3-Cushion
OOSTERHOUT - The best player in the 15th round of the Buffalo league could not help his team out of their slump. Thirty-two year old Gökhan Salman from Turkey played first board for Bousema this weekend, and his match was the highlight of the day.He recorded a wonderful victory over Frans van Kuyk (40-36 in fifteen innings, 2.666 average), but he was the only one in his team to come out on top. Eekhoorn ruled the other three tables and beat the second-to-last team in the league 6-2. Eureka Billard and Medisch Centrum Breda stay in the lead, Dallinga was set back two points as a result of their emphatic defeat against Burgmans Biljarts.
Gökhan Salman, just back from an eight day sponsor tour in Korea for Molinari, played an outstanding match for his team. Frans van Kuyk had the better start, but before halftime he was caught up by a run of nine. Salman: ,,I kept scoring well from that point on, took a 37-23 lead. Frans then made a run of ten, but I could finish with a three: 40-36.''
His strong showing came after a hectic week in Korea, with lots of demonstrations and practice. ,,I did not expect to do this well, because I could only leave from Istanbul on Saturday, where there was snow and the flights suffered delays. I spent an entire day at the airport and arrived late on Saturday evening.''
Salman did well to show what he is worth, in his third match for Bousema. Gökhan: ,,I lost my first and second match, against Peter Ceulemans and Martin Spoormans respectively. The Dutch league is my only foreign leugue, so I am determined to do well. This weekend, I did. Unfortunately, my team did not win as a result. We are still not in a good position.''
Gökhan Salman will again come over, for a double-header weekend. In the other rounds, Bousema hopes to have Murat Naci Coklu and the Galla brothers, as often as possible. This week, they had obligations in the German Bundesliga.
Bousema could not make a fist on the other tables against Eekhoorn: Therese Klompenhouwer lost to Jack Wijnen, 40-28 in 31, Stefan Spilleman had no chance whatsoever against Kenny Miatton (40-26 in 24) and Ronny Hazewinkel was no threat to Jerry Hermans: 40-22 in 36.
At the top of the table, Eureka Billard and Medisch Centrum Breda widened the gap with the competition. Eureka beat 't Hartje 6-2 thanks to an excellent Dave Christiani against Davy van Havere (40-14 in 19) and Raimond Burgman beating Frank Martens 40-26 in 24.
Medisch Centrum Breda won full match points in their away game against TOVV/Royal Pro (6-2). Roland Forthomme just edged Birol Uymaz (40-37 in 29) and Peter Ceulemans recorded a fine win over Martin Spoormans: 40-34 in 25. Frans van Schaik saved the home team's honor when he beat Barry van Beers 40-34 in 34.
Dallinga.com went to Bergeijk to play Burgmans Biljarts, without their two captains, Frédéric Caudron (Bundesliga) and Jean Paul de Bruijn (NK Dutch Nationals in 1-cushion). It cost the team from Zeeland deerly, because three matches were lostn. Rik van Beers was the best player of the evening when he defeated Bar Ceulemans (40-19 in 20). Patrick Vasseur was the only winner for Dallinga: he stayed well ahead of Bert van Manen in a mediocre match (40-28 in 48).
HCR Prinsen had a walk in the park against TOVV2, and the result was 8-0. Jelle Pijl had the best average, he used 22 innings against Ger Windt.
A1 Biljarts, with Eddy Merckx (he also had Bundesliga obligations but managed to drive up and down in time) gave the reigning champions Buffalo a cold shower: 8-0. The players from The Hague all had a bad day. Best winners: Eddy Merckx against Glenn Hofman (40-22 in 18) and Gerwin Valentijn against Jean van Erp (40-30 in 21).