Guevarra trips Ortega, pockets snooker crown

MANILA, Philippines - Benjie Guevarra staked his claim as the country’s top snooker player when he ruled the 6-Red snooker event of the Snooker and Carom Challenge at the Billiards and Snooker Congress of the Philippines Academy at Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila Sunday.

Gueverra, the 2007 SEA Games silver medalist in the event, dominated James Al Ortega in the finals en route to a 4-1 victory to pocket the top prize of P4,000.

“It’s been a long time since we had a snooker tournament and I’m glad I won this one. This is a good preparation for the SEA Games,” said the 30-year-old Guevarra, a Bugsy and national team mainstay and member of the Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines (BMPAP).

Guevarra took the first three frames with a 42-point average against Ortega’s 17.6 points.

Ortega, a SEA Games bronze medal winner, foiled Guevarra in the fourth frame but dropped the next, enabling Guevarra to clinch the title.