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Cultura cuts down opposition in Battle of the Champions
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Posted on Oct 06 2021
Nolan Cultura, second from right, poses with other prizewinners of the New Bamboo Bar Battle of the Champions 8-ball tournament last Friday at the New Bamboo Bar in Saipan Vegas Resort along Middle Road. (Contributed Photo)
Nolan Cultura erased Jerry Soriano twice-to-beat advantage in the finals to win the New Bamboo Bar Battle of the Champions 8-ball tournament last Friday at the New Bamboo Bar in Saipan Vegas Resort along Middle Road.
The 50-year-old services agent at National Alamo Enterprise began the evening by beating Rowell “Cobra” Mariano. He then dispatched Jess Fariñas in the second round before advancing to the semifinals with a win over Roel Baretto.
Paired against veteran pool player Jerry Soriano for a slot in the finals and the all-important twice-to-beat advantage, Cultura was the first to flinch and was relegated to the loser’s bracket. He rebounded nicely from his first and only loss of the evening, beating Baretto again to earn the opportunity to battle his conqueror again for the championship.
The 16 participants of the New Bamboo Bar Battle of the Champions 8-ball tournament last Friday pose for a group photo prior to the competition. (Contributed Photo)
This time, Cultura had learned his lesson and surprised Soriano in the first game to force a rubber match. In the second game, he then completed the turnaround by defeating Soriano in his own game to annex the championship.
Soriano won four straight games before losing to Cultura twice in the finals. He started the night off by defeating Rey Hermogenes. He then relegated Joey Lucido to the loser’s bracket, before advancing to the semis opposite Cultura after triumphing over Rolly Villanueva. He then got the better of Cultura in their first meeting, but then inexplicably collapsed in the finals.
Cultura, who started playing billiards in 2011, said he didn’t think about his loss to Soriano in the semifinals coming into the finals. “I just tried to focus on the championship round and relax,” he said.
The Surigao City, Surigao del Norte, Philippines native won $500 for winning the championships. Soriano went home with $250 for his runner-up finish, while Baretto and Fariñas came in third and fourth and received $100 and $50, respectively.
A total of 16 pool masters took part in the New Bamboo Bar Battle, which gathers the month’s weekly winners for the monthly championship. The 8-ball tournament, sponsored by New Bamboo Bar, Saipan Vegas, and Budweiser, is held every month and for more information, call Soriano at 588-1971.
