Thrilling Finale : World Team Upsets Team Philippines!
pics by Emille "BiBoy" Soriano
find biboy on facebook at http://www.facebook.com/photos.php?id=1017678674#/profile.php?id=661993423&ref=nf
Hundal leaps left while Immonen leaps right. Morris and Williams embracing with Wu
Manila, Philippines- The World Team came back from behind the final day of the Quezon City Invasion against the awesome Filipino home team in a thrilling 9-8 finale fit for the history books. The event took place at the Tri Noma Mall and was also titled "The Grand Villar Showdown" in honor of host sponsor Senator Manny Villar who has become a staunch supporter of billiards in the Philippines. Premier management groups Bugsy Promotions, Puyat Sports, and Negros Stables helped orgainze the event under the sanctioning of the BMPAP. The Quezon Invasion paid out $60,000 in prize money between the two teams for 1st and 2nd place. The first team to win nine matches would be crowned champions in this race to seven games per match with alternating breaks.
A jam packed crowd of 1500 spectators sat, stood, and wiggled their way to get a glimpse of the international superstars of the game. The star studded Filipino team consisted of Francisco Bustamante, Ronnie Alcano, Alex Pagulayan, Warren Kiamco, Lee Van Corteza, Roberto Gomez, Dennis Orcullo, and legendary Captain Efren Reyes. The diverse challengers included Captain Rodney Morris (USA), Charlie Williams (USA), Mika Immonen (FIN), THorsten HOhmann (GER), Wu CHia Ching (TPE), Yang Ching SHun(TPE), Raj HUndal(IND),and Fu Jianbo(CHN). The three day event showed blood,sweat,and guts from both sides in a see saw battle of will and heart.
"It's hard to look at their roster of players and not feel a little awed. I think this is the greatest pool team ever assembled in history." commented Charlie Williams on the who's who of packed pool studs that Team Philippines had to offer.
The first day of the event had The World Team leading in three unanswered wins with the 4-on-4 team of Hohmann, Morris, Wu, and Immonen winning 7-5. Then Yang battled Alcano for a 7-5 win. Next the dynamic duo of Hundal and Williams put down Bustamante and Kiamco 7-4. The final match looked good as Pagulayan raced to a 4-0 lead, but that quickly diminished as Fu made two 9-ball golden breaks. Ironically when the referee racked for Pagulayan, the 9-ball never moved. Fu once more for the third time made the 9-ball on the snap to tie the match at 6-6. Finally Philippines got on the board with Pagulayan scoring a 7-6 escaper against Fu after making a tricky 6-ball and coming 2 rails and clipping the 9-ball for perfect shape on the 7-ball for the out. The first day went to the World Team 3-1 with the foreign stars in good spirits. Maybe too good.
"I was thinking that we might actually have a chance at dominating the event like 9-1 or 9-2 the way the momentum was swinging. But then you have to stop and remind yourself this was no ordinary team you're up against," said Morris who captained the World Team.
The second day started with Immonen leading the way in a 7-5 win over Orcullo. Orcullo started off punishing Immonen after a few mistakes by the Finn, but Immonen bounced back from a 4-1 deficit and won the match. The next match was won by The Philippines and the see saw would begin. Morris was disgusted after his loss with teammate Hohmann after many errors and became more aggravated when teamamate Immonen shared additional criticisms. "Look man, I dogged it. Happens ,ok?" The two teammates quickly bonded back before the next match to root their teammates on, but the tension was definitely building as the scores were getting tighter. On the Filipino side, the normally subdued and quiet Filipino wizards were getting more and more excited visibly with cheering and laughter rising with every win.
"The first day the guys (Team Philippines) didn't really get into it and wasn't even sitting behind the players playing unlike the World Team. Today they came back and supported each other and now we all see the impact of them coming together as a team." said Ish Capparas, Director of Puyat Sports.
Then Philippines came back again in the 4-on-4 and the pressure on the World Team was mounting. Wu then relieved some stress with a 7-1 pounding of Gomez including two 9-ball breaks off his powerful snap. With the score 5-3 in favor of Team World, Williams vs Van Corteza would decide if Team World would extend their lead to 3 matches going into the final day or if Philippines would close within one. Van Corteza cruised to a 5-0 lead without giving Williams any opportunities. Williams fought back to 6-4, but missed an easy 6-ball to make it 6-5 and have the break. Phillipines would gain a match back for the final day 5-4.
"Sorry guys. I dogged it." said Williams to his teammates. "When you make mistakes in team events, it's much worse cause you feel you let other people down that are counting on you." explained Williams.
The final day had everything a Hollywood pool script would want. The day started off bad it seemed for Team World as Hohmann dropped the first three games and found himself a 4-1 loser to Kiamco. And then the wheels came off as Kiamco missed an easy 9-ball. Incredibly, Kiamco missed the 9ball again the next game, and then hung up the 8-ball the next. Hohmann earned a win on his own in between and then Kiamco created gasps in the throats of hundreds of pinoy watchers as he missed the 9-ball for the third time. Hohmann ended his misery with a break and run for the 7-4 win.
