JOSE PARICA ENDS UP 2ND TO SHANE VAN BOENING IN 17TH ANNUAL U.S. BAR TABLE 10-BALL CHAMPIONSHIPS

FILIPINO legendary Jose “Amang” Parica felled his opponents one by one but surrendered the battle that mattered most, bowing to US brightest hope Shane “The South Dakota Kid” Van Boening, 7-5, in the finals of 17th annual U.S. Bar Table Championships 10-ball competition yesterday at the Sands Regency Casino Hotel in Downtown, Reno, Nevada, USA.

Parica, dubbed as the leader of the Filipino invasion in the US pool circuit in the mid 80’s, swept his way into the title match but suferred twice to eventual champion Van Boening, in the race to 7, alternate break, rack your own, true double elimination format which attracted 115 cue artists.

The undefeated Van Boening pocketed the top purse of $5,000 while the West Covina-based Parica who hails from Manila settled for runer-up purse of $3,200.

Parica, known to local billiards fan as “Amang”, was recently inducted into the One Pocket Hall of Fame, defeated Arturo Rivera, 7-6, Matt Clatterbuck, 7-4, Shane Winters, 7-4, Brian Butler, 7-3, Oscar Dominguez,7-5, and Larry Wilson, 7-1, but was yielded to Van Boening,7-1, in the hot-seat match.

Parica, meantime eliminated Glenn Atwell, 7-5, in the losers clash to forge a rematch with Van Boening.

Parica is currently competing in the 9-ball competition of 17th annual U.S. Bar Table Championships is fresh from winning the 12th Annual Derby City Classic 60-year-old above Seniors One-Pocket Mini Event at the Horseshoe Casino and Hotel in Indiana last month and the 14th Annual Jay Swanson Memorial 9-Ball Tournament in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, last week.

BY: MARLON BERNARDINO