We're set to begin the third round today, with the intent of playing eight separate five-game series, as the series length expands for the first time. First up...
Toyota Arena, Freedom: Nikolai v. Delila. The red cue gets things going with this Eastern Hills rivalry in 8-ball. Atlantic's Delila took a large lead in game 1 early on before a run of scratches brought both players close. Freedom's Nikolai tried but failed to catch up, his late scratch giving Delila a clean look at the final two shots. Delila won, going ahead 1-0 in the series. The Pirates' Delila didn't start as well in game 2, but she kept pace with the Cascades' Nikolai. This proved valuable, as Nikolai had some collateral damage that opened a path for Delila to make two shots on her last turn for another win. Delila leads the series 2-0. Nikolai struck first in game 3, and then pulled away on a four-ball run to gain separation from Delila. The visitor Delila made a partial comeback, but Nikolai buried the 8 on his second attempt at the bottom side for the win, cutting the deficit to 2-1. Nikolai went on a five-ball run in game 4, pulling ahead of Delila late in the game before a scratch stalled his progress. Delila would answer two turns later with a three-ball run-out for the win, securing the series at 3-1. Delila pulled in another win, setting the tone with an early six-ball run and then pacing herself later on to get the last two balls before Nikolai could catch up. Delila advances on a 4-1 series win, earning a hosting spot in the bracket quarterfinals.
Subway Arena, Stonebridge: Vladimir Vasilyev v. Pounce. The red cue stays in action in the second series, playing 7-ball now. Southern's Pounce had a couple of chances to make a play on the 7 in game 1, but Stonebridge's Vladimir made it on his second try after shaking off a late fade. Vladimir holds a 1-0 series lead. The Wolves' Vladimir went on a six-ball run to start game 2 after a pair on the break, but he couldn't get the 7. The Monarchs' Pounce made just the 7 for the win, tying the series at 1 with the timely shot. Vladimir found a balance between strength and precision in game 3, working a five-ball run-out, with the last two shots being hard cuts to pick up the win after Pounce couldn't ignite his own run on the previous turn. Vladimir is up 2-1 in the series. Game 4 was a bit more tense than the last two games, with back-and-forth play giving Pounce a chance to bank the 7 to the top side on a late push. Pounce missed, and Vladimir put the 7 in the bottom right for the win, clinching the series at 3-1. Vladimir had some good shots in game 5, but he got too aggressive and missed on the 6. Pounce would win with the last two shots, but Vladimir took the series at 3-2. Vladimir will be a host again in the bracket quarterfinals.
Toyota Arena, Freedom: Nikolai v. Daisy. The blue cue gets its first appearance of the round in 15-ball. Modernistic's Daisy looked particularly good in game 1 with a six-ball run before making illegal contact while going for the 9. Freedom's Nikolai made the 9 from ball-in-hand, and then glanced the cue off the 10 to pot the 15 at the bottom right, with the 10 deflecting in as well for a three-ball run-out and the win. Nikolai leads the series 1-0. The Union's Daisy played much worse in game 2, with a couple of illegal contacts. The latter of these led the Cascades' Nikolai to pot the 8-15 combination from ball-in-hand under the obvious shot protocol, which gave him a 2-0 series lead. Game 3 went to full-term, with Daisy showing a bit more creativity but not getting many results for it. Nikolai had less flashy short runs to propel his offense, and he took another win after Daisy missed on the 15, clinching the series for himself at 3-0. Daisy had a three-ball run late in game 4, after having reverted to her early series form in a dominant showing, but her miss on the 15 and Nikolai's subsequent tap-in finish gave the host another win in his 4-0 series lead. Daisy created her own luck in game 5, striking early with a deflection off the 2 to double-kiss the 15 into the top right after Nikolai left the play aligned. Nikolai did take the series 4-1, and he will be hosting his bracket quarterfinals series.
Cisco Arena, Tysini: Brownie v. Celestia. A rebounding veteran faces a hotshot sophomore in 10-ball with the blue cue. Tysini's Brownie had the more dangerous opportunities in game 1, but a late three-ball run ended with a missed bank attempt on the 10. Oceanside's Celestia cleaned it up to the top side for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Hummingbirds' Brownie continued to control the pace of play in game 2, and she got the win this time. Brownie made five of the last six shots, while the Waves' Celestia scratched while trying to set herself up. Brownie's winner was a glancing kick double-kiss on the 10 to the top right, good enough to tie the series at 1. Brownie never let Celestia shoot in game 3, making the 2 on the break, the 1 to the top left on her next shot, and the 10 by glancing the cue off the 3 to push the winner into the top right. Brownie leads the series now at 2-1. Celestia found herself on a late run in game 4, making three straight before missing on the 10. Brownie picked up the slack, drilling it to the top left for the win to seal the series at 3-1. Brownie went on a five-ball run on her second turn in game 5, but a miss on the 4 at the top left led Celestia to make it and then the 5-10 combination to the top right for the win. Brownie claimed a 3-2 series win, and will host another series in the bracket quarterfinals.
