We move on from PPA San Clemente to MLP San Clemente.

It begins Thursday with Challenger matches, then Premier matches go Friday to Sunday. Six teams are in action, SoCal, LA, Phoenix, Utah, Columbus, and Brooklyn. It will be almost a perfect round robin, with each team playing every other team once, with one exception as Brooklyn does not play Columbus.

Here’s what to watch out for.

 

 

LA, Columbus, and Brooklyn are near locks to make the playoffs. But, they are fighting to stay out of the 7th spot (or lower), as the teams finishing 7-10 have to play an extra play-in match. Right now, Brooklyn sits in 4th place at 2.09 points per match. LA is right behind them at 2.00. Columbus is in 8th at 1.82. Both Brooklyn and Columbus have played the fewest matches to date with 11, so both have plenty of room to make up ground. Utah is in 9th place at 1.27. Utah has a bit of a gap ahead of the 10th and 11th place teams, so they will be looking to solidify their standing.

 

 

 

Columbus has not been able to field their whole starting five much at all this year, and it has likely cost them some points. This week, they should be at full strength with CJ Klinger, Andrei Daescu, Parris Todd, and Lea Jansen all playing at PPA San Clemente. Klinger played especially well at PPA San Clemente, and it was his absence that hurt the team in prior MLPs. Look for Columbus to have a good weekend.

 

LA should also be at full strength. LA had a slow start to the year due to Quang Duong and then Hunter Johnson missing time. They should be at full strength with Duong and Johnson joined by Catherine Parenteau and Jade Kawamoto. LA looked awfully strong in the last MLP when at full strength, so they will be looking to improve on their point per game average and move up in the standings.

 

For teams going the wrong direction on the injury front, we start with Brooklyn. Riley Newman has been dealing with a groin strain from MLP Phoenix. It caused him to miss PPA San Clemente, and I do not expect him to play this MLP. Compounding the problem is the fact Dekel Bar also missed PPA San Clemente with a reported rib injury. I also do not expect Bar to be able to play this MLP. Brooklyn has one super sub in Pat Smith. Smith filled in at MLP Phoenix after the Newman injury and performed brilliantly. Expect him to be solid again. If Bar also cannot go, expect on-site sub AJ Koller to fill in. That will cost Brooklyn a point penalty in every match Koller plays. On the positive side, Koller has also been playing well, and his style fits well with the Brooklyn team. Koller should be fired up to play with the playoff-bound Brooklyn team, so I expect him to play well if called upon.

 

Finally, SoCal may be missing Irina Tereschenko. If so, they will roll with the youngsters, Jalina Ingram and Cailyn Campbell. Expect to see a lot of energy from the youngsters, although it is hard to see SoCal winning many points at this MLP.

 

 

 

On Friday, play closes with LA taking on Brooklyn. When both teams are at full strength, this is in some ways the most interesting match MLP can have, due to the contrasting styles. Brooklyn runs out four very strong doubles teams, but is almost helpless in a DreamBreaker. Conversely, LA has one strong (so far) doubles team in Parenteau/Kawamoto, but the other three doubles teams are just so-so. It is in DreamBreakers where LA shines. They arguably have the best DreamBreaker team of anyone. When they play each other, Brooklyn has to win 3-1 (or better), and if it goes to a DreamBreaker, no one is betting on Brooklyn. The big question will be the health of Brooklyn for this one.

 

Saturday has four Premier matches, with the highlight being the two Utah matches. Utah plays LA and Columbus. Utah is out-talented in both matches, but they are out-hustled by no one. If Utah can at least get to a DreamBreaker in one match or the other, that is a victory for them.

 

Sunday gives us the biggest match of this MLP, with a leadoff match of LA against Columbus. Expect LA to win women’s doubles and Columbus to win men’s doubles, leaving it to the mixed matches. Columbus should be favored slightly in both mixed matches, but LA will again be looking just for a 1-1 push so they can get to a DreamBreaker.

 

 

 

The Brooklyn injuries are likely to play a big role in the outcome of MLP San Clemente. If Brooklyn were at full strength, I would favor them to beat LA and Columbus, due to Brooklyn’s strength at mixed doubles. But if Bar and Newman are both out or are not at full power, the odds shift over in favor of LA and Columbus. 

 

LA: 12 points

Columbus: 10 points

Utah: 9 points

Brooklyn: 8 points 

Phoenix: 2 points

SoCal: 1 point

 

Watch all the matches on Pickleballtv.

 

And follow me on X for updates @pickleball_jim.