The best women pool players of Southern California gathered last weekend in San Diego for the 4th and last stop of the 2010 SoCal Ladies 9-Ball Tournament. Pro and mostly Semi-Pro women players from Los Angeles and San Diego area came and showed their talents. Hiroko Makiyama, a local player and my teammate in the BCA in Las Vegas last May, won the finals match against the very formidable WPBA player, Melissa Morris. Morris, on the other hand was crowned the “2010 Tour Champion” for having the most points this year.
Pro and mostly Semi-Pro women players from Los Angeles and San Diego area came and showed their talents
Hiroko Makiyama defeated some of the tour’s best players that includes defending champion Stacy Novack in the hot seat and Melissa Morris in the 2nd round. The semi-final match was a rematch of the final matches from the previous two events between Stacy and Melissa. Novack seemed tired and not totally focused on her game, ended up losing to Melissa and the overall Tour Champion title.
Deo Mark Alpajora and Hiroko Makiyama run out the final game when she missed an easy shot on the 5 ball but left Melissa without a way to pocket the 5. Her only last option is to carom the 6 ball, she then took the bridge and attempted the carom but missed, giving another chance to Hiroko for a better safe on the 5. Melissa kicked the 5 one rail and almost made it in the corner but left it hanging in the pocket. Hiroko never looked back and grabbed her first and sweetest ever title this year.
Every pool player has his/her own time and days, you win some, you lose some, you can’t win every time. Deo, a very finesse and smooth stroking Pinoy cue artist has already proven to us before that he can play and beat anybody without any fear. Like his boxing idol, Manny Pacquiao, Deo, considered this game only as a sport, have fun, win or lose. Last week, Alpajora played a very strong veteran pool player from Northern California, Amar Kang for a money game race to 7 best of three sets for $1,000. He did not only beat him but demolished Amar with a stunning scores of 7-3 and 7-4.
Congratulations for winning both tournaments and money games!! From your pool and Facebook friends, Jun Almoite & Mary Avina, Mark Tiu, George Pagulayan, Jenrick Buensuceso, Eddie Cohen, Nestor Binauhan, Andrew Eroy, Santos Sambajon, Jose Parica, Angelo Yap & Jaynard Orque.
Pinoys are known worldwide as fearless pool and billiard gamblers, where in every pool room in the Philippines you can a see at least one or two pool sharks ready to defend their own territory from any invaders.
Melissa had one more match to go to capture her first SCL9T title but Hiroko was always there standing tall on her way.. Hiroko won the first three games in the finals race to 9 and she looked stronger and more confident as the match goes on but a couple mistakes from Makiyama gave Morris the opportunity to even up the score 3-3. At this point, the momentum shifted completely Melissa and suddenly was on the hill 8-4.
Melissa Herndon and in behalf of the SCL9T players, would like to thank all the sponsors and all the people who helped and supported this tournament through thick and thin. Also a big Thanks to the new owner of ON CUE Billiards, Clyde, his Dad and Mom Helen.