Billiards competition goes down to wire
It’s not exactly the kind of sport that parents urge their kids to take up at an early age. But despite its reputation as a pastime practised in dark rooms in the company of smoke and liquor, the art of billiards is alive and well. Last night News 5’s Janelle Chanona was in the audience as the Guinness Eight Ball championship approached its climax.
Janelle Chanona, Reporting
Game one of the finals finds team Advance Advertising paired with the 2000-2001 District and National Champs: the men from Catt’s Place.
Catt’s Ben Bou-Nahra and Advance Captain Manuel Ramos are first up. There are five matches and each player must win the best three out of five games. Right away Ramos lets Bou-Nahra know he’s in it to win it.
Within minutes Ramos has a two game lead. But Bou-Nahra claws his way back from the dead…And cuts past Advance for the win.
That first strike would set the tone of the night as the Catt’s would set them up and knock ’em down.
Catt’s Larry Lisbey took the cue and puts Pedro Vialio on the spot. Vialio’s missed shot on this play gives Lisbey the break he needs.
By the time Catt’s Captain Bert Bradley takes the floor, confidence is soaring and Advance knows it.
Manuel Ramos, Capt., Advance Advertising Team
“Well right now it’s a very pressuring game because we’re meeting the Champs. So we’re trying our best, we’re playing very defensive, but my players are kind of slipping down you know.”
Janelle Chanona
“So what’s your motivation right now? What are you telling your players?”
Manuel Ramos
“Well we have a little strategy we’re working on. It hasn’t come to that point yet, but after this game we’ll see what happens.”
And what happens is Angel Blair? Blair took the table by storm. (four shots in a row)
But Bradley is no rookie and they take two a piece. But in tiebreak, Advance stops Catt’s in their tracks, with gusto.
Advance’s Benjamin Mejia tries to give his team some momentum, but this denied shot gives Catt’s Dale Gillett the edge. The players pull out all the stops.
The top cats are now sitting pretty with a six-point lead, making them champs for the night. But don’t tell that to Renan Briceño. As he goes all out to beat Angel Vargas. The Vargas comeback would fall short and Briceño would give Catt’s Place an eight to two finish.
By any account, pool players are not traditional athletes…but they are dedicated sportsmen. Their teammates are their biggest fans and coaching staff. But are they mathematical geniuses or lucky with a stick?
Bert Bradley, Capt., Catt’s Place Team
“It’s skills along with a lot of luck.”
Janelle Chanona
What do you use?
Bert Bradley
“Just brainpower, I’d say. You look at every shot, calculate, a little calculation with everything, angles, basic mathematics, just try your luck.”
Both teams will try their luck for the title tonight at the Viking Club on Vernon Street. The action starts around eight p.m. Reporting for News 5, I am Janelle Chanona.
Admission to tonight’s competition at the Viking Club is free. The tournament is sponsored by Bowen and Bowen, bottlers of Guinness.
