Mariano wins Shooters 9-ball tourney

Last night the CNMI Billiard League continued its interim 9-ball tournament hosting a total of 14 players at Shooters Sports Bar & Grill.

Tournament organizer Fred Prinz said the competition was changed slightly to allow for a double-elimination format where players with only a loss can still continue to play in the losers’ bracket, but won’t vie for the championship.

Jerry Soriano, Victor S. Hocog, Jean Cadag, and Rowel Mariano worked their way through the 14-player field to earn a spot in the semifinals.

Soriano faced off against Hocog in the first Final Four match with the big Chamorro cue artist advancing with a sweet win.

Mariano and Cadag then got it on with the former getting the victory to arrange a winner-take-all against Hocog.

Brilliant shots were the order of the day in the finals with Mariano and Hocog trying their best to outperform the other, but in the end Mariano eased out Hocog and dropped the 9-ball and won the contest.

In the losers bracket, Cadag first faced off against Erwin Gomez and won and played Soriano for the losers’ bracket title after the Saipan Ice & Water Co. defeated Nelson Pagaduan in their own semifinals.

In the “second finals” of the evening, Cadag got the better of Soriano to join Mariano in the winners’ circle.

“To the credit of all the players, as a referee watching all the matches throughout the evening I saw some incredible shots and talent displayed by all the players, winners and losers alike in this 9-ball tournament,” said Prinz.

Prinz said aside from the 9-ball format, the competition also includes a team effort “so that every player will have repeated chances to win.”

All interested players and competing bars are encouraged to register and play this unique and new format.

The CNMI Billiard League is organized and operated by the CNMI Billiard and Dart Association with direct help and services provided by AMPAC, Ltd. and Shooters Sports Bar & Grill.

The association is a non-profit organization set up and run for the billiard and dart players of the CNMI, with regular membership meetings to here the voices and concerns of the players and to schedule upcoming events. If you are interested in becoming a member please call Prinz at 235-3733 after 5pm.

CNMI Billiard and Dart Association is also reminding all members and non-member dart players, that there will be a blind draw dart tournament scheduled at Shooters Sports Bar every Saturday at 8pm. Entry fee is $5 and games are only $.50 per player.

Shooters Sports Bar & Grill would also like to call on any organization, or individuals, interested in helping to sponsor any fund raising events for the upcoming 6th Micronesian Games to please drop by or call Prinz at 235-3733 after 5pm. (Mark Rabago)