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Talibong rules 8-Ball tourney
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Posted on Apr 13 2001
Jojo Talibong relied on sheer luck as he upset tournament favorite Roy Durumpili to win the Budweiser-Corner Pocket 8-Ball Billiards tournament Tuesday night at the Corner Pocket Pool Bar in Garapan.
Durumpili almost had the first finals game in the bag, easily pocketing the final shot on the eight ball in the side until he suffered a scratch that dashed his hopes and gave the win automatically to Talibong.
Durumpili had to beat Talibong twice to win the finals match and the tournament.
Previous to the last play, Durumpili banked on near-flawless pocketing against the unusually erratic Talibong, cleaning up the table in the finals game.
He, however, committed a foul when he touched a striped ball as he aimed for his last target ball prior to the eight ball.
Talibong then capitalized on the ball-in-hand situation to do some steady pocketing of his own until Durumpili regained momentum and went for the ill-fated 8-ball shot that had the cue ball tumbling into the corner pocket.
Talibong, who works with Baskin Robbins, took home the top cash prize along with Budweiser giveaway items. Durumpili settled for second and Wayne Shimabukuro third.
Talibong who took the first finals slot by topping the winners bracket undefeated, got rid of Rommel Crisostomo and DJ Jose in quick succession, en route to beating Durumpili in the first round of action.
Durumpili for his part ruled the losersí bracket with convincing wins over Raffy Arroyo and Shimabukuru.
Last weekís champion, Roger Espiritu was far from his usual self, bowing out early in the first round after losing two successive games to Shimabukuru and Arroyo.
The Tuesday night tournament, which is sponsored by Marpac and organized by Corner Pocket Pool Bar, is fast becoming Saipanís most awaited weekly billiards draw.
The 8-ball shootout features a double elimination format where the champion comes home with 50 percent of all the entry fees collected. The second and third place finishers collect 30 and 20 percent of the fees, respectively. The entry fee is $10 per player.
