So Far So Good

So far so good in Paris. Phil and I have kept on our schedule and won two matches today.

Our first match was a pointless match against the 5th seeded Netherlands team. They had lost twice the day before and we won twice. This meant that no matter what happened, they would be last in our pool and we would be first. We had never played them before so we felt it would be good to play them. The most games we could play today would be two as we received a bye in the first round of the playoffs. It was a very unenthusiastic game by both teams. They took the first 21-18, we took the second 22-20, and the third 15-12. Both teams new they had nothing to play for but it was good for us and probably them to see what the other team could do. It was kind of funny as there were several cameras from other teams filming our match and after the first game most of them were taken down. Gotta love the vagaries of pool play.

We received a bye in the first round of playoffs. We went home and took a nap as both of us were a bit tired with jet lag still. Getting over it but still tough around 5am in the morning (trying to sleep) and about 8am (trying to wake up).

We played the winner of Sean/Furbs and Cuba. We felt that it would probably be Sean/Furbs but Cuba made the upset win. Cuba has probably the best defender in the world. That is when he wants to be. Against Sean and Furbs he was unbelievable by all accounts. Against us he was good but not as fired up. You never know with Cuba as word on the street is that they do not get all of the money they earn out here. It is somewhat sad and most of the guys on the tour try to take care of them in other ways. Pair of shorts here, buy them a beer, get them a cool hat or sweatshirt, whatever to help them out. They are good guys. We ended up playing well and beating them 21-14 and 21-10. Phil blocked very well once we figured them out. They served me every ball but two and I was able to chop it around.

Tomorrow is a much stiffer test as we play the defending Olympic Champions in Emanuel and Ricardo. They won last week in Portugal so are probably starting to play better after having been a little shaky in the beginning of the year. Will be a good test to see where we are.