3-Cushion
QUILMES - The 45-year-old American Pedro Piedrabuena has crowned himself with the gold medal after his strong performance at the Pan American championship in three cushion. In the final match, the player from San Diego, born in Montevideo, defeated Javier Teran from Ecuador 40-36 in 33 innings. It was Piedrabuena's second Pan American title. By his victory, the American climbed on the world rankings to 22nd place.
The tournament was played in Quilmes, Argentina. The Colombian favorites, like Robinson Morales, Alexander Salazar, Huberney Catano, Carlos Campino and Jose Juan Garcia, were eliminated in the run-up to the semi-finals. Only Fernando Diaz reached the last four. He was eliminated by Javier Teran in the shootout after a draw in the regular match (40-40 in 34). Pedro Piedrabuena took the other semi-final against Erick Tellez from Costa Rica 40-22 in 26.
The American star player also won the Pan American championship in 2013, played in Cali, Colombia, where Huberney Catano and Alexander Salazar were second and third on the podium. Another highlight in Piedrabuena's was the victory in New York in 2012. He won the Verhoeven Open that year, Torbjörn Blomdahl was second in the final stage.
The Pan American championship, where 19-year-old Nelson Caro won the junior title, closed the individual tournament with a remarkable stage. Favourites such as Huberney Cataño (loss to Fernando Diaz in the quarter-finals), Robinson Morales (a loss in the sixteenth final against Javier Vera), Jose Juan Garcia and Alexander Salazar (loss in sixteenth final against Huberney Cataño) missed the battle for the medals. Ramon Rodriguez first outplayed Carlos Campino 30-18 in 27, then defeated Juan Cartagena 40-39 in 41 but was eliminated by Erick Tellez. Hugo Patino lost his chances against Argentine veteran Carlos Zarate 40-36 in 31.
Javier Teran played the best match against Carlos Villegas, with a 30-7 win in 13 innings. The Ecuadorian bested Guido Saco in the quarterfinals. Pedro Piedrabuena, multiple American champion, defeated Javier Vera from Mexico in the quarters.
Huberney Catano was leading the field after the first part of the final phase. The Colombian then recorded the best average, 1.500 ahead of Pedro Piedrabuena 1.323, Erick Tellez 1.304, Christian Hernandez 1.267, Carlos Villegas 1.250, Hugo Patino 1.200, Miguel Torres 1.125 and Fabian Oliveto 1.034. Javier Teran was only 21th, Luis Aveiga 17th, Ramon Rodriguez 19th, Robinson Morales 23th.
Before the start of the final match: Pedro Piedrabuena (l) and Javier Teran (r)
Pedro Piedrabuena, the best in the Pan Americans, climbed up on the world ranking