BANARES BEATS CERNA WINS RP JUNIOR OF POOL

Final Standings and Prizes (55 players field, 19-year-old and below, born 1989)

1st-Jericho Banares (Scooter plus trophy)
2nd-John Carlo Cerna (Aircon plus, Mountain Bike plus trophy)
3rd-Jordan Legaspi (TV plus DVD plus trophy)
4th-Rayner Espejo (TV plus DVD plus trophy)
5th-Alexander Aquino (Aircon)
6th-Zoren Bantayan (TV)
7th-Michael Mengorio (Mountain Bike)
8th-Rene Mar David (Mountain Bike)

JERICHO BANARES defeated John Carlo Cerna, 13-8, in the finals to emerge over-all champion in the just ended 2nd Philippines Junior Pool Championships qualifying round at the No.46 Joy St., Grace Village in Quezon City on Sunday.

"Masayang-masaya po ako kasi talagang pinaghandaan ko ito (RP Junior of Pool)," said the Tanauan, Batangas native Banares but raise in Antipolo City.

On the way to the finals, Banares needed to disposed of last year's runner-up and former undefeated player Jordan Legaspi of Bocaue, Bulacan, 11-8, in the cross-over semi-final round (single knock-out) while Cerna trounced Rayner Espejo of Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu, 11-8.

Banares receive the top purse Scooter plus trophy while Cerna went home the runner-up prize of Aircon, Mountain Bike plus trophy in this event hosted by long-time billiards patron Sebastian "Baste" Chua and supported by Ambassador Francis Chua, the special Philippine envoy on China trade and investments.

Banares and Cerna, both will represent the country in the forthcoming 2008 WPA World Junior Pool Championships slated this year in the United States.

In the battle for third, Legaspi beat Espejo, 11-5.

No less than Raya Sports president and BSCP chairman Yen Makabenta, BSCP president Ernie Fajardo and national coach Ramon Ancaja led the closing rites in this Billiards and Snooker Congress of the Philippines, Raya Sports and Events, Philippine Billiards Development Foundation and Star Billiards Center league.


Note for added info: Tournament director Sol Gueco said that another undefeated player Boots Augusto of Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu failed to play in the final four after the former (Gueco) verified the birth certificate of the latter's (Augusto). According to Gueco, Augusto admitted to him that Augusto born in Nov.6, 1988 that automatic him to disqualified in the four-day (March 13-16) event, open to all 19-year-old and below pool players which born in 1989.

Contributed by MARLON BERNARDINO