"The table is playing faster than I expected and I missed position on every shot in that match." said the 2006 World Straight Pool Champion increduously. "But I'm happy I got the win for the team." World Team 6 to Philippines Team 4.
Next the two captains would face off as Efren Reyes and Rodney Morris took to the table. "c'mon Rocket, US Open finals!" his teammates whispered loudly in his ear referring to Morris's breakthrough win over Reyes at the US Open in the 90's. Morris seemed to hear well as he zoomed to a 4-0 lead. Then Morris made an error and let Reyes back in for a win. Then what happened to Kiamco seemed to curse Morris as he made unforced error after unforced error and found himself a victim to the Magician's seven unanswered games in a row for a 7-4 loss. Philippines 5 to World Team 6.
"When Rocket got to four games, I thought he was going to run over him. But Rocket has been sick all week and he's trying to pump himslf and the team for the final day. I know he's tired." said Hundal.
Next Hundal took on his own personal idol, Bustamante. The match was exciting with back and forth leads by both with a culminating 6-6 finale. Hundal played a great safe on Bustamante, but then he came with an amazing escape kicking two rails and making the ball. Seemingly an easy out, Bustamante misread the speed and hooked himself. With time running out on the shot clok and only five seconds to spare, Bustamante kicked again , this time one rail and again making the ball to the screams of the thousand fans. He then ran over and kissed Hundal on the face before laughing and running away to make the final two shots for the win. The Filipinos had officially came back to tie at 6-6.
"We all need to pull Yang though this match. This is big," said Immonen walking over to support the Taiwanese pool legend.
Gomez had fell to Taiwan's Wu the day before, and today the buffed Pinoy known as Superman" showed why he was chosen for the team as he commanded the lead from start to end and defeated Yang 7-3. His teammates roared with the crowd with approval and the Philippines had now taken the lead for the first time in the event 7-6. The momentum had swinged three matches in a row in their favor, and the World Team was feeling it.
The next match was 4-on-4 with World Team's heavy guns Immonen, Wu, Yang, and Hundal taking on Pagulayan, Bustamante, Gomez and Orcullo. The World Team played the best match of the event without making one error or missed shot throughout. Williams sat and watched expressionlessly and seemingly tired as he watched his teammates play a perfect set and still lose 7-6 as the Philippines team maintained their composure for a break and run at hill hill.
(continues in another thread "Part 2.....)
Yang,Immonen,Wu,and Hundal played a perfect match with no mistakes,yet lost 7-6 to the Awesome Pinoys
pics by Emille "BiBoy" Soriano
find biboy on facebook at http://www.facebook.com/photos.php?id=1017678674#/profile.php?id=661993423&ref=nf
Hundal leaps left while Immonen leaps right. Morris and Williams embracing with Wu
Manila, Philippines- The World Team came back from behind the final day of the Quezon City Invasion against the awesome Filipino home team in a thrilling 9-8 finale fit for the history books. The event took place at the Tri Noma Mall and was also titled "The Grand Villar Showdown" in honor of host sponsor Senator Manny Villar who has become a staunch supporter of billiards in the Philippines. Premier management groups Bugsy Promotions, Puyat Sports, and Negros Stables helped orgainze the event under the sanctioning of the BMPAP. The Quezon Invasion paid out $60,000 in prize money between the two teams for 1st and 2nd place. The first team to win nine matches would be crowned champions in this race to seven games per match with alternating breaks.
A jam packed crowd of 1500 spectators sat, stood, and wiggled their way to get a glimpse of the international superstars of the game. The star studded Filipino team consisted of Francisco Bustamante, Ronnie Alcano, Alex Pagulayan, Warren Kiamco, Lee Van Corteza, Roberto Gomez, Dennis Orcullo, and legendary Captain Efren Reyes. The diverse challengers included Captain Rodney Morris (USA), Charlie Williams (USA), Mika Immonen (FIN), THorsten HOhmann (GER), Wu CHia Ching (TPE), Yang Ching SHun(TPE), Raj HUndal(IND),and Fu Jianbo(CHN). The three day event showed blood,sweat,and guts from both sides in a see saw battle of will and heart.
"It's hard to look at their roster of players and not feel a little awed. I think this is the greatest pool team ever assembled in history." commented Charlie Williams on the who's who of packed pool studs that Team Philippines had to offer.
The first day of the event had The World Team leading in three unanswered wins with the 4-on-4 team of Hohmann, Morris, Wu, and Immonen winning 7-5. Then Yang battled Alcano for a 7-5 win. Next the dynamic duo of Hundal and Williams put down Bustamante and Kiamco 7-4. The final match looked good as Pagulayan raced to a 4-0 lead, but that quickly diminished as Fu made two 9-ball golden breaks. Ironically when the referee racked for Pagulayan, the 9-ball never moved. Fu once more for the third time made the 9-ball on the snap to tie the match at 6-6. Finally Philippines got on the board with Pagulayan scoring a 7-6 escaper against Fu after making a tricky 6-ball and coming 2 rails and clipping the 9-ball for perfect shape on the 7-ball for the out. The first day went to the World Team 3-1 with the foreign stars in good spirits. Maybe too good.
