NEGROS Billiard Stable bets Ricky "Bai" Zerna and Russian Petiza beat their respective rivals to finish undefeated in this 51 man-field in the 4th annual San Miguel Beer Philippine 9-ball Open that was concluded late Sunday at the Paeng's Skybowl, Robinson's Galleria in Mandaluyong City.
The 25-year-old Zerna, who hails from Dumaguete City beat fellow NBS member Panfilo "Abu Lintok" Damuag (7-5) while the 22-year-old Petiza, a native of Bacolod City stunned 2006 Kuwait 9-ball open champion Jundel Mazon (7-4) in the winner's brackets to grab the first two slots in the Grand Finale on September 14 to 16.
Damuag and Mazon on the other hand, frustrated their respective opponents to secure the last two remaining slots in the loser's brackets, in this race-to-7, double elimination format.
The 30-year-old Norala, of South, Cotabato Damuag nipped 2007 Oslo, Norway Battle of Scandinavia 9-ball runner-up Jharome "Pendong" Pena (7-5) while the 34-year-old Mazon from Marinduque clustered two golden breaks including the last rack to nip Florencio Banar (7-4).
The 2007 SMB Philippine 9-Ball Open is the joint initiative of Puyat Sports and Solar Sports, brain child of Philippine Billiard God Father Aristeo "Putch" Puyat, with the continued patronage of San Miguel Beer which offers a total pot prize Php1.35 million where the champion getting the lion’s share of Php500,000.
"Nagbunga na din ang ginagawa naming (NBS) pagsasanay, kaya lubos na lubos ang kasiyahan kong nadarama dahil sa napakagandang performance ng mga bata." Negros Billiard Stable (NBS) coach/ manager Christopher Palses said referring the 1-2-3 finish of Zerna, Petiza and Damuag, all members of NBS that includes Lee Vann Corteza, who managed to advance to the Grand Finale of the Guinness 9-ball tour.
Earlier, Petiza got a bye in the first round then clobbered Jericho Banares (7-4), Dodong Dela Cruz (7-5), Banar (7-5) and Damuag (7-5), while Zerna, the 2007 Puyat 9-ball tour winner, disposed of Mark Mendoza (7-4), Alex Lumpay (7-2), Joey Pardales (7-2), Aladin Duloa (7-4) and Mazon (7-4), respectively.
Damuag, meanwhile crushed Jim Lagang (7-0), another NBS stalwart Jarry Pelayo (7-1), Pena (7-5), BSCP founding president Edgar Acaba (7-5), before losing to Petiza (5-7) then beat Pena again (7-5) for the second time.
Mazon, nipped Boboy Rabe (7-4), Johann Chua (7-0) Johnson Vita (7-3), Napoleon Labrador (7-2), yielded to Zerna (4-7) then drubbed Banar (7-5).
Puyat Sports events manager Ish Caparras said that seeded in the main draw were two-time defending champion Francisco "Django" Bustamante, Leonardo "Dodong" Didal, Mike "Choke" Takayama, Carlo "Cool" Biado, Ronato "Volcano" Alcano, Marlon "Marvelous" Manalo, Lee Vann "The Slayer" Corteza, Efren "Bata" Reyes, Alex "The Lion" Pagulayan and Jose "Amang" Parica.
Here's other qualifying legs of this tournament: Aug. 11-12 B3 Bowling Billiards and Bar, NCCC Mall (Davao City) , Aug. 18-19 Celebrity Billiards and Bar (Bacolod City), Aug. 25-26 Puyat Sports@Baguio Center Mall (Baguio City) and Sept. 1-2 AMF-Puyat Commonwealth Lanes, Ever Gotesco Comonwealth (Q.C).
(Report from MARLON BERNARDINO)
1 comment:
I would like to point out that the Philippine-9 ball open is a Solar Sports initiative and was not the brainchild of Mr. Puyat. It is now a joint venture between the two companies but credit is due to Solar for its conceptualization. Puyat Sports may have started the Philippine International Open but this particular event was conceputalized by Solar. Cheers!
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