3-Cushion
HOOGLEDE – How about that Jef Philipoom. It’s seventeen years since he won the Belgian Cup, he was not even one of the favorites for this edition, his season was okay but unspectacular. But watch out, Jefke showed what he’s capable of in tonight’s match against Eddy Leppens.
Will he be top favorite Frédéric Caudron’s main challenger, now that Eddy Merckx, Roland Forthomme and Eddy Leppens were eliminated? He could well be, judging from the performance he put on this evening. And what a match it was against Eddy Leppens, the best this Cup tournament has seen thus far.
See for yourself.
First set: Eddy Leppens runs a seven, Jef Philipoom makes eleven. From 14-14, Jef finishes in the 4th inning (averages at that time: 3.750 and 3.500).
Second set: Jef Philipoom dominates from the start and wins 15-9 in seven innings (averages at that time, 2.727 and 2.273).
Third set: Jef Philipoom runs a ten in his second inning (it is then 4-4) and misses a bankshot. Eddy Leppens responds with eight (14-12), and both players still get two more chances. Philipoom misses another awkward bankshot but finishes at 15-13 in 5 innings (averages, 2.813 and 2.400).
Jef Philipoom had the edge, as he later explained. ,,For ten years, I hardly ever beat Eddy. Always quality matches, usually finishing 50 -45 or thereabouts. But in recent years, I am the one who always wins: I think I am up 8-2 in the last 10 encounters.’’
Thinking back to the year he won the Belgian Cup: ,,I had beaten Koen Ceulemans, then a strong player, Ludo Dielis, Martin Spoormans, Christian Fossion and in the final Philippe van den Driessche. I made it to one more final, in 2007 against Frédéric Caudron.’’
The lights over the match tables went out after Peter Ceulemans and Pascal Claus had finished their battle for the other semifinal place.
The level of play was lower there, just like the tempo. Outsider Pascal Claus, who played a good tournament and finished with a six to beat Meylemans, had a surprising start to win the first set 15-12.
Peter Ceulemans then scored a bit more consistent, but still not top notch. He levelled the match with a 15-6 (9), took the lead 15-13 (13) and ended a long match in a long final set: 15-14 in 20 innings.
Tomorrow at 11.00 Frédéric Caudron will play Peter Ceulemans and Jef Philipoom will face Peter De Backer. The final is at 15.00.