GE Stadium Events Center, Southridge: Stephanie Livilotti v. Leonette. The blue cue double-dips in 10-ball with this series. A slow start in game 1 gave way to a dominant pair of turns for Southridge's Stephanie, who easily defeated Pacific's Leonette with a five-ball run followed by a four-ball run-out for the win. Stephanie has a 1-0 series lead. The Volcanoes' Leonette didn't really do any better in game 2, but when the Defenders' Stephanie illegally potted the 10 after another heavy load of offense, Leonette made it legally to take the win. This late twist tied the series at 1. Leonette made most of her successful shots in pairs in game 3, although a late miss on the 10 put all of this good offense in jeopardy. Stephanie would not waste her chance on the 10, tapping it to the bottom right for the win and a 2-1 series lead. Stephanie had a five-ball run from the break, including her illegal potting of the 10 to start the game. Leonette looked dangerous on a couple of runs later in game 4, but Stephanie made the last pair of shots to get the win, sealing the series at 3-1. Leonette again had some moments in game 5, none better than a late four-ball run, but Stephanie remained dangerous and potted the 10 when Leonette couldn't make it on a kick. Stephanie took the series 4-1, earning a hosting position in the bracket quarterfinals.
Honda Driftwood Coliseum, Pearl: Bright v. Jasmine. The silver cue's lone appearance today comes in this 8-ball series. Pearl's Bright had a five-ball run early in game 1, a large attack to set the tone, but the wily Freedom captain Jasmine didn't mind. Jasmine produced a five-ball run-out at the end to grab the win for a 1-0 series lead. The Cascades' Jasmine had a four-ball run to counter an early attack by the Surfers' Bright in game 2, but Bright didn't let it get him down. Bright pulled in a three-ball run-out after Jasmine couldn't quite make the 8, his late push tying the series at 1 with the win. Jasmine erupted for a six-ball run on her first turn in game 3, but she had to be patient from there. Bright got close with three shorter turns, the last of those ending with a scratch that allowed Jasmine to make her last two shots for the win to regain the series lead at 2-1. Bright bounced back a bit despite an early scratch in game 4. Jasmine didn't do much after a three-ball run early on, allowing Bright a four-ball run to get onto the 8, and she didn't challenge him for two turns until he made the 8 for the win to retie the series at 2. Jasmine started very well in game 5, but Bright provided an overwhelming defensive effort after accidentally giving Jasmine two balls on a bad shot. Bright slowly rallied back, and Jasmine missed the 8 a few times, eventually allowing Bright to bank it to the bottom left to cap a three-ball run-out for the win. Bright took the series 3-2, and will advance to the bracket quarterfinals.
Starbucks Arena, Archtown: Sally v. Debby Ryan. Veterans well-tenured on their teams meet in 15-ball with the red cue. Archtown's Sally had a majority of the offense in game 1, while Southridge's Debby struggled. On Sally's second short run, she made a decoy shot on the 4, sending the 15 behind the 14 at the top left to get the win for a 1-0 series lead. It took her a bit more time in game 2, and the Defenders' Debby challenged her more, but Sally did pick up another win to go ahead 2-0 in the series on a five-ball run-out that ended with her double-potting the 12 and 15 in the right corners. Sally didn't have her best performance in game 3, and Debby turned on the jets with a seven-ball run late in the game, but Debby's chance at the 15 went wide right of the top left. Sally cut it in with force to take the win, sealing the series at 3-0 in the process. Debby never got a shot in game 4, as Sally made a ball on the break, dropped the 1 in the top left, and then threw the 2 into a cluster that resulted in the 15 coming out and deflecting off the 8 into the bottom side for the win. Sally holds a 4-0 series lead heading into the last game. Sally had some good shots in game 5, but she left the 4-15 combination aligned after failing to make it herself, and Debby swooped in to take it after a productive outing herself. Sally would have to settle for a 4-1 series win, and she's into the bracket quarterfinals.
Subway Arena, Stonebridge: Juno v. Twilight. Two of the toughest captains in the league clash in today's finale in Accuracy with the blue cue. Stonebridge's Juno fell behind quickly in game 1, while Central's Twilight was perfect until the end. Twilight missed twice to drop into a tie, and then went empty on the overtime break, but Juno would miss two shots in overtime to bail Twilight out. Twilight's 3-4 win gave her a 1-0 series lead. The Wolves' Juno took an early miss in game 2 as well, and while the Warriors' Twilight scratched as the game began to get close to the finish, Juno had another miss in the later turns to fall behind. Twilight held this lead well, making a pair of long cuts to win 1-2, extending her series lead to 2-0. Twilight continued to grow in power in game 3, staying perfect with a ball on the break and an early double-pot to shake things up. Juno tried to keep pace, but Twilight walked away with a 0-3 win, clinching the series at 3-0 after the dominant effort. Juno avoided the sweep in game 4, turning the tables from game 3 as she went nearly perfect while Twilight floundered early and late. Juno took the game 1-4, but Twilight remains ahead 3-1 in the series. Twilight bounced back fairly well in game 5, with plenty of help from a flailing Juno. Twilight won the game 3-4, making it a 4-1 series win in her favor as she heads on to the bracket quarterfinals.
We'll return tomorrow with another eight-series day should everything go to plan.
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