Carom
NEW YORK - Pedro Piedrabuena from San Diego has won in New York 6th American title in a final against Hugo Patino. The number one of the USA. rankings prolonged his title, which he won six times in total, of which the last three in a row. Piedrabuena bested Patino in the final game 40-24 in 31 innings.
The multiple USA champion remains therefore the most consistent of his country fellows, of whom Hugo Patino, Mazin Shooni, Jae Hyung Cho, Lupe Cruz and Miguel Torres are his main competitors.
The American championship resulted in a final battle with eight players: Pedro Piedrabuena defeated Mazin Shooni, Hugo Patino won the duel with Lupe Cruz, Miguel Torres defeated Sergio Hernandez and Jae Hyung Cho bested Jamie Israel.
The eight players had qualified in the last round of selection.
Pedro Piedrabuena and Jae Hyung Cho played the best match in the tournament in the semi-finals: 40-30 in 15/14 innings (2.667/2.143). Hugo Patino beat Miguel Torres in the other semi-final 40-27 in 30 innings.
In the last qualification rounds, Jae Hyung Cho was group winner with 1.277 average ahead of Jamie Israel with 0.831. In that group Young Yull Lee, Jim Shovak and John Cristiano were eliminated.
Hugo Patino won his group with 1.237. Sergio Hernandez (0868) was second, Michael Kang, Thang Le and Tom Rossman could not qualify.
Miguel Torres was the best in his group with 1.121 ahead of Lupe Cruz (0.786). Brian Haff, Carlos Hallon and Tony Ferrara were outplayed.
Pedro PiedrabBuena was the winner in his group with 1.223. Mazin Shooni was second aehaed of, Sonny Cho, Jim Bishop and Ellis Lawrence.
Piedrabuena lost one match in the preliminary round, against Jim Bishop 30-25 in 27. The later champion won the decisive duel with Mazin Shooni 30-18 in 15 innings.