Hocog, Espiritu end old year with a bang

Vic S. Hocog and Roger Espiritu capped 2004 with dominating performances in last week’s 9-ball tournaments over at Corner Pocket in Garapan.

Hocog, whose confidence is soaring sky high as of late, won the Monday 9-Ball Tournament last Dec. 27 following a thorough beat-down of the game’s hottest player, Jerry Soriano, in the finals.

The big Chamorro started strong after he beat Rommel Crisostomo, 5-1, in the first round. Soriano also had a stellar debut, drubbing Top Pool Bar manager Zheng Jian Qing, 5-2.

Other opening round results had Rolly Villanueva edge James Cabrera (4-3), Primo Rivera oust defending champion Joey Lucido (4-2), Senen Pangilinan top Manny Mariano (4-2), and Roger Espiritu knock off upset-conscious Erick Caisip (5-3). Leonard Sablan and Luis Fajardo got byes.

In the second round, Hocog and Soriano continued to breeze through the field. Hocog gave Fajardo a lot of fits en route to the 5-1 win, while Soriano had no trouble disposing of Villanueva despite his high handicap, 6-2.

Other second round matches had Rivera slip by Sablan (4-3), and Pangilinan skunk a shocked Espiritu (4-0).

In the semis, Hocog and Soriano finally separated themselves from title pretenders with the latter dismantling Pangelinan, 4-2, and the former thumping Rivera, 6-2.

It was not much of a contest in the finals, as Hocog got into a groove early and never let up to overcome Soriano, 4-2.

Espiritu, for his part, lost just a total of four games in winning the championship of the Thursday 9-Ball Tournament last Dec. 30.

Drawing Juancho Mendoza in the finals, Espiritu surrendered just two games, 5-2, to hoist the title. In the semis, Espiritu brought out his “A” game and shutout Primo Rivera, 5-0. Mendoza, for his part, had to squeeze out a 4-3 win over Mario Diola.

In the opening round, Espiritu got his revenge, beating Monday conqueror Pangilinan, 4-2, and Mendoza defeated Manny Mariano with the same score. Other first round matches had Diola outclass Ganover Rettin and Rivera edge Nolan Cultura, 4-3.

Corner Pocket’s Monday 9-Ball Tournament rolls off every Monday beginning at 9pm. The competition uses a handicap system to give beginners a chance against top-caliber players. Entry fee is $10 and first place and second place are guaranteed prize money.

The Thursday 9-Ball Tournament, meanwhile, is played in the fifth day of the week. Play starts at 8:30pm. Participants must fork over $15 to enter the double-elimination competition.

Both 9-ball tournaments use the rules of the Billiards Congress of America. For more information on the regular Monday 9-Ball Tournament and Thursday 9-Ball Tournament, contact Phillips at 233-POOL (7665).