Sequioco tops Round Two pool

Crafty veteran Boyet Sequioco returned to top of the billiards scene when he won the Thursday 8-Ball Invitational Tournament last week at Round Two Bar and Grill in Garapan.

Sequioco put an end to two-time defending champion Jeff Robinson’s reign at the landmark sports bar then defeated Joe Shaffer in the finals to win the championship.

Sequioco kicked off his undefeated campaign by relegating Robinson to the losers’ bracket in the very first round. He built on his momentum by outclassing fellow veteran Leonard Sablan in the next game and then barged into the finals by beating Shaffer.

Armed with the twice-to-beat advantage, Sequioco sat and watched as Shaffer took on Gary Chisato with the former moving on to the finals and a rematch with Sequioco.

However, like the first time they met, Sequioco again banked on excellent placing and overall superior shot making to beat Shaffer for the second straight time for the evening to annex the weekly pool title.

Like the previous two weeks, the tournament attracted eight billiards players, which also included Ronald Chisato, Ricky Vertudez, and Steve Paul.

The win was worth $40 for Sequioco, while Shaffer took home $25 and Chisato $15, respectively.

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.