By James Sablan
james@mvariety.com
Variety News Staff
THE 520 Board Bangers have secured bragging rights for another season after claiming the Masters Division Bud Light Cup of the 2025 SEDA Bud Light Dart League with a decisive 9-4 victory over the Tom Yum Vipers during Wednesday night’s finals match held at 520 Bar.
The Board Bangers had already locked up the prestigious Masters Division regular season title and continued to ride that momentum, proving their mettle in the high-pressure finale of the Bud Light Cup finals, led by key players Russ “Mr. Pogi” Cruz, Patrick Cruz, Jared “The Professor” Ayuyu, and Stan Ngalen.
The Board Bangers came ready, opening the night with a clean two-win sweep in the Partners Crazy Cricket set, orchestrated by Russ and Pat Cruz, along with Ayuyu and Ngalen, who used smart strategy in the partnered games to put the Vipers on the back foot.
In the following Singles 501 set, the Vipers’ standouts Juliano “Show Me” Matsutaro and Harry Nakamura managed to even the score with a 2-2 split. James Tudela and Manny Degracia then forced another split during the Partners Regular Cricket set to keep the Vipers within reach, 5-3.
However, the Board Bangers stuck to their effective strategy and lineup, with Russ and Pat Cruz, along with Ayuyu and Ngalen, securing another two-win sweep to stretch the lead to 7-3.
The final push came in the Singles Regular Cricket set, where Ngalen outscored James “Mwahne” Welley to secure the eighth win for the Board Bangers. Matsutaro kept the Vipers alive with a solo win against Pat Cruz, but it only delayed the inevitable as Russ Cruz delivered the ninth and final win against PJ Litulumar to end the night early, 9-4, with the last two sets left unplayed.
The back-to-back regular season and Bud Light Cup champions, the 520 Board Bangers, consist of Russ “Mr. Pogi” Cruz, Pat Cruz, Stan Ngalen, DJ “Bukitang” Taitano, Jared “The Professor” Ayuyu, and Jacob “Jakestar” Itibus.
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.
