3-Cushion
NIEUWEGEIN - The Dutch three cushion premier league, the Buffalo league, will start this year on Sunday, September 8th for a 22 round competition. The top three ranked teams at the end play for the title of Dutch champion from May 9th, with the numbers two and three in a first meeting for the play-offs, followed by the final match. The reigning champion, L&B Ledermode, can not defend its title under that name. The team with two players left has moved to Maarssen and plays under the name Dekker Keukens. The new teams in competition are 's Lands Welvaren and DKM Tools/Eekhoorn.
The players lists are known now, the closure is on Wednesday, July 31.
The Buffalo league season counts two double weekends: the sixth and seventh round on October 12th and 13th and the last two final and decisive rounds on May 2nd and 3rd, 2020. The important dates in this season include the World Cup in Veghel from 20 to 26th of October, the World championship for women and juniors in Valencia from the 30th of September to the 5th of October and the Masters from the 16th to 19th of January in Berlicum. Two Grand Prix tournaments still are played this year: from September 16 the Grand Prix in Capelle and from November 25 the Grand Prix in Tilburg, after which the final players for the Masters will be known.
The twelve teams for the Buffalo league have now registered with the expected line-ups. The suspended PBA players by the UMB, the world federation, are only allowed to play in the team leagues in the Netherlands and Belgium, because the CEB, according to the statutes, cannot decide on that. CEB President Diane Wild makes it clear: "In all the other countries and federations, like France, Germany, Turkey, Spain and Denmark, PBA players are excluded from all national competitions, including team matches." The twelve teams:
SIS Schoonmaak, The Hague
The Hague team SIS Schoonmaak, which held a team day last weekend in preparation for the competition, is seen as one of the main contenders for the championships. The team led by Cor Trampe finished on top last year after the regular competition, but lost its title in the play-offs. Eddy Merckx is the new leading player. The Belgian world top player replaces Glenn Hofman who has left the team. The ambitions are clear: SIS Schoonmaak is going for nothing less than the title with the team that mostly shows up in the strongest line-up. The play location: Biljartcafé Jorissen.
The players: Eddy Merckx, Jean van Erp, Raimond Burgman, Jeffrey Jorissen, Martien van der Spoel and Herman van Daalen.
The new SIS Schoonmaak line-up on a day of team spirit: Eddy Merckx, Jeffrey Jorissen, Raimond Burgman, Jean van Erp and Martien van der Spoel
HCR Prinsen, Haarlo
Torbjörn Blomdahl returns to the Dutch Premier League, where he was one of the big players for many years in the past. The Swede becomes the second man behind Dick Jaspers in the matches in which he will play. Both players have a crowded international schedule and will be missing a number of rounds. Dinand Prinsen is the team leader, HCR Prinsen the location in Haarlo.
The players: Dick Jaspers, Torbjörn Blomdahl, Eddy Leppens, Jef Philipoom, Anno de Kleine, Raymund Swertz, Jelle Pijl, Roy Zielemans.
Bousema, Lochem
The main part of the team consists of strong foreign players with Murat Naci Coklu and Martin Horn as the most important. Johan Loncelle, who made his comeback last year, immediately developed strongly in the premier division. Ronny Hazenwinkel is the team leader.
The players: Murat Naci Coklu, Martin Horn, Johan Loncelle, Stefan Galla, Gökhan Salman, Wesley de Jaeger, Frans van Schaik, Markus Galla, Sander Jonen, John Schollink.
Dallinga.com, Sluiskil
With Frédéric Caudron as the leading player, the Zeeland team is certainly a candidate for a high ranking. The team leader, Berry Dallinga, has attracted Peter De Backer to strengthen the team if the two leaders have international obligations. De Backer played a striking season in the Premier League last year. Raymond Ceulemans remains one of the players to enjoy the crowd in Dallinga's arena and will certainly play a few matches. The location: Hotel, Café, Restaurant Dallinga in Sluiskil.
The players: Frédéric Caudron, Jean Paul de Bruijn, Peter De Backer, Steven van Acker, Raymond Ceulemans, Marco Janssen, Bart Ceulemans, Berry Dallinga.
Dekker Keukens, Maarssen
The Dane Jakob Haack Sörensen, who shone in the last World Cups, is one of the striking new players in the Premier League. He will be the leading player in the Dekker team. The two remaining players are Gerwin Valentijn and John Tijssens. Jeroen Hoogwerf is the team leader of this year's champion, who left 't Tapperijke in Hoeven and saw three of his important players, Eddy Merckx, Dave Christiani and Peter De Backer leave.
