3-Cushion
HEERHUGOWAARD/SLUISKIL - The championship in the Dutch league for teams will be decided this weekend in a battle between the two finalists. The top teams of the De Heeren/Millers Biljarts and Dallinga/Frans Bevers meet in a match at home and away, the winner can call themselves the Dutch champion.
The Zeeland team of Dallinga/Frans Bevers is the title holder and also won the cup last month in a final match against De Heeren. The two teams are by far the best in the Dutch league as they showed in the competition.
Dallinga/Frans Bevers plays with Frédéric Caudron, Eddy Leppens, Jean Paul de Bruijn and Glenn Hofman and will perform in a new line-up next year.
De Heeren/Millers plays with Dick Jaspers, Eddy Merckx, Frans van Kuijk and Dick Uum. The team was saved by Dirk Snip and played in Grand Café De Heeren in Heerhugowaard after Partycentre Osdorp had to close its doors. This team will not show up under this name next year. The line-up will be changed.
On Saturday, 24th of May, is the first match of the play-offs final in Grand Café De Heeren in Heerhugowaard. The return is on Sunday at Hotel Cafe Restaurant Dallinga Sluiskil. This match in Sluiskil will be broadcast live on Kozoom.
We look forward to the decisive match with Dirk Snip, team leader of De Heeren.
Kozoom/Frits Bakker: How did you prepare for the playoffs? The team was a bit in trouble in the semifinals, but you have confident now for the final battle?
Dirk Snip: ,,I think we're ready, they players are eager to win. We obviously were in a good position after the first match in Zundert, but at home we needed a tough fight to achieve a good result. The same will happen in the match against Dallinga, that's clear for me. Starting point is: we only play for GOLD.''
Kozoom/FB: That's the main goal: a farewell in style for the team and for you.
Dirk Snip: ,,A Dutch championship is special for everyone. Also for players like Dick Jaspers and Eddy Merckx, who already have won many beautiful titles. I've already done a lot in the billiard sport, but a title with my team in the major league would be a great experience. It feels a bit like a sneaky title, because actually Sander (Jonen) would have had to finish the job. However, if it still is, I 'm going to enjoy it too.''
Kozoom/FB: What does it mean to you, that the team will disappear after these playoffs?
Dirk Snip: ,,There is no heartfeeling. I have realized from the first moment that it would be difficult to continue. I 'm very busy with my business and don't have so much time. This job, actually, came my way and I've done it with great pleasure. We knew on before hand that Dick and Eddy already had other plans for next year.''
Kozoom/FB: What are those few months expire? The guys have picked it up very good... and quite some audience for the home games?
Dirk Snip: ,,We had a very pleasant time with the boys and the local holder. I knew them already, of course, a number of years. That makes communication a lot easier. I have noticed that the role of team leader is a very stress job during tense moments (final cup). You are so eager to win, but it's all in the hands of the players. And that's better. The audience was very good, I think we had a hundred men for our home matches. And this weekend I think it will be more. That's also great for the owners of the billiard center.''
Kozoom/FB: What do you expect from the double with Dallinga: who is, in all honesty, your favorite to win?
Dirk Snip: ,,It will be an exciting duel. I should just be honest and say that Dallinga is favorite. But we all know that billiards is a strange game and that all players can win from each other. Eventually, Dallinga was the best in the league over a whole season. I myself am not in favor of play-offs, but now that we have a chance at the title, we are going for it. I wish both teams good luck.''
Kozoom/FB: What will Dirk Snip do in billiards after this adventure, something new coming up?
Dirk Snip: ,,I'm going to do the things I always did, after this season. Play in the first Division with my mates from the Dirk Snip Billiards team. Billiards will always be my sport. And last but not least... my family. I will undoubtedly organize something, but at the moment there are no concrete plans. I just need to make sure that I will not fall down a black hole, after this exciting, but very nice job as a team leader. I would like thank Dick, Eddy, Frans and Dick for the pleasant cooperation, Edith Miller as the owner of the billiard center and all teammates of the three cushion club De Heeren who helped us do finish this job.''