JARRY "PUTOL" PELAYO

FIRE CRACKER VICTIM JARRY PELAYO WINS WTA 9-BALL

FIRE CRACKER victim Jarry "Putol" Pelayo defeated Eduardo "Pikoy" Villanueva, 11-9, in the finals to rule the just concluded Winner Take All 9-ball tournament late Tuesday at the Bowling Inn billiard hall in Taft Avenue, Manila.

The Bacolod City native Pelayo, who lost three of his fingers due to firecrackers when he was 12 year old, surged to a 5-3 lead before Villanueva rallied four straight racks to get the upper hand at 7-5. Incidentally, Villanueva was runner-up to eventual winner Jose "Amang" Parica in the 1997 RP 9-Ball Open.

But the prize fighter of Jonathan Sy's Negros Billiard Stable, Jarry came back to even the score at 7-7 in the 14th frame in this race to 11 format.

After trading racks, the two cue masters tied the game at 8-all, then 9-all going to the final stretch until Pelayo clustered the next two remaining racks to nailed an 11-9 victory and claim the top prize of Php30,000 in the event that was organized by Rolly Vicente and Ish Caparras of Puyat Sports.

Pelayo's road to the finals came from wins over Richard Pornelosa, 9-5, Ricky Zerna, 9-6, John Rebong, 9-6, and Villanueva, 11-9. While Villanueva defeated RP's women's No.1 player Rubilen Amit, 9-3, Godofredo Ducanes, 9-5, and Benjie Guevarra before losing to Pelayo, 9-11.

(Report from MARLON BERNARDINO)