PLAYOFFS-FINALS MATCH #2-SAN FRANCISCO AT OAKLAND-TUESDAY, MARCH 20, 2007
Writeup by Shashin Shodhan
Pictures by Kingston Gee
This league match was intended to be played at the San Francisco home but since the space at the Furies' home was too small for an important match, this match was played in Oakland as was the first match. Oakland still has not even been stretched to the seventh match this season after 12 matches and is dominating opponents one week after another. Despite the absence of Jackie Lee who is training in Sweden currently, Oakland still won the first match of the finals. San Francisco is hoping to extend the finals to a third match but Oakland looks to end the season tonight. Oakland presents the lineup of Freddie Gabriel, Avishy Schmidt, and Parry Husbands where as San Francisco presents the lineup of Misha Kazantsev, Spencer Chase, and Terry Tam.
Terry Tam (San Francisco) vs Avishy Schmidt (Oakland)
The first two games start with 4-1 and 6-3 leads, with the first game having Schmidt in front and the second game having Tam ahead. Both players win the game in which they led while tactically opening with slow, controlled openings. Tam continues the same strategy in the third game but Schmidt takes advantage with backhand hits and forehand counterloops. With Schmidt up 2-1, 3-0, they play a great point where Tam lobs many balls back before Schmidt hits a clean winner. Schmidt extends the lead to 6-0 before winning 11-5. Oakland draws first blood in this finals match.
TERRY TAM FALLS TO AVISHY SCHMIDT IN THE OPENING MATCH OF THE FINALS.
Spencer Chase (San Francisco) vs Freddie Gabriel (Oakland)
Chase is in control in the first game with 4-0, 7-2, 9-6 leads before winning 11-8. At 9-6, Gabriel did a lefty serve and Chase missed the return! Chase also maintains control throughout the second game and goes up 2-0 to the shock and dismay of Oakland. Chase makes very few serve return errors in the first two games which was in stark contrast to the first match of the finals where he netted a large number of Gabriel's serves. Gabriel is much more consistent in his play in the third game and cruises to a 11-4 win. Like the first two games, Chase plays very well on serve returns and in rallies and pulls off the biggest win of his career. It was a great display of solid, consistent play from Chase.
SPENCER CHASE RECORDS THE BEST WIN OF HIS CAREER.
Misha Kazantsev (San Francisco) vs Parry Husbands (Oakland)
Husbands is behind throughout the first game until the end where he gets a game point before losing in deuce. Most of the rallies end during the first three balls in the second game but Husbands escapes with a second game win with an edge ball at 10-9. At 1-1, 6-6, Kazantsev misses two serves to go down 6-8 but wins the next five points to be up 2-1. Kazantsev looks headed for a 4-game win when up 8-4 in the fourth but backs up for no reason on two points and then misses a serve. His lead is cut to 8-7. Kazantsev backs up again on the next 3 points and the score is level at 9-9. Then Kazantsev misses another serve and on a smash winner, he moves the table so loses 11-9. Kazantsev is very sloppy in his play in the first four games but a different Kazantsev shows up in fifth. He is focused, aggressive, and stays close to the table to win 11-8 in the decider. San Francisco is now up 2-1 with doubles up next.
PARRY HUSBANDS NEARLY PULLS OFF THE BEST WIN OF HIS CAREER.
Misha Kazantsev/Spencer Chase (San Francisco) vs Freddie Gabriel/Avishy Schmidt (Oakland)
One interesting note is that including this doubles match, the San Francisco Furies serve first in their first four matches tonight. Oakland dominates the serve and receive part of the first game and leads 6-1 before the Furies close to 10-8. Then the teams play a great point ended on a Gabriel forehand loop winner. In the second game, Oakland goes up 5-0, then the match is tied 5-5, and Oakland soon leads 8-6. Then Kazantsev goes for two behind-the-back shots and misses a serve to put Oakland up 2-0 in this doubles match. Kazantsev's lack of effort and focus is clear at times throughout this doubles match and the previous singles match with Parry Husbands. Why play if you're not going to give it your 100%? However, with San Francisco up 9-8 in the third, Gabriel pulverizes a backhand hit winner only to see Kazantsev pulverize a backhand hit winner back. San Francisco wins the third game. The Furies look to send the match to a fifth game with leads of 6-1 and 8-2 in the fourth game. However, what you might have guessed to happen does end up happening as Kazantsev starts making many careless errors. The Furies are up 10-9 but Kazantsev misses another serve and when Oakland has match point, Gabriel makes a great serve return to tie up this league match at 2-2.
MISHA KAZANTSEV'S EFFORT IS ON AND OFF.
Spencer Chase (San Franciso) vs Avishy Schmidt (Oakland)
It will be interesting to see if Chase can continue to ride the hot streak. In the first two games, Schmidt plays primarily to Chase's forehand and middle with Chase playing better in the second than the first. Chase loses the first 11-8 and wins the second 13-11. Schmidt dominates game 3 with slow balls into Chase's pips-out backhand and winners to Chase's forehand. 11-3. Chase plays very well from the backhand with a 9-2 lead before winning 11-6 and sending the match to the fifth game. Schmidt is up 5-3 at the switch, then 9-6, and wins 11-9. Oakland is now one match from the league title.
AVISHY SCHMIDT PUTS OAKLAND ONE MATCH FROM THE LEAGUE TITLE.
Misha Kazantsev (San Franciso) vs Freddie Gabriel (Oakland)
Gabriel says that he played "terrible" against Chase and was trying out new rubber on his forehand and thus did not feel confident with his forehand. However, "terrible" is probably not the right word as Chase did play well, especially on serve returns, where Gabriel normally always gets "free" points with service winners. However, Gabriel is normally a level above Chase even if his serves are not giving him easy points. Against Kazantsev, Gabriel does play better and Kazantsev puts up a spirited effort this time as he fights hard throughout this match. The match goes into the fifth with Gabriel emerging the victor at 11-8 in the final game.
LEAGUE MVP FREDDIE GABRIEL ENDS THE WINTER SEASON OF THE LEAGUE WITH A CHAMPIONSHIP FOR OAKLAND.
THE OAKLAND LIONS ARE KINGS OF OUR JUNGLE AND ARE 2006-2007 WINTER SEASON NORTHERN CALIFORNIA TABLE TENNIS LEAGUE CHAMPIONS!