Philadelphia sweeps Pittsburgh to roll into PBA League Semifinal Round
03/24/14
Bill O'Neill and his Philadelphia Hitmen (pictured left) recorded the first sweep in the 2014 Professional Bowlers Association League Elias Cup eliminations, knocking the Pittsburgh Jack Rabbits (right) out of the tournament at Thunderbowl Lanes and atoning for a disappointing finish to their 2013 campaign.
A 235-225 victory in the five-man Baker team finale completed Philadelphia's 6-0 sweep of the singles, alternate ball doubles, Baker trios and Baker team competition and landed the Hitmen, owned by actor/comedian Kevin Hart, a berth in the semifinal round against the Silver Lake Atom Splitters.
The battle of Pennsylvania, the fourth and final single-elimination quarterfinal round match in the eight-team PBA League competition, aired Sunday, March 23, on ESPN.
PBA League Tournament Bracket
It was a redeeming performance for the Hitmen, presented by High 5 Gear, who were in position to make the Elias Cup finals in 2013 only to fade in the final qualifying round to finish sixth.
"It bothered me a lot that we did as bad as we did last year," O'Neill (left) said. "We had a bad last day. If we had avoided that, we would have been fine. But we're back this year with a couple of different guys and it's turned out well because they've done nothing but strike so far. We didn't lose a game, so that's about as good as it gets.
"Now we have the supposed 'dream team' next, so hopefully we'll be able to beat their butts," O'Neill added, referring to a Silver Lake team loaded with past PBA Players of the Year Chris Barnes, Tommy Jones and Wes Malott as well as 2013 POY contender Dom Barrett and 2003 USBC Masters champion Bryon Smith.
O'Neill started the sweep of the Jack Rabbits, presented by HotelPlanner.com, with a 215-212 win in the singles match against Jack Rabbits' team captain Osku Palermaa (right), taking advantage of a pair of splits and open frames by the Finnish two-handed player in the second and third frames.
Palermaa recovered from his mistakes with a string of five strikes. Needing two strikes in the 10th frame to complete his rally, he left a 10 pin on his first shot.
Dan MacLelland (left) and Ryan Ciminelli (right) kept the Philadelphia momentum rolling in the alternate ball doubles match, striking on eight of their first nine shots en route to a 257-239 win over Pittsburgh's Ronnie Russell and Eugene McCune.
The Jack Rabbits, owned by newly-signed Oakland Raiders all-pro linebacker LaMarr Woodley, never wilted, however.
In the Baker trio match, Philadelphia's O'Neill, Josh Blanchard, Mike DeVaney again set a torrid pace, striking on eight of their first nine shots, but led by only one pin heading into ninth frame. O'Neill's spare in the 10th gave Palermaa a chance to win for Pittsburgh with two strikes in his final frame, but he left the 4-9 split to end the threat and Philadelphia won, 256-251.
The Hitmen (L-R Team manager Jason Couch, Bill O'Neill, Mike DeVaney, Josh Blanchard, Dan MacLelland, and Ryan Ciminelli), who are managed by PBA Hall of Famer Jason Couch, completed the sweep with a dominating team effort.
Open frames in the fifth and eighth frames hindered the Jack Rabbits, but they used a barrage of strikes to remain in contention until O'Neill's 10th-frame spare locked up the win.
"They never gave us any breathing room," Pittsburgh team manager Tim Mack said. "It was a matter of one shot here and there that made the difference. We were in every match until the 10th frame, but it wasn't our day."
The PBA League now moves into the semifinal round where the defending champion New York City WTT KingPins, owned by women's sports legend Billie Jean King and led by team captain Pete Weber, will meet L.A. X, owned by Los Angeles Clippers star Chris Paul and led by captain Jason Belmonte, on ESPN on Sunday, March 30, at 5 p.m.
The Philadelphia Hitmen will bowl the Silver Lake Atom Splitters, owned by "Nerdist" creator Chris Hardwick and led by Barnes, on ESPN on Sunday, April 6, at 1 p.m. ET.
The two semifinal round winners will battle for the Elias Cup on ESPN on Sunday, April 13, at 2 p.m. ET.
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Final Standings
Philadelphia Hitmen presented by High 5 Gear def. Pittsburgh Jack Rabbits presented by HotelPlanner.com, 6-0.
Singles Match (one point)
Bill O'Neill, Philadelphia Hitmen, def. Osku Palermaa, Pittsburgh Jack Rabbits, 215-212.
Alternate Ball Doubles (one point)
Philadelphia Hitmen (Dan MacLelland/Ryan Ciminelli) def. Pittsburgh Jack Rabbits (Ronnie Russell/Eugene McCune), 257-239.
Baker Trios (one point)
Philadelphia Hitmen (Bill O'Neill/Josh Blanchard/Mike DeVaney) def. Pittsburgh Jack Rabbits (Osku Palermaa/Martin Larsen/Ronnie Russell), 256-251.
Five-Man Baker Team (three points)
Philadelphia Hitmen (Mike DeVaney/Josh Blanchard/Dan MacLelland/Ryan Ciminelli/Bill O'Neill) def. Pittsburgh Jack Rabbits (Patrick Allen/Martin Larsen/Eugene McCune/Ronnie Russell/Osku Palermaa), 235-225.
