Soriano repeats against Espiritu in 9-ball

Jerry Soriano continued to run amok in Corner Pocket’s Monday 9-Ball Tournament, reestablishing his dominance over Roger “The Ghost” Espiritu in the finals to win the weekly pool championship last Nov. 1 at the Garapan sports bar.

It was the second straight Monday 9-Ball Tournament championship for Soriano.

The Saipan Ice employee had a tall mountain to climb early after getting slapped with a 6-handicap in his second round encounter with Corner Pocket owner Ken Phillips.

Soriano sucked it all up and proceeded to conduct a free pool clinic and during one stretch had a run on the 9-ball. He went on to defeat Phillips with plenty to spare, 6-1.

Next up was Erick Caisip in the third round and Soriano encountered some road bumps along the way before upending the upstart, 5-3. He also had some success against the 9-ball and recorded two more runs.

Matched up against green felt table nemesis but close friend Espiritu in the finals, Soriano displayed his entire arsenal of billiard shots and made it three-for-three on 9-ball runs. He went on to dispatch the man they call The Ghost in eight games to win the weekly title.

Soriano took home 60 percent of the winnings, while Espiritu settled for the 40 percent share of the pot.

Unlike Soriano, who got a bye in the first round, Espiritu had to play three full rounds to get into the finals. He first dominated James Cabrera, 5-1, and then victimized Victor S. Hocog with the same score in the next round. Ranged against Primo Rivera in the semis, Espiritu pushed all the right buttons in a 5-3 win.

Unfortunately for Saipan’s No. 1 pool player, it just wasn’t written in the stars that night, as he fell to his third straight runner-up finish—counting last Saturday’s loss to Senen Pangilinan in the Super Saturday Halloween 9-Ball Tournament last Oct. 30—at Corner Pocket.

Other players that graced the Monday pool competition were Pangilinan and Manny Mariano. Starting next week, Soriano, Espiritu, and Pangilinan’s handicap will all be raised to 6 after all their recent success.

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

Corner Pocket is also moving its Tuesday 8-Ball Tournament to Thursday beginning next week. Play starts at 8pm. Participants must fork over $15 to enter the double-elimination competition. Progressive pot for 8-ball in a break will apply. Game starts at 8pm.

Both the regular 9-ball and 8-ball tournaments use the rules of the Billiards Congress of America. For more information on the regular Monday 9-Ball Tournament and upcoming Thursday 8-Ball Tournament, please contact Ken Phillips at 233-POOL (7665).