Nice Catch. All credit to Focus Ultimate.

Author: Jamie Truong

The WBUCC 2024 crown is close. Day 4 has come and gone as quickly as the showering rain and the gusting wind. With pool play now in the rearview, we’re finally seeing the cream rise to the top. Teams have found their footing and the sand is heating up as the top contenders vie for glory. Let’s dive in and find out what happened on Day 4 of WBUCC 2024.

Open Division

SunDogs (US):

The 11th-seeded SunDogs have clawed their way through the tournament with their gritty defense and high-flying play in the deep space. Coming into Day 4 of WBUCC with a 4-3 record, the SunDogs struggled to find chemistry in their lineups and faced challenging windy conditions. However, they finally hit their stride when it mattered most, taking difficult victories against Vorai (LT), 12-10, and Solaris (PL), 11-9. Their hard work paid off and earned them a performance against the undefeated Quijotes (ES) in a quarterfinal match for the ages.

From the outset, the SunDogs set the tone, catching Quijotes off guard with their intense defensive pressure and precise execution in the deep space. #0 Jesse Johnson led the charge, helping the SunDogs jump out to an early three-point lead. Quijotes, known for their calm and efficient short-field play, were forced into uncharacteristically long throws, struggling to adapt to the SunDogs’ suffocating defense. However, the Spaniards fought back in brilliant fashion. Using the infectious crowd energy, they found their way back to their familiar playstyle and took advantage of back-to-back errant throws from the SunDogs to send the game to Universe Point. With everything on the line and in a moment of absolute cinema, a dramatic layout defensive grab by #43 Kai Durvasula followed by his perfectly executed cut sealed the match for the SunDogs, 10-9.

The SunDogs find themselves in the semi-finals against their fellow Americans, the top-seeded Humiliswag.

Salaspils Wild Things (LV):

The Latvian legends are the only remaining undefeated team in the Open Division after Day 4 of WBUCC 2024. Their quality of players and near-perfect disc movement make them near-impossible to stop. In their two games of the day, Salaspils faced off against 33 Tours Stade Bordelais (FR) and Freezzz Beezzz (BE) for their quarterfinal match.

To put it lightly, the men were dominant in every way, never trailing in any of their matches and asserting unwavering control from the opening pull. Their balanced roster saw significant contributions from all of their players on both offense and defense.

As Salaspils head into Day 5 of WBUCC, they prepare for a much-anticipated rematch against Jetset Open (BE).

Jetset Open (BE):

After suffering a loss to Salaspils Wild Things (LV) on Day 3, the Belgian lads have been marching forward confidently as a tournament powerhouse. With a 3-game slate on Day 4 of WBUCC, they found themselves in several tight matchups against the likes of Gentle (BE), FT Würzburg (DE), and UFO (NL).

Their greatest test came from their quarterfinal match against the 15th-seeded UFO, who pushed the Belgians to the brink for 40 minutes. What really set Jetset apart from the Dutch was their willingness to put their bodies on the line, stealing consecutive break scores in the 44^th and 46^th-minute to push UFO out of the bracket.

Jetset Open finished their Day 4 with three victories and will enter the semi-final round for a fated rematch against Salaspils Wild Things. All eyes will be on their strategic adjustments as they seek redemption and on their path to WBUCC glory.

Mixed Division

Freezgo. All credit to Focus Ultimate.

Freezgo (FR):

For Ulti.TV’s showcase game between Freezgo and Boracay Ultimate (PH), we experienced what could be the match of the tournament. This matchup was defined by clutch moments and the most cinematic shifts in momentum. Early on, Boracay struggled with several dropped opportunities in the end zone, giving Freezgo a chance to capitalize. On the defensive end, #50 Enzo Forget and emerging young superstar #24 Quentin Peschard, hosted a two-person block party. Regardless of a lost invitation to the party and being down two points, the Filipinos weren’t discouraged and rushed onwards, playing the break side beautifully and scoring four points in a row. From then on, it was a string of picture-perfect throws, and incredible defensive bids that took the game to a Universe Point thriller.

In a sudden death point, we saw everything: layout grabs and massive defensive stops from Boracay’s #83 Khyrrah Tuvilla-Roberts and Freezgo’s #5 Simon Ruelle. Ultimately, it was Freezgo who breathed a sigh of relief as Ruelle threw #74 Gaetane Le Pezennec open for the 10-9 win.

Freezgo continue their undefeated run 9-0 into Day 5 of WBUCC 2024.

Amherst CropTops (US):

The 5th-seeded CropTops have been sensational at WBUCC 2024. Although they dropped a game against Czechia’s F.U.J. on Universe Point, they’ve been recording tough wins and have remained near-perfect for the tournament. In their match versus tournament favorite UFA (PT), Amherst’s #21 Ben Ayre was serving his teammates Michelin-level dishes, racking up 4 assists and 2 goals. The Americans closed out UFA with a clinical offensive hold and move into the round of 16 heading into Day 5.

Women’s Division:

Jetset LUV (BE):

Another Belgian team that needs no introduction, the ladies on Jetset LUV have been recording dominant performances against a pool of talented competition. In their Day 4 showcase match against Hot Mess Express (CH), the Belgians proved the importance of sideline help. Several defensive stops were possible only possible thanks to their active sideline calls to stop Hot Mess’s dangerous inside throws. In a marathon point that was marked by 11 turnovers, Jetset was able to grind out the score, and from that point on, the Swiss struggled to find their footing. Jetset’s beautiful end zone play and patient cross-field passes dismantled the defense.

Jetset LUV will take on Cassalletes (ES) in the quarterfinals in what is sure to be a fantastic game.

Valkyria (SE):

The Valkyries aren’t strangers to playing winning Beach Ultimate. After an upset loss to Torrijas (BE) on Day 1, the Swedish women have run rampant through the tournament and have tallied a 43-point goal differential. Using their height and pinpoint throws, they’ve knocked out all the competition with relative ease. A key contributor to their offense is #7 Sarah Eklund. Her nose for the disc has been impeccable, consistently impacting the field and grabbing difficult passes with her signature two-handed layout.

With their confidence at an all-time high and the wind at their backs, the Valkyries charge forth valiantly into the quarterfinals as surefire top contenders.

Highlights from Day 4 & Looking Ahead

Heading into Day 5 of WBUCC 2024, the excitement and energy are reaching a feverish pitch as we jump into playoffs. With so many teams showcasing their remarkable athleticism, skill, and spirit, the next two days are guaranteed to be unforgettable.

To follow the schedule, standings, results, and stats of every game, head on over to https://live.wbucc.org. You can also participate in the games by voting for who you think will win in key matchups! For continued coverage of WBUCC 2024, visit Ulti.TV’s YouTube channel HERE.

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