2014 PBA League
Bill O'Neill's Hitmen avenge disappointing 2013 finish, reach final four
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Bill O'Neill and his Philadelphia Hitmen (pictured left) recorded the first sweep in the 2014 Professional Bowlers Association League Elias Cup eliminations, knocking the Pittsburgh Jack Rabbits (right) out of the tournament at Thunderbowl Lanes and atoning for a disappointing finish to their 2013 campaign. A 235-225 victory in the five-man Baker team finale completed Philadelphia's 6-0 sweep of the singles, alternate ball doubles, Baker trios and Baker team competition and landed the Hitmen, owned by actor/comedian Kevin Hart, a berth in the semifinal round against the Silver Lake Atom Splitters.
The battle of Pennsylvania, the fourth and final single-elimination quarterfinal round match in the eight-team PBA League competition, aired Sunday, March 23, on ESPN.
PBA League Tournament Bracket
It was a redeeming performance for the Hitmen, presented by High 5 Gear, who were in position to make the Elias Cup finals in 2013 only to fade in the final qualifying round to finish sixth.
"It bothered me a lot that we did as bad as we did last year," O'Neill (left) said. "We had a bad last day. If we had avoided that, we would have been fine. But we're back this year with a couple of different guys and it's turned out well because they've done nothing but strike so far. We didn't lose a game, so that's about as good as it gets. "Now we have the supposed 'dream team' next, so hopefully we'll be able to beat their butts," O'Neill added, referring to a Silver Lake team loaded with past PBA Players of the Year Chris Barnes, Tommy Jones and Wes Malott as well as 2013 POY contender Dom Barrett and 2003 USBC Masters champion Bryon Smith.O'Neill started the sweep of the Jack Rabbits, presented by HotelPlanner.com, with a 215-212 win in the singles match against Jack Rabbits' team captain Osku Palermaa (right), taking advantage of a pair of splits and open frames by the Finnish two-handed player in the second and third frames.
Palermaa recovered from his mistakes with a string of five strikes. Needing two strikes in the 10th frame to complete his rally, he left a 10 pin on his first shot.
Dan MacLelland (left) and Ryan Ciminelli (right) kept the Philadelphia momentum rolling in the alternate ball doubles match, striking on eight of their first nine shots en route to a 257-239 win over Pittsburgh's Ronnie Russell and Eugene McCune. The Jack Rabbits, owned by newly-signed Oakland Raiders all-pro linebacker LaMarr Woodley, never wilted, however.
In the Baker trio match, Philadelphia's O'Neill, Josh Blanchard, Mike DeVaney again set a torrid pace, striking on eight of their first nine shots, but led by only one pin heading into ninth frame. O'Neill's spare in the 10th gave Palermaa a chance to win for Pittsburgh with two strikes in his final frame, but he left the 4-9 split to end the threat and Philadelphia won, 256-251.
The Hitmen (L-R Team manager Jason Couch, Bill O'Neill, Mike DeVaney, Josh Blanchard, Dan MacLelland, and Ryan Ciminelli), who are managed by PBA Hall of Famer Jason Couch, completed the sweep with a dominating team effort. Open frames in the fifth and eighth frames hindered the Jack Rabbits, but they used a barrage of strikes to remain in contention until O'Neill's 10th-frame spare locked up the win.
"They never gave us any breathing room," Pittsburgh team manager Tim Mack said. "It was a matter of one shot here and there that made the difference. We were in every match until the 10th frame, but it wasn't our day." The PBA League now moves into the semifinal round where the defending champion New York City WTT KingPins, owned by women's sports legend Billie Jean King and led by team captain Pete Weber, will meet L.A. X, owned by Los Angeles Clippers star Chris Paul and led by captain Jason Belmonte, on ESPN on Sunday, March 30, at 5 p.m.
The Philadelphia Hitmen will bowl the Silver Lake Atom Splitters, owned by "Nerdist" creator Chris Hardwick and led by Barnes, on ESPN on Sunday, April 6, at 1 p.m. ET. The two semifinal round winners will battle for the Elias Cup on ESPN on Sunday, April 13, at 2 p.m. ET.
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2014 PBA League - Quarterfinal Match Four
Thunderbowl Lanes in Allen Park, Mich. (Jan. 26, 2014)
Final Standings
Philadelphia Hitmen presented by High 5 Gear def. Pittsburgh Jack Rabbits presented by HotelPlanner.com, 6-0.
Singles Match (one point)
Bill O'Neill, Philadelphia Hitmen, def. Osku Palermaa, Pittsburgh Jack Rabbits, 215-212.
Alternate Ball Doubles (one point)
Philadelphia Hitmen (Dan MacLelland/Ryan Ciminelli) def. Pittsburgh Jack Rabbits (Ronnie Russell/Eugene McCune), 257-239.
Baker Trios (one point)
Philadelphia Hitmen (Bill O'Neill/Josh Blanchard/Mike DeVaney) def. Pittsburgh Jack Rabbits (Osku Palermaa/Martin Larsen/Ronnie Russell), 256-251.
Five-Man Baker Team (three points)
Philadelphia Hitmen (Mike DeVaney/Josh Blanchard/Dan MacLelland/Ryan Ciminelli/Bill O'Neill) def. Pittsburgh Jack Rabbits (Patrick Allen/Martin Larsen/Eugene McCune/Ronnie Russell/Osku Palermaa), 235-225.
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