3-Cushion
PORCIA - The debut of two Belgian top players in the Italian championship three cushion for teams has resulted in a new champion. The favourite Green Planet Gold team with Dani Sánchez and Marco Zanetti was defeated in the final by Billards Cafe with Eddy Merckx and Eddy Leppens: 8-0. That made an end to Green Planet's hegemony at this team championship. The defending champion missed Adnan Yüksel. The Turkish player didn't receive his visa on time.
The decisive matches in the final match were real thrillers. Eddy Merckx had a flashy start against Dani Sánchez with a 25-10 lead in 10 innings. The final phase was exciting, because Merckx missed four times at 39-30 and Sánchez could come back to 40-39 in 19 innings. Eddy Leppens was ahead 11-5 against Marco Zanetti after three innings, but then trailed 28-17 in 10. ,,I could make 9 then and we battled it out to the finish'', said Leppens, who was the best in the final sprint and won 40-37 in 19 innings. The other winners for Billiards Cafe were Emilio Sciacca against Fabio Gaiotti (27-22 in 43) and Francesco Orlando against Daniele Martin (40-18 in 43). For Francesco Orlando, it was a huge success after being defeated in the title race for four years.
The two Belgian champions will not play in the Europe Cup with this team. Eddy Leppens: ,,Maybe next year, but we had to choose before the season for which team we perform. I play with Varde from Denmark in the European Cup, Eddy Merckx with L & B Ledermode from the Netherlands.''
For Merckx and Leppens, who have to play in the Belgian league tonight, the return trip was not that easy. ,,We should arrive in Amsterdam at 14.30, but a luggage car crashed to the plane. They are checking if we can fly anyway.''
Billiards Cafe A won the semi-final at the Italian championship against Revival, including victories by Merckx in 23 innings and Leppens in 24 innings. Sánchez won his match in the other semi final in 18 innings, Zanetti in 24 innings.
The final ranking at the Italian championship:
1 Billiards Cafe A 1.185
2 Green Planet Gold 0.935
3 La Biglia 0.865
4 SB Revival 0.729
5 Billiards Cafe B
6 Break Point
7 Champions Club
8 Accademia del Billardo
9 Playstreet 2.0
10 Porcia Dream Team.
The individual ranking:
1 Dani Sánchez 1.893
2 Eddy Merckx 1,667
3 Marco Zanetti 1.602
4 Eddy Leppens 1.587
5 Emilio Sciacca 0.979
6 Fabrizio Cortese 0.979
7 Salvatore Papa 0.949
8 Alessio d'Agata 0.912
9 Michele Tacchio 0.873
10 Francesco Orlando 0.798.