We'll close out the City Cup competition today, putting an end to the playing days in the 2018 season. The quarterfinals are first today, with all series indoors at Toyota Arena in Freedom, beginning with...
Golden Pilots v. Web City Spiders. Both teams in this series completed unlikely upsets in the first round. Golden's Sparkles had a good 7-ball game against Web City's Ted, who scratched while trying to do a trick shot. Sparkles made a four-ball run-out from ball-in-hand for the win to give Golden a 1-0 series lead. The Pilots' Dusty struck first in 8-ball, and managed to hold off a dangerous attack from the Spiders' Shadow. Dusty then converted a four-ball run-out, her highlight being a kick on the 15 to the bottom right from range. Dusty's win puts the Pilots ahead 2-0. Dusty made sure to prevent Shadow from getting to the table in 9-ball, shattering the break in just the right way for the 9 to drift into the bottom right for the win. Golden's series lead extends to 3-0 as they take a firm grip on the series. Sparkles had a decent break in 10-ball, leading to Ted kicking in the 1 but finding nothing to work with on the 2. Sparkles took over from here, unleashing a nine-ball run-out on her second turn filled with perfectly executed cut shots. The Pilots are on the edge of the semifinals with their current 4-0 series lead. Dusty picked up solids on the break in 12-ball, but she looked lost as the game progressed. Shadow had an easy time getting onto his last ball, but Dusty arranged a well-positioned play to defend. Dusty then fired off a four-ball run-out when Shadow couldn't sink his last ball on his one good chance. Dusty's win secured Golden's advancement with their 5-0 series lead. Strut had a great start for the Pilots in Rotation, making five balls over two turns, but he only potted one more, allowing Shiny to rally back for the 8-6 win. The Spiders won't be swept, but remain down 5-1. Shiny had the better of offense in 15-ball for Web City, showing creativity early on but losing her touch later. Strut managed a late four-ball run to threaten for the win, but he missed the 14, and Shiny made the last two shots to cut the series down to 5-2 in favor of Golden. Strut and Shiny remained perfect deep into Accuracy, with Strut holding the advantage from his ball on the break. Strut would miss first, but Shiny missed twice late, giving Strut the 1-2 win for a 6-2 Pilots series win over the Spiders. Golden will have plenty of time to rest before the semifinals this afternoon.
Terrace City Knights v. Pacific Volcanoes. After the lunch break, the second quarterfinal is set to go. Neither player immediately grabbed control in 7-ball, but Terrace City's Kiwi saw her cold stretch last longer, while Pacific's Ms. Kitty eventually got the win and 1-0 series lead on a four-ball run-out. Kiwi scratched once on the break and again late in the 8-ball game, making it far too easy for the Volcanoes' Leonette to launch her attack. Leonette defeated the Knights captain with a three-ball run-out, giving her side a 2-0 series lead. Terrace City got on the board with Quincy making three balls over two turns to start in 9-ball. Quincy double-potted on the break and converted a 1-9 combination to the top right on the next shot to keep Pacific's Ms. Kitty away from the table. The series is now at 2-1. Kiwi looked much better in 10-ball for the Knights, capitalizing on a pair of missed contact plays from the Volcanoes' Twinkie I. The second of these plays led Kiwi to finding a three-ball run-out for the win, tying the series at 2. Oreo made her first appearance for Terrace City in 12-ball, and she had the better of play initially, but there was nothing she could do about the miracle four-ball run-out Twinkie I assembled for Pacific. Twinkie I made three of the four shots from low-percentage situation, practically stealing the win to put her team ahead at 3-2. Leonette burst ahead after a slow start in Rotation, holding off an early attack from Quincy and the Knights. Leonette had to repel a second attack from Quincy near the end, holding on for an 8-6 win that gives the Volcanoes a 4-2 series lead. Quincy provided pressure in a slow 15-ball game for Terrace City, but he scratched while trying to position himself on the 15. Ms. Kitty converted her shot for the win, securing a series win for the Volcanoes at 5-2. Oreo slipped behind initially in Accuracy, but the Knights veteran persisted to the end, getting Twinkie I to miss a few times late in the game. Oreo won 2-3, but Pacific claimed the 5-3 series win to send them to the semifinals.
