Talibong triumphant in return

Away from the local billiards scene for several months, Jojo Talibong proved he is still one of the top cue artists on island after going undefeated in winning Round Two Bar and Grill’s Miller Invitational 8-Ball Tournament Thursday night.

Showing no signs of rust, Talibong needed just one game to dethrone last week’s winner and close friend Jerry Soriano in the finals after topping the elimination phase.

The sweet-shooting Pacific Oriental Inc. employee got a bye in the first two rounds before upending Mark Kusaj in his first trip to the green felt table. He then derailed Gus Taitano’s advance to top the winners’ bracket and bag the all-important twice-to-beat advantage in the championship.

Soriano, meanwhile, had a tough draw. The Saipan Water & Ice employee didn’t get any breaks and had to fight his way from the first round onwards. He persevered though and defeated Dianalyn Tesiro and Ronald Chisato in his first two outings before being waylaid by Taitano in the semis.

Relegated to losers’ bracket play, Soriano regained his composure and thwarted the upset hopes of Don Kapileo and Chisato to advance to his second semifinals of the evening where he faced a familiar foe in the person of Taitano.

A wiser Soriano didn’t made the same mistake twice and took out Taitano early to forge a championship duel with his old Corner Pocket stablemate Talibong. His luck, however, ran out against the steady shooting Talibong, as the former Baskin Robbins mainstay made all the shots that mattered to win the tournament and it turned out he didn’t even need the twice-to-beat incentive.

The win was worth $50 for Talibong, while Soriano and Taitano pocketed $30 and $20, respectively.

Other billiards players that graced the weekly poolfest were Gary Chisato, Charlie Peters, and Ferdie Arago.

Unlike the first several weeks, the tournament finally found a sponsor; hence its name change to the Miller Invitational 8-Ball Tournament, as Pacific Trading Co. finally agreed to back the event.

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 the Miller Invitational 8-Ball Tournament at Round Two, call 234-6930.