Sure Shots, Soriano feted at awards banquet

Da Place Sure Shots and Jerry Soriano were finally recognized for their season-long brilliance in the just concluded 2006 Summer Fall edition of the Budweiser SBA Open 8-Ball League Tuesday night at the USS Peleliu Club in Garapan.

During the awards banquet, Sure Shots players led by team captain R.J. Mascarinas collected not one but two championship trophies, as the team also won the Budweiser Cup side event after besting Wild Wild West in the winner-take-all final, 4-0.

It was the third straight season that Sure Shots went home with the Budweiser SBA Open 8-Ball League diadem.

In behalf of his teammates, Mascarinas thanked all the participating teams, sponsors Da Place Sports Bar and owners Frank Pangelinan and Les, and organizers for another fruitful season.

He said the team’s secret is that they just enjoy the game and practice a lot. Mascarinas also said that all of them at Sure Shots being close friends, it is already given that they have unparalleled teamwork.

Mascarinas was joined in the winners’ circle by teammates Frank Pangelinan, Luis Fajardo, Jojo Talibong, Roman Rodriguez, Senen Pangilinan, and Rolly Villanueva—who all had to hold their smiles a little longer than usual and endured flashing cameras belonging to admiring friends and the local media.

Sure Shots dominated the entire season and finished with a 103-23 win-loss record. Early pacesetter and sister team, Da Place Hustlers, finished four games back of Sure Shots with a 99-27, while VFW Warriors and USSP Fotten Palau came in at third and fourth with slates of 81-44 and 69-57, respectively. Wild Wild West capped the Top 5 with a 62-63 finish.

Five other teams participated in the summer-fall season of the poolfest as Ysabel’s Bull-Sig (59-67), Godfather’s What Doin (58-67), Vargas Hot Shots (53-72), Porky’s Night Bangers (51-74), and USSP Los Cabos (38-87) need to work double-time in the upcoming season to come up with better performances.

Soriano also shared the limelight during the awards banquet, as the veteran cue artist was named MVP of the 2006 summer fall season while playing for Hustlers.

It was actually a back-to-back feat for the Saipan Ice and Water Co. employee, as the Mexico, Pampanga in the Philippines native also won the MVP of the last staging of the Saipan Billiards Association competition.

Soriano, who has been playing pool for more than a quarter century, thanked his Hustlers teammates, Da Place, his company, and league officials for all having a hand in his successful MVP season.

Pacific Amusement, the same company that runs the leagues of the Saipan Electronic Darts Association, organizes the Budweiser SBA Open 8-Ball League. For more information about the Budweiser SBA Open 8-Ball League and the SEDA leagues, contact Vivien Elloraza at 233-4397.