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Cultura rules SBA 8-Ball banquet tournament
Nolan Cultura is flanked by runners-up Senen Pangilinan, left, and Rowel Mariano after the awards ceremony for the Saipan Billiards Association’s Budweiser Open 8-Ball banquet tournament last Sunday.
(Contributed Photo)
Nolan Cultura ruled the Saipan Billiards Association’s Budweiser Open 8-Ball awards banquet tournament. The one-day competition was held last Sunday at Doro’s Lechon in Middle Road.
The Jokers Destroyers team captain went undefeated in the double-elimination round contest, beating a strong field composed of fellow cue artists from champions teams in the regular season and the postseason Budweiser Cup.
Cultura defeated Rico Montano in his first assignment then followed it up by dispatching Erwin Gomez. He closed out his elimination round campaign with two more wins against Senen Pangilinan and Rowel Mariano to clinch the first finals berth.
Pangilinan, who dropped to the losers bracket after his loss to Cultura, had to claw his way up to the loser’s bracket to arrange a finals date with his fourth round tormentor. He scored wins over Montano, Gomez, and Mariano before losing anew to Cultura in the title match.
Cultura received a trophy and $100 cash, while Pangilinan settled for the $50 runner-up prize. Mariano went home with $30.
Pangilinan’s scored wins against Toto Bigcas and Joseph Achas before bowing to Cultura to drop to the losers bracket, while Mariano downed Joshua Woodson, Joey Lucido, and Rey Pinangay, but was beaten by Cultura in the semifinals.
SBA regular season and Budweiser Cup most valuable player Marc Brian Nelvis, Rodel Dela Cruz, Alber Pangilinan, Jack Thornsaket, Ray Matsunaga, Rolly Villanueva, Warlee Ellama, and Roy Tereyama were the other competitors.
Meanwhile, sign up is ongoing for the upcoming summer-fall season of the SBA 8-Ball League set to start in July.
