Hustlers keep pace with Sure Shots, first place tie in Banzai

Da Place Sure Shots continued to hold off Round Two Hustlers in the Tapochao Division, while Wild Wild West caught VFW Fotten Gaga at the top of the standings in the Banzai Division as action in the Budweiser SBA Open 8-Ball League resumed Tuesday night.

Sure Shots maintained its one-game lead over Hustlers after it beat USSP Dreams, 5-1, at the USS Peleliu Club.

Jojo Talibong, Frank Pangelinan, Senen Pangelinan, Roman Rodriguez, and the doubles team of R.J. Mascarinas and Luis Fajardo won the first four games of the head-to-head until a mishap by Talibong and Rodriguez in the final doubles game against Eduard Armia and Rodel Dela Cruz prevented a shutout by Sure Shots.

The near skunking improved Sure Shots’ record to 29-13, while the lopsided loss dropped Dreams to 18-24.

Round Two Hustlers, meanwhile, split their first two games against USSP Fotten Palau before sweeping the floor with the cellar dweller in the final four to win 5-1 at Round Two Bar and Grill.

Jerry Soriano, Nolan Cultura, Joey Lucido, and the tandems of Soriano and Mario Diola and Cultura and Lucido played up to their potential against Fotten Palau, while R.E. Rengiil scored the only win for USSP when he beat Diola in the second singles.

Round Two finished the evening with a 28-14 record, while Fotten Palau renewed its lease of the bottom of the standings with a 9-33 mark.

VFW Fotten Gaga II and Wild Wild West, meanwhile, are now co-leaders in the Banzai Division after the latter only managed a 3-3 draw with Jewel Night Shooters while the former scored a 4-2 win over Vargas Hot Shots.

Fotten Gaga II played lackadaisically against Night Shooters at VFW Post 3457 and now sits with a 26-16 win-loss record, the same mark now being sported by Wild Wild West after it took four of six games against Hot Shots at Jhonny’s Bar.

Night Shooters and Hot Shots finished the evening with 18-18 and 12-24 records, respectively.

In the only other match played in the league’s B division, Godfather’s What Doin’ kept abreast with the co-leaders after it slammed VFW Pool Warriors, 5-1, at Godfather’s Bar.

What Doin’ is a mere game back of Wild Wild West and Fotten Gaga II at 25-17, while Poll Warriors rose to fifth place at 13-23, which is a game ahead of new cellar dweller Hot Shots.

Pacific Amusement, the same company that runs the leagues of the Saipan Electronic Darts Association, organizes the Budweiser SBA Open 8-Ball League. For more information about the Budweiser SBA Open 8-Ball League and the SEDA leagues, contact Vivien Elloraza at 233-4397. (Mark Rabago)