CROSSOVER WEEK PREVIEW!
Sneak peek at the front cover of the program guide for the upcoming MLTT Cross Division Event in Rock Hill, SC on December 1-3, featuring the Best of the West facing off against the Beasts of the East!
November 27, 2023. The very thought of this weekend’s historic Cross Division clash between the East and West Division teams has us in a near-constant state of excitement, rendering us wholly unable to focus on our day jobs. In the evenings, when Majorponghead staffers congregate by the office water cooler prior to our nightly editorial meetings, all the talk is about which matchup we most want to see. Enzo vs MJB? Damien vs Nikhil? Daniel Gorak vs Jiwei? The Professor vs The Admiral (we call David McBeath The Admiral around here)? Until now each division has stayed in its lane, and so the thought of crossing the streams (to use an old Ghostbusters phrase) very well might result in both the most entertaining and the most unpredictable weekend of Major League Table Tennis action to date. Minimally, the possibilities are delightful.
Ok so let’s take care of some business first…tickets for this one-per-season event can be purchased here. If you can’t make it in person, there will be two simultaneous broadcasts this time, since there will be two matches happening at the same time. The MLTT broadcast team’s matches (Sean O’Neill and Matt Hetherington) can be experienced on MLTT’s Youtube Livestream, while the Voice of Table Tennis Adam Bobrow will be doing a one-man show “AdamCast” on his own Youtube channel here. Majorponghead staffers plan to have both broadcasts going at the same time in the break room.
Unlike the previous Western Division matches in which we’ve followed via the fantastic streaming option, MPH will be sending a reporter to Rock Hill, South Carolina for this event. With two tables of action going on simultaneously, we contemplated sending two reporters…but alas, MPH’s modest budget would not allow for it. Still, our one anonymous reporter will do his/her best to capture the sights, sounds, and most exciting and/or poignant moments of this first-of-its-kind competition.
When we last left our MLTT heroes, it was Seattle and Carolina doing the lion’s share of the celebrating. Will that hold true this coming weekend as well?
ROSTER REVEAL
Once again, we were given early access to the official rosters - this time, of all 8 teams. The graphic we received was too low res to post, so keep reading to see the lineups. Several teams’ rosters have been affected by the Mixed Teams World Cup event in Chengdu, China, which has drawn off many top players from the US, Puerto Rico and Canada. You’ll see there are clearly some haves vs some have-nots! Note that the “Roster Strength” score that we have assigned to each team is a score against that team’s own optimal lineup, and not a reflection of a team’s roster compared to other teams.
The East
When in Rock Hill, do as the Romain does…Lorentz’s recent ascendance has changed the calculations for the Carolina Gold Rush, in a way that may give Coach Alex Yang a leg up on the competition.
Carolina Gold Rush: Enzo Angles, Romain Lorentz, Bastien Dupont, Kai Zhang, Jeremy Hazin, Hong Lin (Roster Strength Rating: 10). Key absences: none. One of the keys to Carolina’s success to date has been its consistency…not only of its players’ playing level, but also of their rosters. Dupont missed Myrtle Beach, and that’s it. For Rock Hill, Carolina will be looking to increase its lead over the pack with their fully locked and loaded lineup, headlined by MLTT #1 and #3 ranked players, Enzo Angles and Hong Lin. Lorentz’s strong play in Chicago and recent USATT tournaments has vaulted him up to the #2 spot, which will give Dupont more favorable matchups in the C/D slot. But these machinations aside, Carolina’s secret to success thus far hasn’t been complicated: show up, ball out.
The West has yet to face the fiery disposition and creative shotmaking of Florida’s conquistador, Marc Duran.
Florida Crocs: Daniel Gorak, Mark Duran, Ojo Onaolapo, Benjamin Brossier, Mishel Levinski, Matilda Ekholm (Roster Strength Rating: 9.5). Key absences: Daniel Gonzalez. Like Carolina, the Crocs have benefitted from a very steady and consistent lineup month after month. Onaolapo has been one of the league’s breakout stars of the first half of the season, with a personal highlight reel worthy of an ESPN SportsCenter episode all to himself. Apparently Daniel Gonzalez, the other half of the Florida Gun Show, checked the weather and saw rain in the forecast for Rock Hill this weekend, because he won’t be there…no sun, no guns. But Mishel Levinski and his threatening reverse pendulum serve will be a capable replacement.
