By James Sablan
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Variety News Staff
THE race for the 2026 Saipan Billiards Association Budweiser Open 8-Ball League title continues to heat up in the Hibiscus Division as Black 8 Ideal Signs Rustlers and VFW Noypi 2.0 both racked up more wins after defeating their respective opponents during Tuesday night’s games held at separate locations.
Black 8 Ideal Signs Rustlers still sit at the top of the standings with 36 total wins after nearly silencing Kanto 10 Strikers, 11-2, at the Black 8 Pool Bar.
The tone was set early in the opening singles 8-ball set. Chester Hamoy, Roman Rodriguez, and Albert Pangilinan caught fire early, securing crucial wins for the Rustlers to grab a 3-1 early lead. Their chemistry carried over to the first partners 8-ball frame, where the veteran pairings of Rowel “Cobra” Mariano and Robert Sanciangco, along with Rey Torres and Rodriguez, seamlessly dismantled the opposition for a 2-win sweep to further stretch the lead, 5-1.
Despite a resilient effort from Kanto’s John Lara, who broke the silence in the second set of singles, the night belonged to the Rustlers. The individual skillsets of Pangilinan, Hamoy, and Sanciangco kept the pressure on, producing another 3-1 run and claiming the final partners 8-ball game to seal the victory at 11-2, as well as maintaining their first-place standing with 36 wins and 16 losses.
Joining the winner’s circle was VFW Noypi 2.0, which outlasted No. 2-ranked Black 8 Crooked Arrow 1, 8-7, at the VFW Bar.
Noypi struck first, with Mark Ignacio, Domino Antonio, and Jerry Pelano jumping out to early singles victories to establish a 3-1 lead. However, Crooked Arrow 1 relied on its ability to fight under pressure to claw its way back, starting with an even split in the first partners 8-ball set, highlighted by Rey Hermogenes and Jess Guerra recording a “Run the Rack” feat.
The pair’s performance appeared to spark a rally, as they returned to the singles frame with another Run the Rack by Rickson “En En” Sajul, while Hermogenes and Ken Chen followed suit to secure a vital 3-1 run and tie the match at 5-5.
As the match pushed into the final frames tied at 7-7, the pressure was suffocating. In the deciding game, steady safety play and precise pocketing allowed Noypi’s Joel Buniag and Antonio to sink the final 8-ball, walking away with a grueling 8-7 victory.
James Sablan has been a sports reporter for Variety since 2013. He was a liberal arts student of Northern Marianas College and covers all local sports.
