Mar Bernardo and Alex Seguido produced a major jolt during the 7th week showdown in the LBC sponsored billiard tournament here when they ousted Alex Santos and Mike Montanier, the leaders in the winners’ bracket.
The two weeks of waiting by the losing pair could have made their grips cold that led to their expulsion. The winners scored a convincing 7-4 win the become the waiting finalists, only a game away from the championship title.
The pair from the Ilocos region had a poor start letting the enemy gain a 2-0 advantage but quickly recovered in the next two racks to tie the score at 2-all. The losing pair troubled them again in the succeeding two racks with a 4-2 lead. Bernardo bounced back in the seventh rack and secured a win seconded by teammate Seguido in the eighth rack to seal a second deadlock, 4-4. With momentum in their side, Bernardo-Seguido eventually swept the remaining three racks and ended their opponents’ winning streak to the delight of their supporters.
Seguido delivered the fatal shot which was applauded by the audience. The winners remain unbeaten after five crucial matches. Santos and Montanier likewise secured a waiting seat in the losers’ bracket. A win for the pair will give them another chance in the finals, but a loss would guarantee third place.
In another exciting match, Mike Dumasil and Moods Mohamed collected another victory in the losers’ bracket at the expense of Tom Zaraspe and Jason Yadao, 5-3. The winning pair from Visayas were also bothered by their opponents in the beginning but bounced back in the last two racks to win the match. Mike Dumasil was applauded for his heroics in that match saving three racks and two for his teammate Mohamed. The winners share a 3-1 win-loss record with the pairs of Constantino and Ortega and Solicar and Casimero, also in the losers’ bracket.
The event which is contested by 32 teams is sponsored by LBC “Hari ng Padala”, through its country manager, Arnold Cereno, and officers Allan Bautista and Veronica Rey. The Filipino Expatriates Billiard Association in Riyadh (FEBAR) led by officers Pelaez Marzan, Fernan Hernandez and Yolando Villacarlos organized the tournament hosted by Rick Cabial’s Idol Billiards Center located at the top of Java City of Said Rafiq in Batha.
Secondary sponsors are New Cabalen, Java City, Mama Lulu Fastfood, Shahd Broast, CFC, Kruathai, Link International Travel and Pasalubong Restaurant & Bakery.
