Brannon’s Docomo Hustlers clinch 8-ball title

From left, Robert Sanciangco, Senen Pangilinan, Rowel Mariano, and Joey Lucido of the Brannon’s Docomo Hustlers pose for a photo before their semis game against 9 Eleven Marianas Water last week in the Tuesday division of the SBA 8-Ball League. (Contributed Photo)

The Brannon’s Docomo Hustlers pulled off an upset over 9 Eleven Str8 Black Ball in the finals, 9-7, to win the Tuesday division championship in the Saipan Billiards Association Budweiser Open 8-Ball League.

Rowel Mariano, Senen Pangilinan, and Robert Sanciangco swept the last three singles events to lift the third-ranked Hustlers to the close victory over the No. 1 seed Black Ball. Before taking the final three matches, the Hustlers were behind, 6-7, after Marianao and Pangilinan fell to Mervin Deocares and Rey Hermogenes in the partners event. Then Mariano knotted the score with a victory over Deocares, while Pangilinan topped Tata Hamoy to put the Hustlers on top before Sanciangco’s win over Hermogenes sealed the deal for the eventual champion.

The Hustlers had to rally to notch the Tuesday division title, as they finished the regular season with only a 235-129 record behind the 237-127 and 248-116 slates of 9 Eleven Marianas Water and Ball Ball respectively. Amari’s IT&E Destroyers, who earned a 226-138 mark, joined the Top 3 finishers in the single-elimination playoffs, while 9 Eleven Wildboyz (200-164), Amari’s Masters Touch (180-184), and Brannon’s 670 Builders (120-234) were eliminated.

In the playoffs, which started last week, the Docomo Hustlers edged the second-ranked Marianas Water, 9-6, to move into the finals. The Hustlers were clinging to a 7-6 victory, going into the last three 8-ball events and secured the win when Pangilinan and Mariano won the first two against Jerry Soriano and Rodel Dela Cruz, respectively.

In the other playoff pairing, Black Ball had an easier victory over the Destroyers, 9-4, to set up the title showdown versus the Hustlers. Black Ball took five of the first six events to pull the plug on the Destroyers. The Destroyers went on to settle for the third place honors after nipping Marianas Water in the consolation match (9-8) that was also played last Tuesday. Nolan Cultura and Gian Flores handed the Brannon’s and IT&E-backed team the close win after they defeated Soriano and Dela Cruz in the deciding partners event.

Meanwhile, the playoff round in the Thursday division started yesterday with the 9 Eleven 8 Black Ball scheduled to take on Brannon’s Jam Shooters in the first semis match. In the other Final Four pairing, 9 Eleven MJD Warriors faced IT&E Amari’s Homeboyz. Winners of yesterday’s games will battle for the division title on Sept. 13.