On August 19, Mission Beach San Diego sun bathers were treated to great entertainment through the local San Diego Rip Beach Handball Tournament. The tournament aside from local San Diego and Los Angeles based player was welcoming the U18 women national team of American Samoa, who just arrived in the US in preparation for their debut at the Youth Olympics in Argentina this year.
Three teams were quickly formed, who played each other twice to determine the winner.
The tournament kicked off with a real show right from the start. RIP San Diego was able to win the first set against Los Angeles Rip, but they quickly recovered and took the second set to drag the game to shoot-outs. Here RIP San Diego was able to take the win, but everyone was aware that the rematch promised to be as great.
The third team the San Diego Ambassadors were not able to win against the RIP teams, but turned out to be the deciding factor for the tournament overall placements.
Then the rematch of the day was on. Los Angeles RIP quickly took the lead in the first set, but RIP San Diego was able to come back and stole the set win with a late set 6m shot. Having lost another set Los Angeles RIP once more brought everything they had and won the second set by a 9 goal difference, leaving RIP San Diego stunned. The San Diego team was not able to recover and lost the following shoot-out leaving both teams with 2 wins and 1 loss.
The games against the San Diego Ambassadors brought the decision for final placements in the tournament. Despite loosing both games the San Diego Ambassadors were able to win one set against Los Angeles RIP, crowning RIP San Diego the winner of the tournament.
Final Result: 1. RIP San Diego, 2. Los Angeles RIP, 3. San Diego Ambassadors
See all results from the tournament here: San Diego RIP BHT