Oceanside Waves v. Stonebridge Wolves. Teams built on youth play in the third quarterfinal. Oceanside's Celestia pushed in 7-ball, but she faltered on the 7 at the end, and Stonebridge's Vladimir ended up taking it on a tap-in for the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Waves' Josie put in a five-ball run at one point in 8-ball, countering an earlier run from the Wolves' Vladimir to pull herself ahead. Josie played patiently at the end, weathering a slow attack from Vladimir before poking the 8 to the top left for the win, which tied the series at 1. Celestia again had something missing from her game in 9-ball for Oceanside, leading to Stonebridge's Vladimir taking his second win on an 8-9 combination to the top right. Vladimir's late-game success has his side up 2-1 in the series. Celestia had a positive break leading to a three-ball run in 10-ball. She added a pair before Cobalt fired back with two pairs for the Wolves on his next two turns. He just missed on the 10 at the top left, and Celestia tapped it in for the Waves, retying the series at 2. Josie played well on the 12-ball break for Oceanside, but she gave away a wild-card ball later on her first turn. Juno couldn't do much with it at first for Stonebridge, but she eventually unraveled a path forward, easily taking the win as Josie couldn't get her shots sorted out. Stonebridge returns to a lead at 3-2. Josie started off pretty well in Rotation, but suffered a four-ball run against her by the Wolves' Cobalt. Josie fired back, tying the game, and then pulling away with two pairs of shots staggered around another make from Cobalt. Josie would win 8-5, helping the Waves get their third equalizer as the series sits tied at 3. Jason V. stepped up for Oceanside in 15-ball, battling in a choppy start with Stonebridge's Cobalt before the two players exchanged three-ball runs in the middle. Another short spar occurred after that, and then Jason found a four-ball run-out to give Oceanside their first series lead at 4-3. Jason stayed on in Accuracy for the Waves, and again had to battle with the Wolves' player, this time keeping an even fight with Juno for awhile. Eventually, Jason pinned Juno back, holding on to win 2-5, which in turn gave the Waves a 5-3 series win after some nervous starts. The Waves will take on the Golden Pilots in the semifinals.
Queens Flames v. Modernistic Union. The last quarterfinal sees the top-seeded team take on a dangerous underdog. Violetta put in a couple of good shots for Queens in 7-ball, but she blew it with a missed 5-7 combination toward the bottom left. Modernistic's Ms. Puppy converted that same shot for the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Flames' Hannah had a terrible start in 8-ball, scratching on the break. Daisy looked good for the Union for awhile, until she got down to her last ball, which proved quite troublesome. Hannah roared back at this point, taking the win with a five-ball run-out to tie the series at 1. Violetta put in a majority of the offense in 9-ball, but the Queens star was again denied the win with her miss on the 9. Ms. Puppy took a bank attempt at it and found the bottom right corner for the win, restoring Modernistic's series lead at 2-1. Daisy had a nice three-ball run early on for the Union, but she had to battle evenly with the Flames' Violetta right up to the end. Daisy found a pair of shots at the end to set herself ahead for the win, giving the Union a 3-1 series lead. Crystal looked good in her first appearance for Queens, but her offense faded late in 12-ball as she tried to pick at the side pockets. Daisy capitalized for Modernistic, aligning and converting on a four-ball run-out to grab the win that extends their series lead to 4-1. Crystal burst out to a nice lead to start Rotation for the Flames, but she lost the lead on a four-ball run from Puff I, as the Union veteran made a late counterattack. Crystal replied with a pair of shots for the 8-7 win, cutting the series back to 4-2. Puff I continued a strong offense for Modernistic in 15-ball, but even a pair of three-ball runs early in the game didn't deter Hannah. Queens' sophomore charged back at the end, taking the final two shots for the win to pull Queens closer at a 4-3 deficit. Crystal made a pair on the break, but her inability to stick Ms. Puppy with a bad position at the end of the Accuracy game caused the Flames to take the loss. Ms. Puppy had a tap-in on the final ball to seal a 2-3 win that secured the series for the Union at 5-3. Modernistic has no time to bask in the glory of this win, as they play in the first semifinal.