Jinxin “The Professor” Wang, Princeton’s mainstay, will need to shoulder a heavy load this weekend if The Revolution are to continue their recent uprising.
Princeton Revolution: Jinxin Wang, Ievgen Pryschepa, Koyo Kanamitsu, Alex Chen, Nishant Lebaka (FA), Angela Guan (Roster Strength Rating: 7). Key absences: Jishan Liang, Mathieu de Saintilan. Princeton can ill afford a setback after last month’s solid step forward, but missing their #2 and #3 players this weekend will not help matters, not to mention limited availability of their own breakout star Koyo “Red Bull” Kanamitsu. They’ve tapped a local connection in selecting New Jersey’s own Nishant Lebaka as a free agent, and with their record of picking hidden gems off the free agent wire (let’s not forget where Super Senura Silva got his MLTT start), perhaps they get a surprise performance out of Lebaka (he’s certainly capable of it), Chen returns to form after his forearm injury in week 1, and the team rallies to keep pace this weekend with the other teams in the East, despite their makeshift roster.
She may be young according to her driver’s license (umm, does she even have a driver’s license yet?), but what Emily Tan lacks in years, she makes up for it in fearlessness. She may not even know what a martini is, but she leaves her opponents both shaken AND stirred. Tan is a MPH staff room fave because she never looks fazed by the situation, even as more veteran players have visibly wilted under the harsh MLTT spotlight.
Chicago Wind: Damien Provost, Alexandru Cazacu, Dan Liu, Daniele Pinto, Tim Wang, Emily Tan (Roster Strength Rating: 8.5). Key absences: Sasha Khanin. Where have you gone, Sasha Khanin? Windy nation turns its lonely eyes to you….while Sasha’s unexpected absence is a blow to Chicago (ahem, see what we did there?), few franchises have the luxury of debuting a 3x US National Champion and 2012 Olympian in his place. Wang may be a decade removed from his glory days, but rumor has it that he’s been training with purpose and all the talent and experience are all there, waiting to be unlocked…throw in the fearless Emily Tan teaming up with the hardest working man in table tennis Provost in doubles, and The Wind are well-positioned to bounce back from the hometown curse last month in Chicago.
The West
Absences by Seattle’s #2 and #3 players will thrust Johan Hagberg into some crucial matchups against opposing teams’ A/B players. Hopefully this means more on-screen speaking engagements with the MLTT’s reigning King of the Postgame Interview. In MPH offices, his interviews are literally required listening. When Johan talks, we listen. Some of us take notes.
Seattle Spinners: Nikhil Kumar, Johan Hagberg, Paul Qi, Andrew Cao, Ondrej Lapcik, Yasiris Ortiz [FA] (Roster Strength 7.5). Key absences: Aditya Sareen, Olajide Omotayo, Fabiola Diaz. Sareen and Omotayo are both off playing in international commitments, as is Diaz. Can Seattle survive this triple whammy of key absences? With all the momentum in the world after their otherworldly performance in Pleasanton, Kumar and crew will need to step it up big time to keep the spectators’ heads spinning. Free agent Ortiz will make a fascinating pairing with Kumar in doubles if that’s how Coach Luba Sadovska chooses to play it.
It’s been a wild but ultimately wonderful rollercoaster ride for Senura Silva, from being overlooked in the draft to “not throwing away my shot” as a FA for Princeton, to MLTT stardom after signing a full contract with Bay Area.
