D2Pats seize lead in Islander Tag Team 8-Ball

D2Pat’s Pat Taitano and Pat Cepeda are the current frontrunners of the 19th Hole Bar & Grill’s Islander Tag-Team 8-Ball Tournament after the conclusion of last weekend’s matchups.

This past weekend marked the halfway point of the event and featured D2Pats notching their second consecutive sweep to pull into first place all alone in the standings with 19 points.

D2Pats skunked Oneshot’s Ron Chisato and Ed Suzuki, 6-0, last Feb. 4 and blanked IDK’s Gus Taitano and Ken Phillips last Saturday.

Just a point behind the leaders in second place comes Elaus’ Taylor Watanabe and John Mongami, who bagged a pair of 5-1 victories in the past two weeks.

Elaus toppled YNOT’s Nolas Kaliga and Ben Norita back on Feb. 4 and then went through IDC’s Norman Tenorio and Quinton Ngirarios on Sunday.

Meanwhile, there is a three-way tie for third place between former leader Oneshot, YNOT and Tasi’s Oscar Sablan and Ed Blas; the three teams have 15 points each after completion of three rounds of matches.

IDC and IDK both have 12 points thus far, while Leonize79’s Leonard Sablan and Nizer Masayas are bringing up the rear with seven; eight teams make up the field.

Other results from the weekend included YNOT defeating Leonize79, 5-3, on Saturday, as did Tasi over Oneshot on Sunday.

This Saturday, D2Pats take on Leonize79 at 7:30pm followed by Elaus taking on IDK at 9:30pm. Then on Sunday, Oneshot clashes with IDC at 7:30pm with YNOT squaring off against Tasi at 9:30pm.

Like the Saipan Billiards Association Budweiser Open 8-Ball League, the Islander Tag Team Tournament follows official BCA rules except that sinking the 8-ball on the break is a win.

Each team plays two singles and one doubles match every week. Doubles players continue shooting until they miss or scratch; players don’t alternate shots. Scoring is determined by total games won.

If, for instance, a team wins two games and its opponent wins one, two points are scored for the team and one point goes to the opponent.

Formerly known as the USS Peleliu Club, the 19th Hole Bar relocated last fall. They offer darts, billiards, and free wi-fi Internet in a refreshing sports bar setting with a friendly wait staff. The 19th Hole’s hours of operation runs daily from 4pm to 2am. They also offer live music entertainment from the Rock Islanders band every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday night and $1 beers, daily, until 6:30pm.

For more information, contact Rose Phillips at 788-3913.