Paola Longoria won the tournament named in her honor, as she defeated Frédérique Lambert, 13-11, 11-9, 14-12, in the final of the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) 2016 Paola Longoria Invitational in Monterrey, Mexico. Longoria, the LPRT’s #1 player, won for the 5th time this season, and four of those wins have come against Lambert.
Although Longoria won in three straight games, all three games were close, and Lambert had game points in games one and three. Perhaps ironically, those were the two games that she was down early.
In game one, Longoria started strong, going out to a 5-0 lead. Lambert tied it at 6-6, and Longoria called a timeout. That didn’t stop Lambert, who took the lead for the first time at 8-6. But Longoria came back and tied it at 8-8, and then they were tied at 9-9 also.
Lambert got to 10 first, as she led 10-9, and served for the game. However, Lambert skipped a backhand shot to end a long rally on her first game point. Longoria then took the lead at 11-10 only to skip a backhand shot and give the serve back to Lambert, who was able to tie it at 11-11.
Longoria got the serve back with a forehand reverse pinch from the front court. Then Lambert skipped two shots - the second of which was completely an unforced error, and that gave game one to Longoria, 13-11.
Lambert seemed unfazed by the loss, as she went up early in game two at 6-2. Thus, it was Longoria’s turn to make a comeback, and she did, scoring six unanswered points to lead 8-6. From there Longoria kept the lead, eventually winning 11-8.
Game three started like game one, only more so, as Longoria took a 8-0 lead and looked like she would cruise home. However, Longoria got the serve back and cut the lead in half, making it 8-4. Longoria called a timeout, and got the serve back when Lambert skipped a forehand shot (an unforced error) on the ensuing rally.
Longoria scored two points to make it 10-4. Her 10th point was an ace drive Z serve to the right side. But Longoria’s next serve when to the left side, where Lambert hit a backhand winner to get back in the service box.
Lambert again scored four straight points, which made it 10-8, and Longoria again called a timeout. But to no avail, as two backhand winners from Lambert tied the score at 10-10. From there they went back and forth. Lambert had chances to win, as she served for the game twice at 11-10 and once at 12-11. Yet she couldn’t finish it.
Longoria finished the game, and match on her third match point, ending it with a great forehand down the line shot from deep in the right back corner.
Longoria and Lambert also played doubles against each other Sunday, as Longoria teamed with Samantha Salas and Lambert with Jessica Parrilla. Longoria and Salas got the better of Lambert and Parrilla, but needed a tie-breaker to do so, winning 15-4, 12-15, 11-2.
The next LPRT event will be the Kitsap Splat, November 18-20, in Bremerton, Washington. Remember, if you’ve missed any of the LPRT action, you can view it via LPRT LiveStream channel at any time.
2016 Paola Longoria Invitational, November 4-6, 2016
Monterrey, Mexico
Final - Singles
1) Paola Longoria d. 2) Frédérique Lambert, 13-11, 11-8, 14-12
Final - Doubles
1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas d. 2) Frédérique Lambert & Jessica Parrilla, 15-4, 12-15, 11-2
Follow the bouncing ball….
Sunday, November 6, 2016
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