LAST Shot Eagle’s Eye claimed the Thursday Division championship of the Saipan Billiards Association Budweiser Open 8-Ball League after edging Bamboo Club 88 BlackBall, 9-8, Thursday at the Last Shot Bar.
The title match came down to the final game to decide the winner.
At first, it was the BlackBallers who claimed control as Jess Farinas and Mervin Sahagun notched the first win in the opening Partners 8-Ball game followed by the victories of Randy David and Rey Hermogenes to put their team ahead 2-0.
But in the one-on-one battle, Chester Hamoy, Rolly Villanueva and Eric Baugh of the Eagle’s Eye showcased their skills as they bested their opponents to reach the first deadlock of the night.
As a team, BlackBall remained strong as they regained control with another two-win sweep in the second Partners 8-Ball match. But as individuals, the Eagle’s Eye played a tad better.
BlackBallers Sahagun and Roman Rodriguez split the second Singles 8-Ball match but as they transitioned to the third and final Singles 8-Ball match, the Eagle’s Eye found their second wind, pulling a 3-1 win to tie the game 8-8.
With only one match left, it seemed that BlackBall had the upper-hand as it all came down to a Partners encounter, but this time Eagle’s Eye excelled thanks to the work of Hamoy and Villanueva who bested BlackBall’s Sahagun and Rodriguez. Game, set, match, title.
Battle for third place
The battle for third place also came down to the wire before the Bamboo MJD Tres Marias emerged victorious against the Last Shot/IT&E Homeboyz, 9-8.
Neither team could gain the edge throughout the entire night. Tres Marias Jerry Soriano and Randy Sablan drew first blood but the next game was won by Homeboyz George Lizardo and Rey Pinangay.
Homeboyz Nolan Cultura and Lizardo then took two of the first four games in the Singles 8-Ball match, but the Tres Marias claimed the other two for a 3-3 deadlock.
In the finale, Tres Marias Soriano and Roel Barretto had a better team chemistry as they outlasted Homeboyz Cultura and Pinangay to bag third place for Tres Marianas, 9-8.
Members of team Last Shot Eagle’s Eye pose for a photo after claiming the Thursday Division championship of the SBA Budweiser Open 8-Ball League at the Last Shot Bar on Thursday.
