Another Repeki tops amateur night

Jerome Repeki followed the footsteps of Jerald Repeki to hoist the championship trophy of the Top Pool Bar’s 8-Ball Amateur Tournament last May 27 at the Garapan sports bar.

Repeki outplayed Ren Lazaro in the finals, overcoming his opponent’s twice-to-beat advantage to win the 8-ball competition for beginners. Third place went to Matthew Kisa.

Top Pool Bar had a full slate of participants last Friday, as 16 up-and-coming pool artists set their sights on the week’s championship.

Repeki, however, had Lady Luck smile at him the entire evening and after getting sidetracked in the quarterfinals, came back strong from the losers’ bracket to take home the 8-ball title.

He opened up with an upset victory over last week’s champion then ran his win streak to two after beating Mario Hiroichi. He, however, was halted by a hot-shooting Kisa and was relegated to the losers’ bracket.

Rather than sulk and pack up for the night, Repeki rebounded mightily and put together another two-match win streak after turning back the likes of Roman Torres and Simon Camacho.

In the finals of the losers’ bracket, Repeki squared off against a familiar foe in Kisa, but this time turned the tables on his tormentor to advance to the championship opposite undefeated Ren Lazaro.

Repeki made sure Lazaro wouldn’t stay undefeated for long and forced a do-or-die second game. In the match for all the marbles, Repeki made all his attempts count en route to the championship.

The win was worth $50 for Repeki, while Lazaro and Kisa took home one-hour and 20-minute free pool gift certificates, respectively, for their runner-up finishes.

Other billiards enthusiasts that participated in the amateur pool competition were Arthur Miron, E.J. Ermitanio, Robert Ramirez, Vince Cepeda, Alfonso Mendiola, Norbert Camacho, Nicole Muna, Carter Calma, and Pat Mendiola.

Top Pool Bar manager Zheng Jian Qing congratulated Repeki and company for topping the poolfest and invited anew beginners to participate in this evening’s resumption of the Top Pool Bar 8-Ball Amateur Tournament.

The 8-ball pool competition is open only to players 18 years old and above and participation is free.

Aside from the amateur 8-ball tournament, Zheng is also planning to unveil an open 9-ball competition on the weekend.

The 9-ball open tournament would most probably be held every Saturdays with 8pm starts. Zheng said the maximum number of participants would be 16 and entry fee would be $15.

He said the champion of the weekly 9-ball event could possibly have a win-fall of $120 plus a trophy, while second place and third place could bring home as much as $80 and $40, respectively.

The still unnamed 9-ball billiards competition is open only to players 18 years old and above. Zheng said he would not discriminate against any player and would welcome everyone to play in the open format.

For more information on Top Pool Bar’s 8-Ball Amateur Tournament and the planned 9-ball open competition, call 233-6999 and look for Zheng. Zheng can also be reached on his mobile phone at 287-7676.

Top Pool Bar is as spacious as it is modern. It boasts of seven 9-1/2-by-5-foot tables usually found in venues for professional tournaments abroad.