3-Cushion
BRUGGE/KORTRIJK - The spotlights in the Belgian team league were on for Pierre Soumagne this week. The 34-year old Frenchman, who returned from a short PBA adventure, played for Zanzibar the best match of his career in the encounter with Henk Blauwblomme, playing for Royal Bruges. The brilliantly playing Soumagne made the 40 caroms in only 11 innings, averaged 3,636 and had a best run of 9. For Blauwblomme, the match ended with a meagre score: 40-8.
That made Soumagne the best winner of the fifth round, followed not so far behind by Eddy Merckx, who claimed victory against Ronny Brants in Kortrijk 40-21 in 14 innings. Biljart Expres won 0-8 in De Mambo facing the team that started the competition as front runner and now has dropped to the middle of the ranking.
Biljart Express and Mr. 100 Lier (7-1 win against TBA Biljartpalace) lead the league with 9 points after five rounds, followed by Op de Meir with 8 and four teams with 5 points. The Belgian team competition is still in its early stages, but the three frontrunners already seem to be the contenders for the title. Biljart Expres is the favorite to prolong the championship. The 8-0 victory in Kortrijk was impressive with a team average of 1,495.
Eddy Merckx met an opponent with two faces. Ronny Brants started 20 in 9 innings, but lost his way after the break, when he made 1 carom against Merckx 23 points with a final rush of 8-3-2-5. Martin Spoormans also showed his skills against Frédéric Beghin, who had not yet lost in this competition. Spoormans started with 23 in 12 and finished with 7 and 4 (40-16 in 25). Philip Vandendriessche was close to victory against Gerwin Valentijn, but missed the match ball, after which the Dutchman could finish with 2.
Mr. 100 Lier and TBA played a match in which almost all games had an exciting finish. Peter Ceulemans and Kay de Zwart tied in 27 innings, Kurt Ceulemans won 40-38 in 33 against Frank Martens, Bart Ceulemans 40-37 vs Hendrickx and Jerry Hermans 40-34 against Ronny Daniels.
BC Den Eik and De Witte Molen are one point further down by the 4-4 they played against each other. Jean van Erp was the most obvious winner against Dirk Weeremans with 40-16 in 23 innings. Francis Forton confirmed his excellent form by winning over Davy van Havere (40-24 in 28) and good-old Richard Bitalis beat Sam van Etten 40-33 in 46.
At Zanzibar, Pierre Soumagne, who is also starring in the Dutch competition, was the celebrated player in Bruges. Roland Forthomme had an off-day facing Steven van Acker and lost 40-23 in 33. Andy de Bondt (wonderful run of 12) was good for 40 in 21 (1,905) against Bart Leys.
Op de Meir won after a narrow escape 3-5 at De Leug. The most captivating match was played on centercourt between Peter De Backer and Johan Loncelle: 40-36. De Backer, who played a draw against Merckx in the Dutch league last Sunday, again excelled in a tactical battle. Loncelle, who started well in all team competitions, has a small slump the last few weeks. Barry van Beers beat Wesley de Jaeger 40-32 in 26, De Groof and Leppens drew 40-40 in 33 innings.