By James Sablan
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Variety News Staff
THE next generation of billiards talent was on full display on Saturday as the Marianas Youth Billiards Association Open 8-Ball League rolled out youth division matches across local venues, highlighting the composure and shot-making ability of Saipan’s rising stars.
At Tom Yum Restaurant, Angelo Maliwanag put on a masterclass during his matchup against Samuel Cabrera.
Cabrera struck first, taking the opening game. However, Maliwanag was fully locked in after the early stumble, mounting a relentless four-game win streak to secure a dominant 4-1 victory. His clinical safety play and precise potting left Cabrera with little room to respond for the remainder of the set.
Another standout performer was Sean Licayan, who got off to a blistering start. Facing Antonio Timas, Licayan stormed out of the gates to claim the first four games in a row. Timas managed to avoid a sweep by taking the fifth and final game, but Licayan still secured a commanding 4-1 victory, establishing himself as a heavy hitter in the division.
While some matches saw early momentum swings, others turned into dogfights that went down to the final racks.
In one of the most back-and-forth battles of the day, Kane Eusebio edged out Jasmyne Tolentino, 3-2.
Eusebio took the early lead by winning the first game, but Tolentino responded with two straight wins to seize momentum. Refusing to back down, Eusebio rallied to take the final two games and secure a narrow 3-2 victory.
Miles Borja had a similar result in his 3-2 win over JM Ellama.
Borja looked poised to run away with the match after winning the first two games. However, Ellama showed resilience, taking Game 3 and later Game 5, but Borja’s early cushion proved enough to secure the match victory.
At Buenos Cafe, Nolan Cultura and Marl Balinasay went toe-to-toe in a tactical showcase. Cultura controlled the pace early, sweeping the first two games. But momentum shifted as Balinasay found his rhythm, rallying to win the final three games and complete a dramatic 3-2 comeback 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.
