St. Clare scores two wins in NCBL

MANILA, Philippines - St. Clare Colleges posted twin victories over the weekend, beating La Salle, 3-0, and then nipping Jose Rizal U, 2-1, to keep its unbeaten run in the National Collegiate Billiards League at the Star Billiards Center in Quezon City.

The Saints, one of three squads which cruised to shutout victories in the opener last week, now have eight match points to pace the 19-team field in the inaugural inter-school billiards tournament backed by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, Accel and Negros Billiards Stable.

Philippine Maritime Institute, University of the East, National University, Far Eastern University and Letran share second place with similar seven points, respectively.

JRU and Fatima tote identical six points in nine outings in the tournament backed by H2O Hotel, Manila Ocean Park, Negros Billiards Stable, Malungai Life Oil, Niknok Pritson Manok, Hermes Sports Bar, Human Plus Probiotics, Star Billiards Center, Brunswick, The Philippine STAR, Bugsy Promotions and Mediacom.

SCC’s Ritchie Gogo and Vennis Mariano continued to overwhelm their rivals, staying unbeaten in three matches in 9-ball and 10-ball games, respectively. Only the 8-ball tandem of Kateleen Yoldi and Ellezer Castillo derailed the Saints’ strong start, dropping a 3-5 decision to the Bombers’ Ralph Ivan Rivera and Jomel Tamalla.

In the lone juniors’ match, Xavier School whipped St. Mary’s 3-0, as it underscored its bid in the tournament, known as B-League and organized by Reli de Leon along with Perry Mariano of Bugsy Promotions and Jonathan Sy of Negros Billiards Stable.

Biondi Te opened the Golden Stallions’ bid with a 7-5 win over St. Mary’s’ RJ Bautista while Al Ramos Yeo defeated Baste Montoya via a 7-5 decision. Making it a three-kill for Xavier was the Biondi Te-Ryan Te pair who humbled Karl Tamayo and River Cadiz, 5-2.