Hustlers rocket to top of Tapochao Division

Round Two Hustlers surged to the top of the Tapochao Division of the Budweiser SBA Open 8-Ball League after sweeping USSP Fotten Palau, 6-0, Tuesday at the USS Peleliu Club.

The Hustlers exploited an injury to R.E. Rengiil and the overall lackadaisical play of his teammates to knockoff erstwhile leader Da Place Sure Shots from the top of the standings.

Rowell Mariano led off for the Hustlers needing only two games to dispatch the limping Rengiil. Jerry Soriano picked up where Mariano left off, winning with the same margin against Chris Clarson.

Joey Lucido was ambushed by Taylor Watanabe in their opener, but won the next two games to give Round Two a 3-0 lead.

Nolan Cultura dropped the middle game against John Mongami but won the deciding game to clinch the match-up.

Mariano and Mario Diola then teamed up and took two of three games against Watanabe and Rengiil and Soriano and Lucido brought out the broom with a 2-0 win over Mongami and Clarson to complete the skunking.

With the sweep, the Round Two mainstays improved their record to 16-8, two games ahead of Sure Shots, which fell to 14-10 after they ended up with 3-3 tie with USSP Dreams at the Da Place Sports Bar. The crushing defeat left Fotten Palau languishing in last place with 5-19 record.

Da Place struggled early and often with its wins courtesy of Luis Fajardo, Senen Pangilinan, and Jojo Talibong.

The losses, meanwhile, were exacted by Dreams nightmares Marvin Cabo and the partnerships of Rodel Dela Cruz and Richard Celestino and Cabo and Edward Armia. The win allowed Dreams to improve its win-loss record to 13-11.

Over in the Banzai Division, Wild Wild West assumed (16-8) the solo leadership of the B league after taking four of six games against Jewel Night Shooters (10-14) at Wild Bill’s.

Its co-leader from a week ago, VFW Fotten Gaga II (14-10), fell two rungs down after absorbing a 2-4 upset loss in the hands of Godfather’s What Doin’ (13-11) at Godfather’s Bar.

VFW Pool Warriors (10-14), meanwhile, drove Vargas Hot Shots (6-12) further down the cellar after dominating them 4-2 at VFW Post 3457.

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. (Mark Rabago)