Modernistic Union v. Pacific Volcanoes. The Union are right back at it in the first semifinal. Ms. Puppy had two errors early in 7-ball for Modernistic, but sealed the game at the end after Pacific's Ms. Kitty lacked a decisive attacking pose. Modernistic holds a 1-0 series lead, much as they did from the previous series. The Union's Daisy began with a five-ball run early in 8-ball, staking out a significant lead. Leonette made a valiant effort at a comeback for the Volcanoes, but her four-ball run ended by potting Daisy's last ball, and Daisy cut the 8 to the top right to take the win. The Union move to 2-0 ahead in the series. Ms. Puppy had a dangerous break in 9-ball, and she controlled the offense for much of the game despite Ms. Kitty's good chances. Modernistic fans would be disappointed to see Ms. Puppy's bank on the 9 come up short at the top right, where Ms. Kitty tapped it in to give Pacific a win, which cuts the series deficit to 2-1. Daisy and Twinkie I engaged in a pitiful excuse of a 10-ball game, both players potentially showing some fatigue in the two-day tournament. The Union got the win when Daisy found a three-ball run-out after a bad miss from the Volcanoes' Twinkie I on the 8. The Union are up 3-1 in the series. Daisy started on the break in 12-ball for Modernistic, but she came up short with a couple of her shots. Twinkie I used defense to slow Daisy, and she would have won the game even faster without a scratch in the middle. Twinkie I removed the defense and outran Daisy for the win, pulling Pacific back within a game at 3-2. Puff I gave no opportunity for Leonette to be comfortable in Rotation. Puff I converted a pair of three-ball runs very early in the game, and while Leonette chipped back with a pair late in the game, her missed contact on the 10 allowed Puff I to claim the 8-2 win from ball-in-hand. Puff I's win puts the Union on the brink of knocking out the Volcanoes at a 4-2 series lead. Ms. Kitty seemed fine for Pacific at the start of the 15-ball game, but she would crumble early, and Puff I took over on a standard-setting ten-ball run-out to win the game and the series for Modernistic, as Puff I's remarkable attack gave them a 5-2 advantage. Ms. Puppy played a near-perfect Accuracy game for the Union to finish the series off, winning 1-3 with her only miss coming at the end with the result firmly in hand against the Volcanoes' Twinkie I. Modernistic won this one 6-2, making them the first City Cup Finalist as they await the winner of the next series.
Oceanside Waves v. Golden Pilots. The new favorites take on a resilient veteran team in the second semifinal. Celestia started well in 7-ball for Oceanside, but her continued inability to close out games surfaced with a narrow miss on the 7. Golden's Sparkles opportunistically converted at the bottom side, taking the win to give her team a 1-0 lead in the series. The Waves' Josie began with a pair on the break in 8-ball, an assertive start from the rookie. The Pilots' Dusty answered on a three-ball run, trying to shake Josie, but she replied with a six-ball run-out, a turn that secured the win for the Waves to tie the series at 1. Dusty stayed up for Golden in 9-ball, sparring with Oceanside's Celestia in a sloppy start to the 9-ball game. Dusty found an opening for a three-ball run-out and ended the game by splitting the cue off the 5 to bump the 9 to the bottom right for the win. Golden's ahead 2-1 in the series. Sparkles followed a similar formula for the Pilots, weathering a slow start to frustrate the Waves' Celestia before beating her on a three-ball run-out capped by a 4-10 combination to the bottom right. Sparkles' win puts the Pilots up 3-1 in the series. Dusty struck first in 12-ball for Golden, picking the stripes for her suit, but she lacked a decisive run to set herself apart. Josie again challenged her successfully, getting the better positioning with each player down to two balls, and Josie patiently waited until she could convert both shots, earning the win to get Oceanside back to only a 3-2 deficit. Strut started with a four-ball run in Rotation for the Pilots, but he was quickly overtaken by a pair of three-ball