(by Steve Hopkins)
Post SV Muhlhausen all but secured the fourth and final playoff spot today with a win over TTC RhonSprudel Fulda-Maberzell. Truthfully, they still need another match or two to fall their way, but at this point, they can lose both of their remaining matches 3-1 and still advance (so aside from a total collapse, they will advance). When they secure the spot officially, there will be a great deal of celebration as Muhlhausen has never qualified for the TTBL playoffs.
The win today moved Muhlhausen into third position, at least temporarily, ahead of Fulda. Muhlhausen’s three wins were Habesohn over Fang Bo Meng, Bertrand over Aruna, and the doubles win (Bertrand/Ionescu over Aruna/Meng). Fulda’s loss dropped them from third to fourth, but Fulda holds the tie advantage over Muhlhausen and Muhlhausen has yet to play No.2 Saarbrucken.
Since No. 1 plays No. 4, and No. 2 plays No. 3, a win by Muhlhausen (over Saarbrucken) would mean they would most likely face Saarbrucken in the playoff, and a loss would match them up against Dusseldorf.
Regardless of the match-ups, there should be some great table tennis in the Final Four. Dusseldorf has Boll, Karlsson, Kallberg, Qiu and Kamal, Saarbruken features Franziska, Jorgic, Polansky, and Kun, Muhlhausen’s squad includes Mengel, Ionescu, Habesohn, and Bertrand, and Fulda has Filus, Aruna, Meng, and Cassin.
One more week of TTBL action next week before the Final Four begins.
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