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Hermogenes wins Bamboo Bar 8-ball tourney
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Posted on Jul 02 2021
A total of 16 pool masters took part in the June 8-ball tournament at the New Bamboo Bar last Sunday with Rey Hermogenes, third from left, winning the monthly competition. (Contributed Photo)
Rey Hermogenes came back from the jaws of defeat to win the June 8-ball tournament at the New Bamboo Bar in Saipan Las Vegas Resort along Middle Road.
The 58-year-old general maintenance staff at the Kristo Rai Church beat winners’ bracket topnotcher Jerry Soriano in the battle of right-handers in the finals to take home the monthly championship and the $500 first place purse.
Playing with the striped balls, Hermogenes shocked everyone by beating Soriano in the first game to negate the latter’s twice-to-beat advantage.
The Marilao, Bulacan in the Philippines native then completed his comeback by again surprising Soriano in the winner-take-all Game 2 where he again targeted the striped balls. Soriano, who left two balls in Game 2 to absorb the sorry loss, took home the $250 runner-up cash prize.
Hermogenes started things off with a win over Santi Sablan before outlasting Jess Fariñas in his second game. Disaster struck in his third game, however, when he faced off against Randy David, as Hermogenes lost and was dropped down to the losers’ bracket.
With one loss between him and elimination, the five-year pool player began his comeback with a win over Rowell “Cobra” Mariano. He then topped the losers’ bracket by outplaying veteran Joey Lucido in the losers’ bracket finals.
Soriano, meanwhile, racked up four straight victories before completely collapsing against Hermogenes in the championship round. The 50-year-old Mexico, Pampanga in the Philippines native first dismissed fellow veteran Senen Pangilinan in the first round. The Marianas Water staff then got the better of Mariano in his second game before relegating Lucido to the losers’ bracket in the quarterfinals.
The win against the crafty Lucido set up a semifinals encounter against Hermogenes’ vanquisher David, who Soriano defeated to win the winners’ bracket and secure the all-important twice-to-beat advantage in the finals. David took third place and $100, while Lucido was fourth and pocketed $50.
A total of 16 pool masters took part in the June 8-ball tournament at the New Bamboo Bar. The tournament, sponsored by New Bamboo Bar, Saipan Vegas, and Budweiser, is held every month and for more information, call Soriano at 588-1971.
