Sebastian Franco, a World Champion in Men’s Doubles, has reached a semi-final at a Tier 1 International Racquetball Tour (IRT) for the first time in his career, as he defeated Robert Collins, 12-14, 11-9, 11-5, 11-4, in the quarterfinals of the 2nd Annual Krowning Moment Pro Invitational in San Marcos, Texas. He’ll play IRT #2 Rocky Carson in the semis on Saturday, as Carson beat Edson Martinez, 11-4, 11-3, 11-7.
Franco had a game point in the first game, but failed to convert it, as Collins squeaked out the first game, 14-12. They were close the whole way in game two with neither player being ahead more than two points. In the end, Franco won the two points at the end that got him the game at 11-9, and leveled match at 1-1.
In game three, Franco went up 6-1, and although Collins got within one at 6-5, Franco held Collins at five, winning game three 11-5. Game four was similar, as Franco took a 7-2 lead, and pushed on to win the game 11-4, and the match, 3-1.
Kane Waselenchuk, the defending champion and #1 IRT player, defeated Jansen Allen in their quarterfinal match, although he dropped the first game to Allen. But characteristically, Waselenchuk came back strong, and blanked Allen in game two, as he went on to win in four games, 3-11, 11-0, 11-7, 11-3.
Waselenchuk will play Alvaro Beltran in the semi-finals, as Beltran outlasted Marco Rojas in their quarterfinal match, winning in five games, 11-6, 4-11, 11-9, 3-11, 11-4.
Most of Beltran and Rojas’s games were lopsided, except for the third, which Rojas led 3-0, and 7-3, and again at 9-6. But Rojas couldn’t get those last crucial points, as Beltran came back to win it 11-9, and take a 2-1 advantage in the match.
Rojas also had difficulty closing out game two, although he led 10-1, it took him several minutes to get the last point, as Beltran kept fighting.
The semi-finals and final are both on Saturday. The semis to start at 11:15 AM and the final to start at 7:30 PM. You can follow the action via the IRT Network.
Second Annual Krowning Moment Pro Invitational, October 22-24, 2015
San Marcos, Texas
Quarterfinals - Friday
1) Kane Waselenchuk d. 8) Jansen Allen, 3-11, 11-0, 11-7, 11-3
4) Alvaro Beltran d. 5) Marco Rojas, 11-6, 4-11, 11-9, 3-11, 11-4
Sebastian Franco d. 6) Robert Collins, 12-14, 11-9, 11-5, 11-4
2) Rocky Carson d. Edson Martinez, 11-4, 11-3, 11-7
Semi-finals - Saturday
1) Kane Waselenchuk v. 4) Alvaro Beltran - 11:15 CDT
2) Rocky Carson v. Sebastian Franco - Noon CDT
Follow the bouncing ball….
Friday, October 23, 2015
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