Top 16 cast now complete in The Fisherman's Net 9-ball

The Final 16 cast has already been completed in the 1st The Fisherman's Net Class B 9-Ball Championships at The Fisherman's Net restraurant and sports bar in Brgy. Lahug, this city.

Among those who marched into the knockout stage were Joel Malaki, Roel Aclao, Jemy Scheick, Chong Ortiz, Paul Monera, Lito Diga, Achilles Navarro and Nicholas Arriba.

Malaki eked out a 5-4 win over Ariel Co before dispatching Andres Abay, 6-2, while Aclao went through the same script against Alan Milan, 5-4, and Keith Manayon, 6-2.

Scheick blasted Uly Samson, 5-3, and Billmie Arcenal, 6-3, Ortiz sent Larry Diga (5-2) and Xander Cruz (6-1) packing, while Monera blanked Oliver Yap, 5-0, before kicking out Raffy Nash.

Lito Diga, on the other hand, bested Noriel Pagador, 5-1, before scraping through a 6-5 cliffhanger over Maxwell Bernadez, Navarro pulled victories over Edward Borinaga, 5-3, Alan Cortez 6-4, while Arriba slammed Michael Mendez, 5-3, and Leo Colina, 6-4.

They will be joined into the next round by early qualifiers Boots Agusto, Jay Ian Bihag, Eric Baguio, Brian Yap, Antonio Cose, Noel Causing, John Albert Refulle and Undo Oco.

Tournament director Dickoy Ramirez said the top 16 players will gather this Tuesday for the championship round starting at 4:30 pm.

The champion in the four-day poolfest will take home P10,000, while the second and third will get P5,000 and P3,000, respectively. The fourth to eighth placers will receive a consolation prize of P500 each.