"Just like any other tournament, we want to win."
The whole series of Xtreme Paintball has been set against the backdrop of the Boston NPPL event. After meeting all the paintball starts in past weeks, this episode focuses on the games and brings us to the start of the quarterfinals.
One interesting side story featured interviews with some of the NPPL referees. While this job really only sets the refs up for criticism, they all seem to enjoy it and they do the best job they can.
The start of the action features San Diego Dynasty and Pittsburgh All Americans. Off the break the All Americans lose one player and shortly afterwards Dynasty loses their first. Dynasty is able to then pick off another All American player and then empties the snake with a run, giving them a 6-4 lead. Despite superior field position Dynasty proceeds to lose three quick players giving Pittsburgh the 4-3 lead. An All American run cleans up the middle of the field and despite losing a player they're still up one man. Dynasty makes a run and picks off a Pittsburgh player and after some rapid firing, all players are eliminated from both teams. After an intense referee review of the end of the game it was determined that the last All American was eliminated as part of a one for one, leaving the game as a draw.
Game two features the two international teams remaining in the tournament: Stockholm Joy Division and Edmonton Impact. Both teams drop a player on the break as Impact pushes up the snake and picks off a Joy Division player behind a dorito. Edmonton loses their second player to knot up the score but they do have a field position. After a solid minute without any movement, a Joy Division player is called for wiping which is a three for one (that player and his three closest teammates are all eliminated). Now losing 5-1, Joy Division is only able to pick off one Impact player before Edmonton wins 4-0.
The final game features Edmonton Impact and San Diego Dynasty with the loser failing to advance. Dynasty loses two players on the break and then both teams slowly advance up the field. Two players meet around a dorito and the Dynasty player wins. Edmonton drops their second player from a distance and then a Dynasty runs ends up with a player eliminated from each team, leaving the score tied at 4-4. After tying things up, Dynasty then goes on a run and eliminates the last 4 impact players in a matter of seconds, assuring their trip to the semifinals.
Next week will feature the semifinals.
