Robinson repeats in Round Two pool

Jeff Robinson made it two in a row after successfully defending his Thursday 8-ball invitational tournament a couple of nights ago at the Garapan billiards venue.

Robinson didn’t even need to use his twice-to-beat advantage in defeating veteran pool artist Boyet Sequioco in the finals.

The championship capped another successful evening for Robinson. He opened up with a win over youngster Lester Vertudez before moving on against Nick Berger.

Robinson entered the final round after recording his first win of the evening against Sequioco.

The losing finalist, meanwhile, mirrored Robinson’s campaign—at least in the first two rounds. He started out on the right foot following a victory over Bert Mettao and didn’t miss a beat in his match against Roli Shishato.

Sequioco, however, was relegated to the losers’ bracket after falling to the up-and-comer, but bounced right back after getting past another experienced pool hand in the person of Senen Pangilinan to arrange a finals showdown with his third round foe.

Like the previous week, the tournament attracted eight billiards players, which also included Leoliar Sablan.

The win was worth $40 for Robinson, while Sequioco took home $25 and Pangelinan $15.

The billiards competition at the Garapan watering hole used to be one of the most popular pool tournaments on island but has suffered through poor attendance soon after Round Two’s original owner Don Pangelinan and his wife left for the U.S. mainland.

New owners Don and Nenita Bufton said they are happy to bring back the weeknight classic and hope the still no-sponsor billiards tournament would return to the prominence it once enjoyed.

Nenita Bufton said she and her husband are still in negotiations with a Saipan beverage company to sponsor the tournament and said if talks bear fruit, the event will adopt the name of products being sold by the sponsor.

Entry fee for the invitational 8-ball tournament is $10 and the 16 slots up for grabs would come in a first come, first serve basis.

The winner of the tournament will bag a weekly championship trophy and a cash prize, while runner-up and third place will not go home empty handed, as gift items and cash prizes also await them.

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