Espiritu tops Top Pool Bar 8-ball

Roger “The Ghost” Espiritu returned to pool prominence after winning the Top Pool Bar 8-Ball Billiards Tournament last Saturday at the Garapan sports bar and watering hole.

The win didn’t come easy though as he had to come back from the loser’s bracket and beat No. 1 seed and undefeated Chester Hamoy twice in the finals to take home the championship and $60 purse that went along with it.

In Game 1, Espiritu pocketed two high balls after the break. He then opted to finish off the low balls first and eventually pocketed six of his seven balls.

He, however, missed on his last ball before the 8-ball, giving Hamoy a chance. The winner’s bracket topnotcher, however, didn’t capitalize on Espiritu’s mistake as he misplaced a safety shot.

Espiritu made good on his return to felt table, shooting a long tough shot on his last ball before pocketing the 8-ball on a routine shot to force a do-or-die Game 2 against the same guy who beat him in third round of the tournament.

The cue artist known as “The Ghost”—because of his surname and his habit of spooking out opponents—then made short work of Hamoy in Game 2.

He cleaned out the table after a great break, never even giving his opponent a chance to dust off his cue stick, as Hamoy settled for the $20 consolation prize.

Espiritu and Hamoy got off to fast starts Saturday with wins over R.J. Mascarinas and Luis Fajardo, respectively, in the first round.

The trend continued in the second round as Espiritu got the better of Don Antonio and Hamoy defeated Rolly Villanueva.

Hamoy, however, got lucky in his encounter with Espiritu in the third round, as the latter failed to pocket any balls on the break allowing the former to run the table.

The win assured Hamoy a place in the finals and the all-important twice-to-beat advantage.

Espiritu, meanwhile, dropped to the loser’s bracket and took on Mark Butac for a place in the finals opposite Hamoy.

After a scare, which saw Butac come within two makes of the 8-ball, Espiritu upended the up-and-comer by sinking the 8-ball on an open line.

Top Pool Bar 8-Ball Billiards Tournament is held every Saturday and adopts a double-elimination format with a maximum of 16 players.

The entrance fee is $10 and the tournament uses the rules of the Billiards Congress of America. Practice is free between 7pm to 8pm on game day.

For more information on the Top Pool Bar 8-Ball Billiards Tournament, call Top Pool Bar manager Zheng Jian Qing at 287-7676 or check out the competition’s website at www.saipanero.com/bars/toppoolbar.