runs from the Waves' Josie. Strut got a point back, but Josie won the game 8-5, tying the series once again at 3 games apiece. Jason V. entered the fray for Oceanside in 15-ball, looking pretty good with a four-ball run over the middle of the game to supplement earlier offense. Strut waited patiently, and then struck a three-ball run-out at the end to give Golden a 4-3 series lead despite a lacking performance on offense. Jason V. continued against Strut in Accuracy with his team's season on the line. Jason put in nearly a perfect performance, faltering once with the lead but holding on for a 1-3 win to help the Waves retie the series at 4. The tiebreaker is in 13-ball, and Jason played again, striking on the break. He soon gave away some collateral damage, but Sparkles was pinned at the bottom left corner with four balls for Golden. She tried to navigate out of that, but not in time, as Jason's four-ball run-out secured the win and 5-4 series win in favor of Oceanside. The Waves have lived dangerously on day 2, but the #2 seed is into the City Cup Finals.
Oceanside Waves v. Modernistic Union. This is the final series of the City Cup and the 2018 Tournament as a whole. Oceanside's Celestia showed up with a four-ball run in 7-ball, but she missed on the 5 and missed contact at the 6. Modernistic's Ms. Puppy made the 6 and 7 to take the win for a 1-0 series lead. The Waves' Josie had an empty break in 8-ball, but she fired back on a six-ball run to assert herself. The Union's Daisy had a four-ball run later in the game, but missed on the last stripe, allowing Josie to pound the 8 to the bottom right for the win, which tied the series at 1. Oceanside's Celestia opened with a seven-ball run in 9-ball on her second turn, a decisive attack from the struggling sophomore. Ms. Puppy gummed up at the end of the game, eventually taking the 9 on her third try for the stolen win to regain a 2-1 series lead for Modernistic. Celestia had a frustrating break in 10-ball for the Waves, leading to a chippy game with most of the balls along the bottom rail. Daisy broke through at the end, kicking the 9 to the bottom right before putting the 10 in the top right to extend the Union lead to 3-1. Josie struck for a pair on the break in 12-ball, and the Oceanside rookie played well from here, defending two pockets from Daisy's attacks for Modernistic. The defense held, giving Josie enough time to do a three-ball run-out for the win after Daisy surrendered a wild-card ball. Modernistic remains ahead 3-2 in the series. Puff I gave the Union a good start in Rotation with a three-ball run, but Josie fought back over two turns to pull ahead. The two players were tied late, but Josie walked away with the 8-6 win on a three-ball run-out, tying the series again at 3 games each. Jason V. had a decent performance for Oceanside in 15-ball up to his scratch while potting the 5, which gave Puff I an irresistible ball-in-hand on the 6-15 combination. Puff I converted, putting Modernistic up 4-3 in the series to assure them two chances to win the City Cup. Ms. Puppy battled with Jason to the tune of a draw through regulation, but Ms. Puppy did have the last shot advantage. Jason's overtime break went empty, and with it the Waves' hopes of the title died, as Ms. Puppy made her one shot for the 3-4 win to seal the series at 5-3. Ms. Puppy was named the City Cup MVP for her 10-2 record with three series-clinching wins in the competition as the Union are named City Cup Champions in 2018.
The 2018 Tournament year is over. The blog will be going quiet as I work on a myriad of tasks in the next few weeks, most notably with record-keeping and the upcoming 2019 UPCL Draft. I will likely publish a list of available players in the next two days, as well as any completed trades for the league. Official announcements about December activities should be coming as well. After the draft, I will be working on updating player pages and other administrative tasks, as well as improving the back-end of matchup tracking by going through the old documents. I would expect Qualifiers to begin some time in January, but everything is subject to change.
No comments:
Post a Comment