Brillantes tops Predator-Volturi 9-Ball Cup 2020 tournament

WILLIAM BRILLANTES outclassed Matt Ablaza, 8-2, to rule the Predator-Volturi 9-Ball Cup 2020 tournament held at the AMF-Puyat Makati Cinema Square, Makati City over the weekend.

Brillantes, a former chess player turned cue artists had an awesome start displaying superb pocketing control to nail a 7-1 lead. Ablaza tried to mount a comeback by scoring another rack for a 2-7 score. However, an empty break of Ablaza in the 10th racks allowing Brillantes to clean up the table to secure the victory.

“Luckily the ball always favors me,” said Brillantes, a chess student of International Master Roderick Nava.

Brillantes bagged the P40,000 top purse and Ablaza the P20,000 consolation prize.

The 33-year-old Brillantes, a Computer Science graduate at Cavite State University in made it to the finals by ousting Ge Novales in the last-64, Bryan Flores in the last-32, Darwin Canapi in the last-16, Jaime Evangelista in the quarterfinals and AJ Manas in the semifinals.

“The Predator-Volturi 9-Ball Cup 2020 tournament holds the record for the most number of pool player in an amateur pool tournament — 242 — which it achieved in the Predator-Wilde Blu 10-Ball Cup 2019.” said Makati Pool Players Association (MAPPA) President Arvin John “Bambino” T. Arceo.

The Predator-Volturi 9-Ball Cup 2020 tournament is proudly presented by Makati Pool Players Association-MAPPA and is sponsored by Volturi Custom Cases PH and Predator Cues. — Marlon Bernardino