THE Last Shot IT&E Destroyers outlasted the Bamboo Club 88 STR8 Ball’s to secure a championship slot in the Tuesday Division of the Saipan Billiards Association’s Budweiser Open 8-Ball League.
STR8 Ball’s Randy David scratched a table-length angle shot to give the Destroyers’ Rey Pinangay an easy straight shot to the corner pocket, clinching the win in the final singles match, 9-7, of the race-to-nine Tuesday at the Bamboo Club in Chalan Kiya.
In the opening round of the final singles match, Nolan Cultura, the Destroyers’ team captain, tied the score 7-7 after STR8 Ball’s Rey Hermogenes scratched a side-pocket shot four balls away.
STR8 Ball’s Rey Farinas swept four balls in a row but fell short on a drag shot to the corner pocket, allowing the Destroyers’ Rolly Villanueva to finish off Farinas in the second round of the singles match.
Earlier in the match, STR8 Ball took the upperhand with Hermogenes and David outplaying the Destroyers’ Cultura and Roman Rodriquez.
In the first game of the first singles match against Cultura, STR8 Ball’s Jess Guerra scratched a cushion shot two balls away to the game.
But David regained the lead for STR8 Ball by sweeping five balls in a row and taking an easy straight shot in the second game of the first singles match.
Cultura missed a bank shot and lost to Hermogenes in the second singles match, but Villanueva avenged this loss with an upset win over David in the second round of the third singles match.
In the final partners match, Cultura and Rodriguez edged David and Hermogenes to cut STR8 Ball’s lead to one.
On Nov. 16, in the championship round, the Destroyers will face the Last Shot Ball Breakers who edged the 9 Eleven Wizards, 9-7, at the Last Shot Breaker Bar in Chalan Kanoa.
IT&E Destroyers’ Ray Pinangay sets the cue ball during a Tuesday Division semi-final match of the Saipan Billiards Association’s Budweiser Open 8-Ball League at Bamboo Club 88 on Tuesday night.
