Anguita and Zapata among the best in Spain

LOS ALCÁZARES - The top division of the Spanish three-cushion team competition played five rounds with six teams this weekend: a total of 60 individual matches. CB Paiporta, the current champion, is the first leader in the National League. The Valencian team recorded five victories out of five matches, followed by Cartagena (four victories and one loss). In the lower regions, Kalima Rivas could not score. The remaining six teams come into action next week.

Carlos Anguita and Sergio Jimenez were the best winners in this round with 40 in 17 innings. Anguita was the most striking player in this round with two wins 2,353 on average and one 2,105. The young Spaniard, second player behind Cartagena's leader David Zapata, beat José Rico (40-15 in 17) and Alvaro Schepers (40-13 in 17) and beat Saul Espinosa in 19 innings (40-28). David Zapata, the famous winner of the PBA Finals, and Javier Palazón recorded the highest run of 10. Javier Palazón (four wins and one tie) was the best scoring player for the leading team, Sergio Jiménez, Jorge Cantó and the young Miguel Herrero were part of the solid quartet.

Cartagena, which lost to Paiporta 5-3, won the other four matches and is the strong number two in this round. Carlos Anguita (1,757) and David Zapata (1,553) were the best players in this team, while Jose Carrasco and Mario Mercader also played at a high level in this young team.

Castalla could not play with its top players contracted this year: Eddy Merckx, Roland Forthomme and Jean van Erp, but showed up with a very young quality team. David Martinez, Jesus Rico, Andres Carrion, Ivan Mayor and Toni Garcia lost their first two games, but won the other three and finished in third place behind Paiporta and Cartagena.

Juan Luis Torner of Ateneo was the only player to win his five matches.

The most notable matches:
David Zapata-Rui Costa 40-20 in 18
Carlos Anguita-Jesus Rico 40-15 in 17
Carlos Anguita-Alvaro Schepers 40-13 in 17
Carlos Anguita-Saul Espinoza 40-28 in 19
Javier Palazón-David Zapata 40-31 in 27
Javier Palazón-David Martinez 40-38 in 22
David Zapata-David Martinez 40-24 in 20.

The leading Paiporta team

The Caragena team is the runner up with Carlos Anguita (r) and David Zapata (second right)