Unknown teener tops Junior Pool Championship

Mark Aristotle Mendoza, an 18-year-old from Mandaluyong City, won the inaugural staging of the BSCP Magnolia Philippine Junior Pool Championship late last Sunday (September 23) at the Rizal Memorial Billiards Center. According to statement issued on Monday by the Billiards and Snooker Congress of the Philippines (BSCP), Mendoza beat Jordan Legaspi of Bocaue, Bulacan, 11-3. Besides taking the national junior title, Mendoza won the top prize of P50,000 and the right to represent the Philippines in the 2007 World Pool Association (WPA) World Junior Pool Championship to be held from November 27 to 9 in Willengen, Germany. Relegated to the losers' bracket on the second day of competition, Mendoza stormed back in the semis and finals. In the cross-over semifinals, he beat the erstwhile unbeaten 15-year-old Johann Chua, 11-7, leading at one time 10-3. For his part, Legaspi got into the finals through impressive wins in the losers' bracket. He beat John Cerna 11-7 in the other semifinals. In the finals, Mendoza barely committed an error as he ran out open tables, played strong safeties, and showed exceptional pocketing skill. He raced to an early 6-2 lead and never looked back. Legaspi, who had been strong throughout the tournament, wilted under the onslaught. In the rubber match for third place, Cerna bested Chua 11-10. Legaspi took home P25,000, Cerna P15,000, and Chua P7500 for placing second, third, and fourth respectively. The outcome of the three-day competition surprised even BSCP officials with its wealth of undiscovered talent among players 19 years old and below. Several known and favored teenage players like Renemar David, Mike Takayama, and Jech Limen were taken down by players who have been relative unknowns. Completing the top eight players of tournament were Sean Malayan, Patrick Gonzales, Michael Mengorio, and Alvin Punzalan. "This tournament was a revelation for us," BSCP chairman Yen Makabenta said. "A total of 64 players joined the competition, and almost everyone of them had a lot of game to show. I believe we have a good base to build on for the future of Philippine pool." - GMANews.TV