3-Cushion
TURNHOUT - The billiard room will be too small for all the fans to watch the big clash on the final day of the season. Biljart Express and De Ploeg will meet next week on Tuesday in a home match for De Ploeg. The bouncer of the league must designate the champion.
Biljart Express still leads the rank one week from the end, with 31 points, De Ploeg is one point behind. Both teams won this week on Monday night. De Ploeg 7-1 against BC Lugo, Biljart Express at home 5-3 against KBC Zanzibar.
The difference thus remains as it was. De Ploeg must win the decider in order to grab the championship, Biljart Express can afford itself a draw to finish as the big winner. It will be a full house and a madhouse,'' Jef Philipoom from De Ploeg predicts.
The tension has been further increased in recent weeks. Martin Horn a strong impression this week against Steven Buelens (50 in 28), Jef Philipoom showed himself almost as strong against Henk Habraken and sparkled with a run of ten. Jean van Erp seemed not very fit (he felt a bit sick) and was beaten by Kay de Zwart, who shone as well in the Netherlands on Sunday. Wesley de Jaeger was in a good form against Marc Janssen, whom he defeated in 24 innings.
Frans van Kuyk was for a few weeks the best man in the team of Biljart Express. On this Monday the Dutchman could not find his rhythm against Roland Forthomme, who won 50-40 in 46 innings.
But in this final phase, the other players in the team stood up. Gerwin Valentijn did it with a great victory over Jimmy Mues (50-18 and a run of thirteen), Martin Spoormans against the young Kenny Miatton with a four points lead at the end and Guy Litsenborg took an important matchpoint against Maarten Janssen in an otherwise excellent match (42-42 in 29 innings).
But who's gonna grap the title next week, who's gonna drink champagne with the fans at the end of a grueling competition? That's the big question. Biljart Express or De Ploeg. The other teams can follow the battle from a distance. BC Deurne has finished as third, KBC Zanzibar as fourth in the rankings.
There's nothing known about the relagation so far, because the teams of Quality Zele and 't Lammeken are supposed to withdraw after the last match.