Went 2-0 in my picks for gendered, and got the mixed matchups wrong.

First contender matchup of the season!  This should be a great match, I can’t wait.  I had these teams 4 and 5 in my preseason rankings, so very tough to call.  I’m definitely cheering for Brooklyn but I’ll take Texas 3-2 if you made me bet my house.

• MENS:   Alshon & Oncins over Bar & Newman:  in a close one, Oncins gets a little tight on the big stage maybe?  But I think Alshon is too good here, he just wins, and I’m worried about how well Dekel and Riley gel early.
• WOMENS:  Rohrabacher & Kawamoto over Tuionetoa & Pisnik:  BPT ladies just have a little more momentum
• MIXED 1:  Alshon & Etta over Dekel & Rachel:  I think Alshon winning his mixed match is the most sure thing of the match-up, he is a beast and Etta is so solid
• MIXED 2:  Newman & Kawamoto over Oncins & Pisnik:  Riley and Jackie have been teammates before and I can’t imagine Tina and Eric got that much time to practice together.

Eric Oncins is the man!  What a start for the lanky youngster.  He was by far the biggest unknown on this team, and got the game ball for this match.  The Brooklyn women looked pretty good to start but then just got beat by the steady Pisnik/Tuionetoa.  They carried that momentum in to mens where Brooklyn looked lost and never got into the match, under heavy pressure from Alshon/Oncins.  Bar and Rohrabacher broke out and got a massive 11-1 win in the first mixed match as they tried to force a dreambreaker.  However, Oncins picks up his mens partner and beats Riley and Jackie to take the regulation win.  GREAT start for the Ranchers and very tough for Brooklyn.  I hope they bounce back.

• WOMENS:  TEX wins 11-5
• MENS:  TEX wins 11-2
• MIXED:  BRK (Bar & Rohrabacher) wins 11-1 (Alshon & Tuionetoa)
• MIXED:  TEX (Oncins & Pisnik) wins 11-7 (Newman, Kawamoto)
• My performance?  Well I picked the match-up winner correctly, but went 1-3 in my individual picks.  I need some rubric for scoring myself here.

Some will say this is a matchup of the bottom-dwellers, but I’m pretty stoked to see the Bouncers out there and have them taking this one 4-0!

• MENS:  Martinez-Vich & Fought over Young & Ford:  Best chance for NY to get a match here, but Jaume should be able to be the man here.
• WOMENS:  Glozman & DiMuzio over Parker & Kong:  I know we are likely to hear this a lot about the Hustlers women, but I think they get steamrolled here
• MIXED 1:  Martinez-Vich & Glozman over Young & Parker:  Donald Young is a great compeititor, but it won’t be enough here.  Glozdog is going to tower of Jaume though, should be a fun visual
• MIXED 2:  Fought & DiMuzio over Ford & Kong:  I’ve never seen any of these players play mixed, so I’m sure I’ll be right here

It would be nice to get some commentary on Grandstand court, it’s pretty much soundtracked by Kaitlyn Kerr screaming on nearby Championship court.  Glozman goes 2-0 in convincing fashion, 11-0 in womens.  Called that right at least!  She might not lose this season.   Almost got the sweep too, but Donald Young and Helena Spridis get on the board in extras.

• WOMENS:  ATL wins 11-0
• MENS:  ATL wins 11-5
• MIXED:  NY (Young & Spiridis) wins 12-10 (Fought & DiMuzio)
• MIXED: ATL (Martinez-Vich & Glozman) wins 11-7 (Ford & Kong)
• My performance?  Best of the day, called the winner and went 3-1 in individual matches

Great matchup here between two contenders.  I’ll be cheering for Columbus, but I have NJ 3-2 in a Dreambreaker.  So many of these previews will feature an ALW double and this is no different.

• MENS:  Daescu & Klinger over Howells & Navratil:  If the Fives can pull this one out, it will be a huge statement to the league, and they should feel a little less pressure, but how do you beat Daescu with a solid partner?
• WOMENS:  Waters & Dizon over Todd & Jansen:  Anna Leigh is going to come out like a rocket, this one game could be 11-3
• MIXED 1:  Waters & Howells over Klinger & Todd:  It will be interesting to see whether these teams want to crash their #1 mixed teams if they come out of gender 1-1.  I kind of thing if either team is up 2-0 they will try NOT to, but both teams might want to play for a Dreambreaker if it’s tied after 2.
• MIXED 2:  Daescu & Jansen over Navratil & Dizon:  I nearly picked Zane in this one, will I kick myself?

Starting off with womens in this huge early season matchup, none of these ladies seem to want to dink.  It’s an error or a fire fight every point!  Dizon was clearly nervous, and who wouldn’t be?!, but the Fives pull it out.  The Sliders ladies were game here and should think this is a match they can win next time if the clean it up a little and get some better bounces.  They fought off 5 game points.   Here we go with mens:  Howells is fired up, I don’t like the Fives, but I already loved Zane and Howells is winning me over.  I am surprised to find myself cheering for them in mens.  If only I could mute their fans/bench.  They found themselves down 9-5 (on the one), and fought back to take it.  That’s a dagger, good night Columbus.   I’m sure the Fives set the mixed matchups since they declined to clash the #1 teams and sent Zane and Megan out there as Daescu fodder, then closed it out in comfortable fashion with ALW and Will Howells.

• WOMENS:  NJ wins 11-8
• MENS:  NJ wins 11-9
• MIXED:  COL (Daescu & Todd) wins 11-6 (Navratil & Dizon)
• MIXED:  NJ (Waters & Howells) wins 11-4 (Klinger & Jansen)
• My performace?  Thanks for asking, Got the winner correct, and I’m going to give myself 3-1 in the individual matches, Jansen and Todd are so similar.