INQUIRER Sports

FILIPINO billiards legend Jose “Amang” Parica yesterday got the better of his marquee duel against former US Open champion American Shane “The South Dakota Kid” Van Boening, 11-9, to remain unscathed in the 34th edition of the meet held at the Chesapeake Conference Center in Chesapeake, Virginia.

The West Covina, California-based Parica, the acknowledged leader of the Filipino invasion of the US pool circuit in the mid 80’s, kept Filipino hopes flying high in the double elimination event which offers $100,000 to the champion.

Parica’s next opponent is Great Britain’s Karl Boyes, who beat American Charlie Bryant, 11-5.

Sharing the limelight is multiple Southeast Asian Games gold medallist Lee Vann “The Slayer” Corteza, who beat Japanese Yukio Akagariyama, 11-4. The Davao City ace Corteza, the former All Japan 9-Ball Champion, totally dominated his opponent en route to the easy victory.

However, other Philippine bets Roberto “Pinoy Superman” Gomez and Marlon “Marvelous”Manalo were not us fortunate and fell into the losers’ bracket.

The Divisoria, Zamboanga native Gomez, the 2007 World Pool finalist, yielded to Kim Davenport. 10-11, while the Mandaluyong City resident Manalo succumbed to Demetrius Jelatis, 5-11.

Japan based Ramil “Bebeng” Gallego, the pride of Bacolod City was still battling American Jeremy Sossei as of press time.

The 34th US Open 9-Ball Championship, touted as the most prestigious 9-ball event in the world, attracted a total of 256 players this year.