RP POOL TEAM FINISH SECOND IN WORLD TEAM; POCKETS $50,000

THE Great Britain showed better control of their nerves in the crucial moments as they carved a smashing 4-1 win over Philippine Team late Sunday (Manila time) to capture the first-ever World Team Pool Cup Championship being held at the Hall 13 Hannover Exhibition Grounds in Hannover, Germany.

With the feat, The Britons which is composed of reigning World 9-ball champion Daryl Peach, 2008 World Ten-Ball Champion Darren Appleton, Karl Boyes, Mark Gray and Imram Majid received the top prize of $100,000.

The Filipinos headed by former World 9-ball and 8-ball champion Ronato Alcano, last year International Predator 10-ball ruler Dennis Orcullo, former snooker champion Marlon Manalo, two-time BSCP National Pool title-holder Lee Vann Corteza, Japan based Antonio Lining and Southeast Asian games 9-ball gold medalist Warren Kiamco  settled for a runner-up purse of $50,000.

Losing-Semifinalists Greece and Russia, on the other hand received $30,000 each in the 48-nation tournament, the first of its kind and sanctioned by the World Pool Billiard Association (WPA), stakes a total purse of $400,000 (roughly P19.2 million) and uses a point-system scoring patterned after the famous Davis Cup in international tennis.

After the loss, the Britons bounced back winning their second game of 8-ball Scotch doubles event, 6-1, to level the count at 1-all in the race-to-4 affair.

Then Gray, Boyes and Appleton, made it 4-1 for Team Great Britain to snatch the over-all championships’ trophy.

Gray downed Lining, 8-2, in the 1^st 9-ball game, Boyes edged Corteza, 8-7, in the 2nd 9-ball game and Appleton toppled Orcullo, 7-1, in the 2^nd 10-ball game.

Actually, Alcano was already leading 2-1 against Peach in the 1^st 10-ball game but it was halted after Appleton won in the 2^nd 10-ball game.

“The RP team did their best but fell short in the finals. Talagang maganda ang nilaro ng Great Britain,” said Bugsy Promotions president Ceferino “Perry” Mariano.

“Pero sayang nakauna na tayong ng panalo but the RP pool team success makes us all proud to be Filipinos,”, “added Perry Mariano founder of Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines (BMPAP)

“After a spotless run to the final, Team RP came up short against Britain, falling 1-4. The loss aside, BSCP, Raya Sports, Bugsy Promotions and Negros Billiards Stable are very proud of the accomplishments of the RP team. Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!.” said BSCP chairman Florentino “Yen” Makabenta.

“The RP pool team gives the whole nation something to cheer about and I personal congratulate them for their feat,” said Negros Billiards Stable (NBS) president Jonathan “Bacolod” Sy.

On the road to the finals, the Filipinos beat England II (4-0), Czech Republic (4-1), Norway (4-2), Poland (4-2) and Russia (4-1) to arrange a titular showdown with Great Britain, who brought downed Norway (5-1) lost to Sweden (4-2) then blanked  Israel (4-0) and Germany (4-0) then edged China (4-3) and Greece (4-2), respectively.