Pangilinan, Crisostimo triumph in billiards

For a change, pool players not named Roger Espiritu or Vic S. Hocog dominated play last week at Corner Pocket’s 9-ball tournaments.

Senen Pangilinan took care of business in the Monday 9-Ball Tournament at the Garapan sports bar, while Rommel Crisostimo emerged on top three nights later in the Thursday 9-Ball Tournament.

Pangilinan began his romp last Jan. 17 with a thorough domination of Kim Prinz. The Filipino cue artist did a lot of fishing to beat Prinz via sweep, 4-0.

Other first round winners were Primo Rivera (3-0 against Welson Apaisan), Jerry Soriano (4-2 over James Cabrera), Leonard Sablan (3-2 upset of Hocog), Erick Caisip (3-3 shocker of Zheng Jian Qing), and Manny Mariano (3-1 over Crisostimo).

In the second round, Pangilinan got a lot more than he bargained for and barely escaped a stiff challenge from Mariano.

Both players fished like there was no tomorrow, which made one observer quip, “They’re fishing like they were the man from Galilee.” In the end, Pangilinan got his net filled the most and won the down-the-wire match, 5-3.

Other second round results saw Rivera take out Espiritu who had a first-round bye, 4-4, and Sablan get the better of Caisip 4-3. Soriano got a bye on the second round.

Pangelinan had an easier assignment in the semifinals, as he continued his “fishing expedition” to thwart Sablan, 5-1. Rivera joined “The Fisherman” with a 4-4 suspense-filled win over Soriano.

And in the finals, Pangilinan capped his nightlong brilliance with a 5-2 victory over Rivera.

Crisostimo then shrugged off his early exit Monday and returned with the vengeance Thursday.

He first got past Rivera in a close match, 4-3. Other opening round decisions were Hocog overcoming Mariano (5-1), Caisip topping Jeff Robinson (4-1), Rolly Villanueva dominate Rene Pe (4-2), and Espiritu weaving his magic against Sablan (5-0). Pangelinan, Luis Fajardo, and Joey Lucido each got byes in the first round.

Crisostimo got his litmus test in the second round when he squared off against Hocog. He was unfazed by the big Chamorro and passed the test with flying colors in a 4-2 win.

Caisip, Pangilinan, and Fajardo joined him in the Final Four. Caisip shut down Villanueva (4-1), Pangilinan exorcised Espiritu (4-3), and Fajardo exiled Lucido (4-2) in yet another entertaining match.

Crisostimo then survived a gallant stand by Caisip and moved on to the finals with a 4-3 win. Pangilinan, who was a 5-2 winner against Fajardo, joined him in the championship.

In the game for all the marbles, Pangilinan winked first and that allowed Crisostimo to upset the reigning Monday 9-ball champ in a surprising score of 4-1.

Corner Pocket’s Monday 9-Ball Tournament rolls off every Monday beginning at 9pm. The competition uses a handicap system to give beginners a chance against top-caliber players. Entry fee is $10 and first place and second place are guaranteed prize money.

The Thursday 9-Ball Tournament, meanwhile, is played in the fifth day of the week. Play starts at 8:30pm. Participants must fork over $15 to enter the double-elimination competition.

Both Monday and Thursday 9-ball tournaments use the rules of the Billiards Congress of America. For more information, contact Corner Pocket owner and resident pool historian Ken Phillips at 233-POOL (7665).