 The beautiful playing field, in Ciudad Deportiva Carlos Perez in Guayaquil, Ecuador. Photo by Mario Gonzales  Coming in with the flag! Notice the referee's rain gear (it rained during the event).  Juanito, player for Team Monosalvaje Jr., from Guayaquil, Ecuador. Photo by Mario Gonzales  Ricardo
 He has the flag; will he get the flag hang?  Talking paintball for TV were Cachencho (far right), Edmundo Jordan (second from right), Tania A.B. Huamani (third from right), and a player from the  Team Crimen Organizado (novice), from Quito, Ecuador. Photo by Tania A.B. Huamani  Team Attack-Rapinas from Brazil, (L-R): Ademir, Kiko, Rafael, Guga, and Erik. Photo by Tania A.B. Huamani  Team Mercenarios from Brazil, vice-champions. Robertinho Jefferson holds the trophy with Tony Huamani to his left. Photo by Tania A.B. Huamani  Champions! Team Fusion from Venezuela. Photo by Tania A.B. Huamani |
South America's biggest, busiest, and most important circuit opened in Guayaquil, Ecuador, on February 18-19 of this year. Teams came from six South American countries to compete in the Second Annual CSP (South American Circuit).
CSP, organized by Mercenarios Paintball Store of Brazil, began in 2005 with four stops: Chile, Brazil, Argentina, and Colombia. The CSP has expanded to six countries divided into Group 1: Ecuador/Venezuela, Group 2: Chile/Peru, and Group 3: Brazil/Argentina. To run for the title of South American Champion, a team must play at least one tournament in each group. If a team plays more events, they can eliminate the tournament where they scored fewer points in the same group. For example, if Attack plays in Brazil and gets third place and then plays Argentina and is the champion, they will have the Brazilian points cancelled, since both countries are in the same group.
Edmundo, Jordan, and Mario Gonzales organized the Ecuadorian leg of the circuit and drew the attention of TV. On Thursday evening, we were invited to participate in a live TV sports program on Sable Deportes. The event was played at the beautiful Ciudad Deportiva Carlos Perez Perasso, with seven very well-tended soccer courts.
I've been to Manaus and to part of the Amazon forest, and I had thought those were the warmest and wettest places on Earth, until I went to Guayaquil. It rained every single day we were there. Edmundo had put up nice tents for the teams, so there were no problems on the staging area. On Saturday the games started a little late because the heavy rain had put down the net and some bunkers, but soon we caught up.
It was such a good surprise to meet so many new teams! We had no idea of what we would find. We met some pretty good teams such as Team Tuna, and some very brave new ones like Crimen Organizado with the only girl playing in the event (regular CSP player Danielle Huamani of Team Mercenarios could not travel to this event).
The first games had some minor problems because teams were not used to hurrying up to be ready. They preferred to watch the games rather than stay in line to fill up their tanks and chrono their markers. The other problem was to make them sit quietly behind the dead box. The eliminated players insisted on watching the games, talking and even arguing with the refs! The referees seemed to be used to this behavior-as a tradition, or because when they play they do the same. It took me some hard talk with the refs to make them apply the rules instead of just telling them to shut up and sit down. After the first penalties were applied, the attitude changed! A miracle!
Generacion (Chile), Perupaintball (Peru), and Monosalvaje (Ecuador) showed great improvement since the last event of the 2005 CSP in Colombia. They played a lot faster and more aggressively, with more efficient communication. Fast Ducks, Avalancha, and Tuna played well and provided very good entertainment for the public. Mercenarios (Brazil), Attack-Rapinas (Brazil), and Fusion (Venezuela) in my opinion presented the highest-level games in the tournament.
There was only one forfeit, and the 15 playing teams were divided into two groups for the preliminaries. Attack-Rapinas in Group 1 and Team Mercenarios in Group 2 led the prelims, winning all their games. The top four teams in each group moved to the semi-finals.
Attack-Rapinas had been playing defense, sort of "duck shooting." They just sat there shooting at the attacking players. Fusion found a way of neutralizing their strategy and max'd Attack-Rapinas in the semis. In Group 2, Mercenarios went on with their Never-Lose attitude, attracting a crowd to the nets every time they played.
The semi-finals ended with the following points. Group 1: Fusion, 290 points; Attack-Rapinas, 170 points; Generacion, 134 points; Team Tuna, 16 points. Group 2: Mercenario, 210 points; Monosalvaje, 198 points; Avalancha, 118 points; Perupaintball, 34 points. The top two teams of each group went to the finals.
Some players seemed quite nervous in the finals, and gave the refs a lot of trouble, especially to make them shut up and "play dead" behind the dead box. There were more refs on the finals field, and with more eyes to watch the players had to control themselves and play as fair as possible. Monosalvaje did not play well, losing all their games. Attack-Rapinas won by 98 to 8 against Monosalvaje, but to the Mercenarios 98-4, and lost to Fusion 100-0. Mercenarios went undefeated until their last game against Fusion, where Fusion won. Champions: Fusion from Venezuela. Vice-champions: Mercenarios from Brazil. Third: Attack-Rapinas. Fourth: Monosalvaje.
CSP thanks its sponsors who have trusted our efforts and sponsored the events, making it possible for expenses to be paid and prizes to be awarded. Thanks to: Adrenaline Games, Smart Parts, Brass Eagle, JT USA, Viewloader, WGP, Dye Precision, Proto, Portal Paintball Mag, GOL Airlines, National Paintball Supply, Severe, Warped Sportz, and Mercenarios Paintball Store of Brazil.
Author Tania A.B. Huamani is the leading tournament producer in South America, a long-time writer for APG magazine, and owner of Mercenarios Paintball Store, Sao Paulo, Brazil; phone (55+11) 3871.1468; mercenarios.com.br; playpaintball.com.br. CSP at Guayaquil, Ecuador February 18-19, 2006
FINAL RANKINGS 1st-15th Fusion - Venezuela
Mercenarios - Brazil
Attack-Rapinas - Brazil
Monosalvaje - Ecuador
Generacion - Chile
Avalancha - Colombia
Perupaintball - Peru
Team Tuna - Ecuador
Killer - Ecuador
Fast Ducks - Colombia
Almafuerte - Colombia
Monosalvaje Jr. - Ecuador
Evolution - Ecuador
Adrenalina - Ecuador
Crimen Organizado - Ecuador
