NU closes in on leader St. Clare

MANILA, Philippines - National University pool aces trailed pacesetting St. Clare College by just eight points in the resumption of the National Collegiate Billiards League also known as B-League at the Star Paper Billiards Center in Quezon City over the weekend.

The Bulldogs swept San Sebastian College 3-0 in their first assignment highlighted by Ron Elbert Licup demolition of Stags’ Lex Amiel Cortez 7-4 in 9-ball single.

After absorbing a close match against another contender Philippine Maritime Institute 1-2, the Sampaloc-based cue artists bounced back downing Letran 2-1 with 8-ball double victory by Licup and Reynaldo dela Fuente tandem against the pair of Jem David and Geona Gregorio 5-1 and de la Fuente’s close win against Gregorio 7-6 in 10-ball to improve its points to 62, trailing leader St. Clare which has 70 points.

With three more elimination playing dates in the league organized by Perry Mariano of Bugsy Promotions and Reli de Leon backed by Accel, H2O Hotel, Manila Ocean Park, Star Publications, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, Negros Billiards Stable, Malungai Life Oil, Niknok Pritson Manok, Hermes Sports Bar, Human Plus, Star Billiards Center, Brunswick, Bugsy Promotions, Mediacom, San Miguel Corporation and GSM Blue, the Bulldogs are confident to make it to the top spot going to the quarterfinal round.

The Saints maintained its hold of the lead, thanks to victories via forfeiture against Centro Escolar University and San Beda followed by 2-1 edging of 9-ball wizard Ritchy Gogo against University of Manila’s John Paul Villanueva 7-5 and 10 ball specialist Vennis Mariano’s domination against Richard Cogen 7-4.

Lyceum and PMI are not far behind with identical 59 slate points to assure themselves for the top 8 along with Far Eastern University (56), Jose Rizal University (53), and University of the East (51). Slugging out for the last quarterfinal seats are Adamson University (46), University of Santo Tomas (43) and Letran (42). University of Manila, Mapua and Fatima will need a major uprising to make it while San Beda, San Sebastian, Don Bosco, DLSU, CEU and Umak will have to go back to drawing board and prepare for a better campaign in the next edition of B-League.

In the junior division, Bugsy protégé and vastly improved RJ Bautista of St. Mary’s of Quezon City led his team’s victory 3-0 against Paco Catholic College to stay in contention for top 4 along with La Salle-Greenhills, Xaviers School and Claret.