SBA honors winners of season-ending tournament

Chesther Cuento and Rey Pinangay led the list of individual winners as they topped the run-the- rack event in the Thursday and Tuesday leagues, respectively. Cuento had three run-the-rack, while Pinangay had a league-best 7.

Erwin Villagomez, James Villacrucis, Senen Pangilinan, and Oscar Sablan were the best four cue artists in the 8-Ball on break, while Mark Butac, Rowel Mariano and Robert Sanciangco duplicated their feat in the Tuesday league.

Nong Detdon and Nolan Cultura were the top performers in the Thursday and Tuesday leagues, while Rodel Dela Cruz was the Thursday league most valuable player , and Juancho Mendoza and Marc Brian Nelvis ended up tied for the MVP award in the Tuesday league.

Jerry Soriano and Brian Nelves were the Thursday and Tuesdaly leagues’ Finals MVPs, while Jonny’s Team SCS and Smoke Pub Sang&D’Gang were the recipients of the sportsmanship awards as they got the most votes from the captains of the participating squads.

Soriano together with team captain Rowel Mariano and compatriots Senen Pangilinan, Simeon Kapileo, Robert Sanciangco, Oscar Sablan, and Perry C. Inos showed Route33 Armatech is the team to beat next season, as they conspired in leading the Hustlers to the regular season Thursday league title and Budweiser Cup.

Rolly Villanueva, Roma Rodriguez, R.J. Mascarinas, Mark Butac, Marc Brian Nelvis, Joshua Woodson and Minerva Nelvis duplicated the feat in powering the Jokers IT&E Voyagers to the regular season Tuesday league crown and the Budweiser Cup.

Chesther Cuento, Rodel Dela Cruz, Rick Elefante, Rico Montano, Noel Jimenez, Primo Jebehn and Rey Hermogenes led Smoke Pub Magic 8 Ball to a runner-up finish in the Thursday league, while Mariano, Soriano, Pangilinan, Sanciangco, Joey Lucido, and Erwin Gomez matched the feat in the Tuesday league.

The Jokers-backed Homeboyz, composed of Lucido, Villanueva, George Lizardo, Nolan Cultura, Joseph Achas, Jeff Garcia, Joshua Woodson and Cesar Sangalang, and Str8 Shooters of Cuento, Cultura, and Montano, finished third in the Thursday and Tuesday leagues, respectively.

Meanwhile, league secretary Warlee Ellama thanked all the players who joined the tournament, their sponsors for supporting the teams, and chief backer Budweiser.

Marianas Pacific Distributor Inc. marketing manager James Lee also expressed gratitude to the supporters of each team and is looking forward for another great year of billiards action.

“MARPAC will be here to support the league. And we’re looking forward to another great year for billiards this 2015,” said Lee.

In related news, league organizers held a blind draw tournament after the awards ceremony at Smoke Pub Bar in Garapan yesterday, but results were unavailable at press time.

The captains meeting for next season coincided with the tournament and Ellama said players should start forming their teams and register online at pacificamusement.com. (Jon Perez)