The location is' t Schuurtje in Maarssen.
The players: Jakob Haack Sörensen, Ad Koorevaar, Gerwin Valentijn, John Tijssens, Paul Bruijstens, Henk Blauwblomme.
Danish player Jakob Haack Sörensen, the leading player in the Dekker Keukens team
STZ Zundert
Roland Forthomme remains loyal to his team as the leading player, Sam van Etten is the substitute for Peter Ceulemans. Jan van Kerkoerle, the team leader, occasionally has access to strong foreigners: Nikos Polychronopoulos and Jérôme Barbeillon. The playing location is Biljartcentrum D'n Hoek.
The players: Roland Forthomme, Barry van Beers, Rik van Beers, Sam van Etten, Nikos Polychronopoulos, Jérôme Barbeillon, Frédéric Mottet.
Team Eekhoorn, Oosterhout
Jerry Hermans, the local manager at Camping De Eekhoorn, realized a considerable renovation of his billiard room in the summer months. The room has been expanded by five meters, there is place now for four match tables and two small tables in the arena. With 40 teams in total, De Eekhoorn is one of the biggest billiard locations in the Netherlands. The first team has been strengthened by Peter Ceulemans, who becomes second man behind Frans van Kuyk. Jerry Hermans: "We definitely want to reach the play-offs with this team."
The players: Frans van Kuyk, Peter Ceulemans, Kurt Ceulemans, Jerry Hermans, Jose Maria Mas, Adrie Demming.
't Ivoor, Boxtel
The team that made a strong start in the Premier League last year has expanded its selection with strong new players. Dave Christiani becomes the leader, David Martinez the strong second man. With Therese Klompenhouwer, 't Ivoor has the women's world champion. Emanuel Coort is the team leader in the billiards center that has a club of around one hundred members.
The players in the first selection: Dave Christiani, David Martinez, Thomas Andersen, Cédric Melnytschenko, Huub Wilkowski, Adrian Tachoire, Dustin Jäschke, Therese Klompenhouwer, Jack van Peer, Marc Roofthooft.
Dave Christiani: from the champion team L&B transfered to 't Ivoor
A1 Biljarts, Apeldoorn
The team leader, Addy Wienk, will select from a foreign core with Birol Uymaz and Javier Palazón. The Spaniard played a starring role in the World Cup in Blankenberge which he won this year. Kay de Zwart, Addy Wienk himself and Jordy de Kruijf are the Dutch players in the team selection.
The players: Javier Palazón, Birol Uymaz, Michael Nilsson, Christian Rudolph, Ronny Lindemann, Richard Bitalis, Kay de Zwart, Rudy de Laet.
't Hartje, Oosterhout
The Brabant team has two players from the PBA circuit in the leading positions of whom Glenn Hofman is the new leader and Savas Bulut the number two. Harrie van de Ven, Frank Martens and Davy van Havere seem to be regular players in the team, which also has two routinied players with Martin Spoormans and Ad Broeders. Ton Roovers is the team leader.
The players: Glenn Hofman, Savas Bulut, Davy van Havere, Harrie van de Ven, Frank Martens, Martin Spoormans, Ad Broeders, Ivan Stitschinsky, Ismail Yasin and Murat Gökmen.
DKM Tools/Eekhoorn, Oosterhout
The Eekhoorn's second team made the step to the premier league. Roland Uijtdewillegen is the experienced leader, Joey de Kok one of the young talents in Dutch three cushion. Furthermore, Jack Wijnen and Eddy Willems are certainly players who can handle the level. Jerry Hermans is team leader of this team.
The players: Roland Uijtdewillegen, Jack Wijnen, Eddy Willems, Joey de Kok, Frank Hommering.
's Lands Welvaren, Kwadendamme
The other new team in the premier league plays in Tapperij 's Lands Welvaren, owned by billiard promoter Nico Peeters. Three Belgians form the strong core are: Dirk Weeremans, Ronny Brants and Francis Forton. The second team from Zeeland has the expectation to maintain itself in the mecca of Dutch three cushion. The team leader is Nico Peeters himself.
The players: Dirk Weeremans, Ronny Brants, Francis Forton, Marcel Hopmans, Andy de Bondt.
Belgian Ronny Brants, strong player in the team 's Lands Welvaren.