By James Sablan
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Variety News Staff
THE battle for positions continues in the Plumeria Division of the 2026 SBA Budweiser Open 8-Ball League following Thursday night’s action, with Tom Yum Eleven Tiger and Tom Yum Chon Chon both securing crucial away victories to shake up the division standings.
Although Tom Yum Eleven Tiger currently sits at the bottom of the standings, the team reminded everyone that it is just as much of a threat as the rest after putting on an absolute clinic against Blk8 SCS Team, 9-4, at Black8 Pool Bar.
The match opened with a competitive Singles 8-Ball set. Jack Unsa and Warlee Ellama gave Eleven Tiger an early edge with two consecutive wins, but SCS Team quickly responded as Daniel Miranda and Lisa Guinto claimed back-to-back victories to even the score at 2-2.
After another split in the ensuing Partners 8-Ball set, the tide turned decisively in Eleven Tiger’s favor. Returning to singles play, Pepsi Pomdi, Joseph Achas, and Russ Cruz caught fire, giving Eleven Tiger a commanding 6-4 lead and putting the match out of reach.
It was all Eleven Tiger from there as the visitors swept the next Partners 8-Ball set and closed out the match with another victory in the final partners frame to secure a convincing 9-4 triumph over Blk8 SCS Team.
The defining moment of the match, however, came from Eleven Tiger’s Cruz, who executed a spectacular “Run the Rack” feat, permanently etching his name into the league record books.
Over at Last Shot Bar, Tom Yum Chon Chon also celebrated an away victory after defeating Last Shot Hobbies Chokie Chokie, 8-5.
Chokie Chokie started exceptionally strong in the opening singles rotation, with Christian Anas and Jeff Garcia earning quick victories. Chon Chon, however, responded through Rogel Caruana and Roman Neri, who won consecutive matches to level the score at 2-2.
Chokie Chokie carried that momentum into the first Partners 8-Ball set, where the tandems of Anas and Garcia, and Rolly Villanueva and Alexander Ayeras, completed a clean sweep to give the home team a 4-2 advantage.
However, Tom Yum Chon Chon staged a massive second-half comeback.
Caruana, Ceasar Sangalang, and Roman Rodriguez dominated the second singles rotation, erasing Chokie Chokie’s lead. Chon Chon’s doubles pairings then took complete control of the table, with Rodriguez and Sangalang sealing the victory in the final partners frame for an 8-5 win.
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.
