Las Vegas High Rollers Capture First PBA Elias Cup Title

The Las Vegas High Rollers have finally broken through, claiming their first-ever PBA Elias Cup by defeating the Portland Lumberjacks in the 2024 PBA Elite League Finals. Led by MVP Andrew Anderson, the team staged an impressive comeback to secure the championship at Bayside Bowl in Portland, Maine.

A Long-Awaited Victory

Since their debut in 2020, the High Rollers have consistently been a top contender, yet the elusive Elias Cup remained out of reach—until now. As the No. 1 seed, Las Vegas dropped the first game of the finals but rebounded with three consecutive wins to clinch the series 3-1.

Anderson, who had already been recognized as the regular season MVP, was also named the Mark Roth PBA Elite League Playoffs MVP.

“We’re here. We’ve been here, and now the experience paid off. We were due,” said Anderson.

His teammate AJ Johnson, one of the original members of the High Rollers, expressed his excitement:

“This one just feels a little sweeter because Andrew, Amleto (Monacelli), and I have been here since the beginning. We knew this was our year.”

The Finals: A Dramatic Comeback

The Portland Lumberjacks started strong, winning Game 1 (236-183) behind the leadership of veteran Wes Malott, who returned to the lineup despite battling injuries. Las Vegas struggled, failing to record a strike until the fifth frame.

But in Game 2, Anderson delivered when it mattered most, rolling three strikes in the 10th frame to put pressure on Portland’s anchor, Kyle Troup. Troup left a 4-pin, allowing Las Vegas to even the series 1-1.

Game 3 proved to be the turning point. The High Rollers opened with four consecutive strikes, though Anderson made a crucial mistake by using the wrong ball and leaving a washout. He recovered with a key spare, and Matt Ogle’s clutch spare in the ninth frame set the stage for Anderson to close it out. Despite a loud and hostile crowd, Anderson delivered three strikes in the 10th frame to secure the win 235-225.

In Game 4, the High Rollers dominated from start to finish. After an early spare from Sean Rash, the team reeled off eight straight strikes, sealing the 277-225 victory and the franchise’s first Elias Cup.

Breaking the Championship Barrier

For most of the High Rollers roster, this was their first Elias Cup victory. The exception was AJ Johnson, who previously won the title in 2018 with the Silver Lake Atom Splitters.

The PBA Elite League Finals marked the end of years of frustration for Las Vegas, who had previously finished second or third in every season since their inception. Now, they stand at the top of the PBA world, celebrating a long-awaited and well-earned championship.

PBA Elite League Playoffs Results

Elias Cup Finals:
No. 1 Las Vegas def. No. 2 Portland, 3-1

• Game 1: Portland 236-183
• Game 2: Las Vegas 235-217
• Game 3: Las Vegas 235-225
• Game 4: Las Vegas 277-225

Semifinals:

• No. 1 Las Vegas def. No. 4 Motown, 3-1
• No. 2 Portland def. No. 3 Akron, 3-1

Quarterfinals:

• No. 4 Motown def. No. 5 New Jersey, 2-1
• No. 3 Akron def. No. 6 L.A. X, 2-0

The Las Vegas High Rollers are now officially champions, proving that perseverance and teamwork lead to ultimate success.