Pagulayan tops US 9-Ball tiff

MANILA, Philippines - Former world pool champion Alex Pagulayan held off American Mitch Ellerman, 11-6, in the final game to complete a sweep of the 15th Annual Jay Swanson Memorial Tournament at the Hardtimes Billards in Bellflower, California over the weekend.

It was Pagulayan’s second straight victory in as many weeks as he also ruled the 9-Ball Banks event of the Derby City Classic in Louisville, Kentucky.

The Fil-Canadian cue master went undefeated, highlighting his title romp with an escape win over Tommy Tokoph of Arizona, 7-6, who crumbled under pressure on a hill-hill match and missed what had appeared to be an easy shot on the 9-ball.

Pagulayan took the top $3,000 purse.

Against Ellerman, Pagulayan raced to a 9-3 lead but missed clinching it outright when he muffed a 9-ball shot on the corner pocket. Ellerman took the cue and won three straight racks but lost in a duel of safeties on the 17th rack to concede the title.