"I was thinking that we might actually have a chance at dominating the event like 9-1 or 9-2 the way the momentum was swinging. But then you have to stop and remind yourself this was no ordinary team you're up against," said Morris who captained the World Team.
The second day started with Immonen leading the way in a 7-5 win over Orcullo. Orcullo started off punishing Immonen after a few mistakes by the Finn, but Immonen bounced back from a 4-1 deficit and won the match. The next match was won by The Philippines and the see saw would begin. Morris was disgusted after his loss with teammate Hohmann after many errors and became more aggravated when teamamate Immonen shared additional criticisms. "Look man, I dogged it. Happens ,ok?" The two teammates quickly bonded back before the next match to root their teammates on, but the tension was definitely building as the scores were getting tighter. On the Filipino side, the normally subdued and quiet Filipino wizards were getting more and more excited visibly with cheering and laughter rising with every win.
"The first day the guys (Team Philippines) didn't really get into it and wasn't even sitting behind the players playing unlike the World Team. Today they came back and supported each other and now we all see the impact of them coming together as a team." said Ish Capparas, Director of Puyat Sports.
Then Philippines came back again in the 4-on-4 and the pressure on the World Team was mounting. Wu then relieved some stress with a 7-1 pounding of Gomez including two 9-ball breaks off his powerful snap. With the score 5-3 in favor of Team World, Williams vs Van Corteza would decide if Team World would extend their lead to 3 matches going into the final day or if Philippines would close within one. Van Corteza cruised to a 5-0 lead without giving Williams any opportunities. Williams fought back to 6-4, but missed an easy 6-ball to make it 6-5 and have the break. Phillipines would gain a match back for the final day 5-4.
"Sorry guys. I dogged it." said Williams to his teammates. "When you make mistakes in team events, it's much worse cause you feel you let other people down that are counting on you." explained Williams.
The final day had everything a Hollywood pool script would want. The day started off bad it seemed for Team World as Hohmann dropped the first three games and found himself a 4-1 loser to Kiamco. And then the wheels came off as Kiamco missed an easy 9-ball. Incredibly, Kiamco missed the 9ball again the next game, and then hung up the 8-ball the next. Hohmann earned a win on his own in between and then Kiamco created gasps in the throats of hundreds of pinoy watchers as he missed the 9-ball for the third time. Hohmann ended his misery with a break and run for the 7-4 win.
"The table is playing faster than I expected and I missed position on every shot in that match." said the 2006 World Straight Pool Champion increduously. "But I'm happy I got the win for the team." World Team 6 to Philippines Team 4.
Next the two captains would face off as Efren Reyes and Rodney Morris took to the table. "c'mon Rocket, US Open finals!" his teammates whispered loudly in his ear referring to Morris's breakthrough win over Reyes at the US Open in the 90's. Morris seemed to hear well as he zoomed to a 4-0 lead. Then Morris made an error and let Reyes back in for a win. Then what happened to Kiamco seemed to curse Morris as he made unforced error after unforced error and found himself a victim to the Magician's seven unanswered games in a row for a 7-4 loss. Philippines 5 to World Team 6.
"When Rocket got to four games, I thought he was going to run over him. But Rocket has been sick all week and he's trying to pump himslf and the team for the final day. I know he's tired." said Hundal.
Next Hundal took on his own personal idol, Bustamante. The match was exciting with back and forth leads by both with a culminating 6-6 finale. Hundal played a great safe on Bustamante, but then he came with an amazing escape kicking two rails and making the ball. Seemingly an easy out, Bustamante misread the speed and hooked himself. With time running out on the shot clok and only five seconds to spare, Bustamante kicked again , this time one rail and again making the ball to the screams of the thousand fans. He then ran over and kissed Hundal on the face before laughing and running away to make the final two shots for the win. The Filipinos had officially came back to tie at 6-6.
"We all need to pull Yang though this match. This is big," said Immonen walking over to support the Taiwanese pool legend.
Gomez had fell to Taiwan's Wu the day before, and today the buffed Pinoy known as Superman" showed why he was chosen for the team as he commanded the lead from start to end and defeated Yang 7-3. His teammates roared with the crowd with approval and the Philippines had now taken the lead for the first time in the event 7-6. The momentum had swinged three matches in a row in their favor, and the World Team was feeling it.
The next match was 4-on-4 with World Team's heavy guns Immonen, Wu, Yang, and Hundal taking on Pagulayan, Bustamante, Gomez and Orcullo. The World Team played the best match of the event without making one error or missed shot throughout. Williams sat and watched expressionlessly and seemingly tired as he watched his teammates play a perfect set and still lose 7-6 as the Philippines team maintained their composure for a break and run at hill hill.
(continues in another thread "Part 2.....)
Yang,Immonen,Wu,and Hundal played a perfect match with no mistakes,yet lost 7-6 to the Awesome Pinoys
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