3-Cushion
ROOSENDAAL - It was Jean Paul de Bruin and his two wins in the play-off matches that tipped the scale. The only player from Zeeland in the team became the saviour who broke De Distel's resistance and took the title holders into the final. They will now face De Heeren-Miller Biljarts on 24 and 25 May.
A full and very engaged room in Roosendaal watched the semi-final return, and was held on the edge of their seats for a long time. The hosts had lost in Sluiskil (5-3 to Dallinga) and had to at least win two of the three matches to stay ahead on caroms made.
But it was Glenn Hofman who made the decisive point, late in the evening. The player from The Hague won his exciting battle with John Tijssens 45-38 in 30 innings, building on the 2-0 head start given to his team by Jean Paul de Bruijn.
The all-rounder from Hulst never gave Gerwin Valentijn a chance to repeat his upset performance of the first encounter. Showing skill and class he built up a solid lead with runs of nine, thirteen and seven. It took innings to put the 50-35 win on the board, but he said later: ,,I have not for a moment tried to make it an open, high-scoring match. I concentrated on a win only, preferably a win by a margin.''
His victory took a bit of pressure off for the title holder, with this 2-0 lead, all they needed was a win from either Eddy Leppens over Jef Philipoom, or a win from Glenn Hofman over John Tijssens. ,,For us, this is not even that bad'', confessed Philipoom during the break. ,,We know what to do: win both matches, go in full attack mode.''
Philipoom had kept Caudron to a draw earlier in the week, and now managed a win over Leppens who is desperately looking for form: 50-39 (38 innings). But that match went through its final points when the decision had already fallen. Glenn Hofman, a spectator during the first semi, turned out to be his team's lucky charm.
Team manager Jan Kikken, with a smile: ,,We are where we are supposed to be. Only one result will do: win the league title as well as the Cup.'' He realizes that a formidable opponent still awaits: there will be a double confrontation with De Heeren-Miller Biljarts.
It is the dream final of the league, with matches like Frédéric Caudron-Dick Jaspers, Eddy Merckx-Eddy Leppens, Frans van Kuyk-Jean Paul de Bruijn and Glenn Hofman-Dick van Uum.
The first encounter is on 24 May in Heerhugowaard, the return on 25 May in Sluiskil.