Bay Area Blasters: Ma Jinbao, Tao Wenzhang, Senura Silva, Alexis Douin, Aditya Godhwani, Angie Tan [FA] (Roster Strength: 7.5). Key absences: Lily Zhang, Lashin Elsayed. Not quite the Death Star lineup from Pleasanton, as The Kingslayer misses his 2nd event in a row and everyone’s favorite superstar Lily will be off in Chengdu with other US National team members. The Blasters really missed the veteran presence of Elsayed, and the ability for Coach Maggie Tian to match Lily up favorably against opposing men in singles and thereby allowing her to field an all-male doubles team was such strong tactic that perhaps only Bay Area could employ consistently…but this time, she’ll most likely need to go with the more conventional mixed doubles lineup with Angie paired up with Tao, which isn’t too shabby. And obviously the top of their lineup can blast with anyone in the league.
How dare you accuse us of taking a Rachel Sung pic, flipping it in Photoshop and try to pass it off as a pic of twin sister Joanna? Dammit…ok we busted. What gave it away?!? When you see it…
Portland Paddlers: Salim Karam, Jiwei Xia, Jonatan McDonald, Isaac Vila Ortiz, Tyrese Knight, Joanna Sung [FA] (Roster Strength Rating: 7). Key absences: Kou Lei, Daniel Tran, Rachel Sung. Admittedly we’re a bit unsure of how to rate this situation because it’s just so bonkers. The Paddlers not having King Kou Lei is almost like….the Blazers not having Dame Lilliard (hides under desk). Daniel Tran had been a very solid and important contributor…he’s not ranked #9 in the MLTT just for his boyish good looks. Salim Karam from Morocco makes his much anticipated MLTT debut, but aside from the fact that Daniele Pinto may have some competition for the handsomest dude in the MLTT, we don’t know much about Karam besides his 2650 estimated USATT rating, which can be a total crapshoot. Add to all this the crazy visual of Rachel Sung’s twin sister Joanna taking her spot as a free agent (a virtual mirror image, as Joanna is a righty), and frankly we’re ready to just throw our hands up in the air and wave them like we just don’t care while we watch as Coach Christian Lillieroos’ new look squad navigates the dance floor.
Yoan Rebetez’s smooth graceful style (and perhaps the stylish headband too) have drawn comparisons to his countryman Roger Federer…Yoan will need to produce in a major way this weekend to keep the Texas Smash’s momentum going.
Texas Smash: David McBeath, Hiromitsu Kasahara, Darryl Tsao, Yoan Rebetez, Bruno Ventura do Anjos, Emily Wang (Roster Strength Rating: 8.5). Key absences: Amy Wang, Nandan Naresh. Alas, the Golden Phoenix has flown…after last month’s heroic Golden Game Golden Point performances, Amy Wang and top knot-ch teammate Nandan Naresh will be away in China with US National Team duties. But Coach Jörg Bitzigeio has one go-to move that no other team in the league can match, which is to call upon a second woman - Emily Wang - from his own roster instead of resorting to the FA pool. Kasahara has been playing better and better, so we like Texas’ chances slightly more than the other teams in the west. McBeath will be the key, however…much will depend on The Admiral, who had the ultimate up-and-down performance in Pleasanton…but he proved that when he’s up, he can beat anyone with the MPH Upset of the Week in his 3-0 upset of Ma Jinbao.
Concluding Thoughts
The Western team rosters, populated with more national team players than those of the East, are more affected by absences this weekend. Overall, they are more susceptible. The Eastern teams, with the notable exception of Princeton, are fielding rosters at or near full strength. On paper at least, it looks like: Advantage, East. But these games aren’t played on paper, and we are looking forward to some epic clashes and fascinating never before seen matchups. So many different storylines to keep track of….the former Chinese professional players predominant on the Western Division teams versus the European pro league heavy Eastern Division. The youth factor in the west versus the more experienced veterans in the east. The normally superior female talent of the West essentially all drawn off to China for the Mixed Teams World Cup, so a bevy of free agent Western ladies possibly matching up against the perhaps overlooked women of the East in Golden Game situations? And so many new faces making their MLTT debuts this weekend. We cannot wait for the action to begin, and we promise to bring you the best moments with an inside look at all the drama on and off the table! Until then, keep pongin’, Pongheads!
