The PPL concluded their historic, inaugural season with the Las Vegas Smash defeating the Cancun Waves in the Championship Match to win the PPL Cup.
“Congratulations to the Las Vegas Smash and the team owners on their win. Interest in the League has never been greater and working with CBS Sports has been fantastic for the PPL.” -Marcos Del Pilar
TAMPA, Fla. (PRWEB)
June 13, 2023
On Sunday, the Pro Padel League (PPL) – North America’s first professional Padel league – concluded their historic, inaugural season with the Las Vegas Smash defeating the Cancun Waves in the Championship Match to win the PPL Cup.
The League’s two best teams of the season, Cancun and Las Vegas advanced to the finals after their semifinal wins on Saturday with Cancun beating Miami and Las Vegas defeating Arkansas. On Sunday, Las Vegas’ women’s doubles team of Tia Norton and Ana Paula De La Peña defeated Cancun in a three-set thriller 6-1, 3-6, 6-0. Following the women, the men’s doubles match was incredibly close with many games being decided by the golden point. Leading the Las Vegas men’s doubles team with his passion and commanding presence on the court, was Guga Vazquez who played with Pablo Amora to help propel their team to an emotional victory in a tight, two set, win over Cancun 7-5, 7-6. With Las Vegas winning the men’s doubles match, they also captured the team win over Cancun to make history as the League’s first Champions.
PPL Commissioner, Marcos Del Pilar, and his Co-Founder, Keith Stein, were thrilled with the first-ever PPL Championship Match. Stein called it “a great milestone for our League which is just exploding.”
Del Pilar added, “Interest in the League has never been greater and working with CBS Sports has been fantastic for the PPL.”
Following the Championship Match, an awards ceremony was held with Del Pilar and Stein presenting Las Vegas with the PPL Cup and announcing this year’s Most Valuable Players (MVPs) including Nico Agritelley of the Arkansas Matrix, and Ana Paula De La Peña of the Las Vegas Smash. On June 22nd, the Championship Match will air tape-delayed on CBS Sports Network in a two-hour program. The PPL’s Founding Sponsor of the League is Merrill Wealth Management.
“Congratulations to the Las Vegas Smash and the team owners on their win,” commented Del Pilar. “They are brilliant business leaders and great sportsmen who brought so much passion and excitement to their team. I also want to salute the Cancun Waves on a terrific season and their owners for doing such a great job.”
“We are very proud and happy for the team to win the inaugural PPL season and take home the PPL Cup,” said Rick Belcastro, Las Vegas franchise owner. “The Smash has great synergy amongst the team and with the city of Las Vegas who had two teams compete in the finals of their leagues. We are now excited to cheer on our friend, and partner, Gavin Maloof, whose other team is chasing the NHL Stanley Cup this week.”
The Las Vegas Smash franchise ownership group includes Henry Strasser, Rick Belcastro, Gavin Maloof, Abe Benitah, Michael Goodman, and Alejandro Hernandez.
“Never bet against Vegas! Yabba Dabba Doo!” added Las Vegas franchise owner, Henry Strasser.
In addition, Del Pilar further stated, “I commend all of our team owners for supporting their teams, the players, and the League this season, and for bringing the highest level of Padel competition to North America this year.”
Making a special appearance on Sunday for the PPL Championship Match was new owner of the Orlando franchise, Daddy Yankee, who is one of the best-selling Latin music artists known as the “King of Reggaeton.” Throughout the season, other worldwide celebrity athletes seen courtside watching the PPL action included 2009 US Open Champion Juan Martin Del Potro (Strategic Advisor to the Miami Padel Club), former ATP #2 Singles Player Tommy Haas (San Diego Stingrays owner), International Soccer Star Miguel Layun (Cancun Waves owner), MLS MVP Sebastian Giovinco (Toronto Polar Bears owner) and Tampa Rays Outfielder Randy Lia.
Originating in Mexico, the high-octane sport of Padel has become one of the fastest-growing sports in the world, gaining increasing popularity in Mexico and Europe and most recently, the U.S. and Canada.
For their historic inaugural season, the PPL was aired weekly in over 100 million television households with their broadcast partners on 40 different networks including BeIN Sports, AT&T Sportsnet, MASN, SWX Sports, and Spectrum. Internationally, the season was aired on select networks such as CaribVision, BeIN Sports en Espanol, and Game+ Network in Canada.
The PPL’s mission is to create a premier sports league providing a national stage for the sport while generating nationwide awareness and excitement for Padel. Something that has never been done before in North America, the PPL will provide players and fans with a new platform that showcases Padel and grows participation in the sport.
Currently, Padel has over 25 million players worldwide and is growing in popularity in the U.S. with the number of Padel courts set to double in 2023. Over 8 million players are projected to be playing in the U.S. by 2030. The PPL will enable players, coaches, team owners, facility owners, broadcasters, fans, sponsors, and brands to all be involved in, and capitalize on, the sport’s explosive growth.
Dedicated to celebrating Padel’s Spanish roots, the League has made VAMOS! the PPL’s official slogan. For more information on the PPL, visit: https://propadelleague.com/. VAMOS!
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About the Pro Padel League
The Pro Padel League (PPL) is North America’s first professional Padel league. The PPL’s mission is to create a premier sports league providing a national stage for the sport while generating nationwide awareness and excitement for Padel as it continues to grow across North America. The PPL’s inaugural season of high-octane team competition kicked-off May 13th, 2023, with seven teams and concluded with the four best teams competing in the Championship Weekend on June 10th-11th, 2023, and the winner capturing the PPL Cup. Teams were comprised of four active players including two men, and two women, and four alternates, and followed the international scoring format. For more information on the PPL, visit: https://propadelleague.com/
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