Mikael Ogaard, Rocky McElroy and Pijus Labutis
Having been eliminated from the earlier $5,000-added One Pocket event of Capone’s new Cup Series in Spring Hill, FL, Lithuania’s Pijus Labutis returned to the tables to compete in the Series’ $5,200-added 10-Ball event which drew 52 entrants, none of whom had a higher Fargo Rate than his (781). For the second time over the weekend, Labutis found himself battling on the loss side of the bracket, which turned into a three-match trip in the One Pocket event and a seven-match trip in 10-Ball. In the proverbial “dish best served cold” department, Labutis feasted twice, downing the competitor who’d sent him to the loss side in 10-ball (Jose Alberto Delgado) and the competitor who’d previously eliminated him in the One Pocket event, Anthony Meglino. In the end, Labutis battled and defeated Norway’s Mikael Ogaard to claim the Cup Series’ inaugural 10-Ball event.
Labutis didn’t get far on the winners’ side. An opening round bye led to a winning matchup against the Series’ One Pocket winner, Justin Hall 8-6 before having his forward progress stopped by Spain’s Jose Alberto Delgado 5-8. Delgado advanced to defeat Martin Daigle 8-6 in one of the winners’ side quarterfinals and drew eventual runner-up (Ogaard) in a winners’ side semifinal. Ogaard’s trip to that point had run through a tough gauntlet of (among others) Rodney Morris (4), Tony “T-Rex” Chohan (6) and a double-hall fight versus Raphael Dabreo.
Anthony Meglino, in the meantime, was running his own ‘gauntlet’ through Jason Richko (3), Norway’s Emil Andre Gangflot (double hill), Warren Kiamco (4), and Donny Branson (4) to arrive at his winners’ side semifinal matchup against James Adams, who’d just won a double hill battle versus Billy Thorpe.
Ogaard got into the hot seat match with an 8-5 win over Delgado and was joined by Meglino, who’d survived a double hill match against Adams. In the hot seat match, Ogaard sent Meglino off to the loss side to become a menu item on Labutis’ revenge plate in the semifinals.
From the start, the loss side featured a long list of competitors, any one of whom could lay claim to the potential of ousting Ogaard from the hot seat; Justin Hall, Tommy Kennedy, Rodney Morris and Jeremy Sossei, to name just a few from the opening loss-side round. And eventually, as they joined the loss-side crowd, Warren Kiamco, Tony Chohan, Billy Thorpe, Jose Alberto Delgado and, of course, Debutis himself.
Delgado came to the loss side and drew his rematch versus Labutis, stepping to the table to enjoy the first course of his vengeance meal. At the time, Labutis had faced and defeated four loss-side opponents, including most recently, the elimination of Donny Branson 7-5 and Sha Valizadeh 7-3. James Adams picked up Kiamco, who’d gotten by his own laundry list of potential event winners; Tommy Kennedy (2), Rodney Morris (4), Canada’s Martin Daigle (3), and Raphael Dabreo (1).
Kiamco took care of Adams 7-4, while Labutis was chalking up loss-side victory #5, chowing down on a fairly tender piece of Delgado 7-3. Labutis barely had time for that part of his ‘meal’ to settle before he faced the formidable challenge of Kiamco in the quarterfinal. Possibly energized by his success against Delgado, Labutis was even stingier against Kiamco, allowing him only two racks and advancing himself to a likely tempting semifinal, Anthony Meglino ‘dessert.’
Labutis chalked up his 7th loss-side victory, sending Meglino home 7-4 and turning to a tasty after-meal libation (the finals), with no vengeance in its ingredients. No less satisfying though, as Labutis defeated Mikael Ogaard 11-7 to claim the Cup Series’ 10-Ball event title.
Tour director Carrie Vetrono thanked Rory McElroy and his Capone’s staff for their hospitality, as well as BigFamilyCustoms.com (for tournament plaques) and UpstateAl for event streaming services. The next stop on Capone’s 2023 Florida Cup Series is scheduled for June 7-12.
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