Shaffer shakes up Round Two, Jerald wins anew

Joe Shaffer hoisted the weekly championship of the Thursday 8-Ball Invitational Tournament held at Round Two Bar and Grill a couple of evenings ago.

Shaffer defeated losers’ bracket topnotcher Tony Arriola in the finals to cap an undefeated run in the tournament.

After starting off with consecutive wins over Ricky Vertudez and last week’s titleholder, Boyet Sequioco, Shaffer found himself a win away from barging into the finals and the all-important twice-to-beat advantage in the championship round.

He made the most of that opportunity by waylaying co-winners’ bracket finalist Doug Flynn and gave himself the luxury of sitting out a match and to scout his would-be finals opponent.

That opponent turned out to be Arriola, who upset Flynn in the losers’ bracket finale and arranged a match-up with Shaffer.

It completed a remarkable comeback by Arriola, who was knocked down in the opening round by Jeff Robinson only to claw his way back in contention with victories over Bern Techur and Sequioco to earn a shot at topping the losers’ bracket.

Arriola’s luck, however, ran out against Shaffer in the finals when the wily veteran slammed the door on him to collect the $50 first-place prize and trophy. Arriola and Flyn settled for $30 and $20, respectively.

Other cue artists that joined the tournament were Rick Rengal, Ronald Chisato, and Gary Chisato.

Entry fee for the invitational billiards tournament is $10 and the 16 slots up for grabs would come in a first come, first serve basis.

For more information on Round Two’s Thursday 8-ball invitational tournament, call 234-6930.

Over at Top Pool Bar, Jerald Repeki recaptured the championship of the amateur competition last June 17 after defeating Roman Torres in the finals.

Repeki beat Carter Calma, Dirk Camacho, Jay Santos, and Mark Carlos to top the winner’ bracket of Top Pool Bar’s 8-Ball Amateur Tournament.

Torres, for his part, lost to Santos in the second round after opening with a win over Robert Ramirez.

He, however, made up for lost ground in the losers’ bracket racking up wins over Patrick Mendiola, Calma, Santos, Jonathan Tenorio, and Carlos to win the losers’ bracket and reach the championship round.

Torres continued his win streak by surprising Repeki in the first game, but lost steam in the second to allow Repeki to return to the winner’s circle.

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

The amateur pool-fest was also graced by Justin Taitano, Jon Teregeyo, Dean Borja, Arthur Miron, Norbert Camacho, Jay Tenorio, and Anson Smith.

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 Jian Qing. He can also be reached on his mobile phone at 287-7676.