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FINAL: LATEST SCORE: PHILIPPINES B 11-9 GERMANY (RACE TO 11 RACKS)
PHILIPPINES B have won the 2009 PartyCasino.net World Cup of Pool.
The pairing of Francisco Bustamante and Efren Reyes defeated the German duo of Thorsten Hohmann and Ralf Souquet 11-9 in an incredible final full of twists, turns of drama.
It was a fitting way to end a sensational tournament that has featured 32 teams from 31 different nations competing over six days of fantastic pool.
This was the first time the event had been staged in Asia and all of the matches were played in front of large crowds.
There were about 2,000 people watching the final from every vantage point possible at the SM City North Annex in Manila.
Each match of the competition was shown either on CS9 or Solar Sports and the viewing fans, along with the spectators in the capacity crowd were treating to a sensational three-hour epic final.
Philippines made a bright start and led 3-1 and 5-2 before Germany fought back and were in front 7-5, 8-6 and 9-8. However, Reyes and Bustamante, who also won the inaugural event in 2006, won the last three racks in a row to become the first team to win the competition twice.
"We are very happy because we thought we were lucky," said an elated Bustamante. "When they were leading we thought we were going to lose as the score was 9-7 and they were still playing easy run outs.
"Thorsten's miss on the 5 ball meant we got lucky and that changed everything. We are very proud to have won this tournament twice.
"We didn't think we would get into the final but when we beat China, Efren said 'we will win this tournament'. We don't play much together normally then we came together for the World Cup and it's amazing that we have won but it was very tough."
Defeated Ralf Souquet could not hide his disappointment at the outcome.
"We should have won easily, 11-6, but it was just the way the match went but that's the way it is. There is nothing you can do about it," said a dejected Souquet.
"We had enough chances, and I'm very very disappointed we didn't win. To be honest I still don't believe that it was a fantastic match as both teams made a lot of errors, but it was very dramatic for the spectators and there was a lot of tension for both teams," he added.
MINUTE-BY-MINUTE BLOG
FINAL: LATEST SCORE: PHILIPPINES B 11-9 GERMANY (RACE TO 11 RACKS)
PHILIPPINES WIN THE 2009 PARTYCASINO.NET WORLD CUP OF POOL
9.19pm: Bustamante sinks the 8-ball and Reyes has a straight shot to win the title. AND HE MAKES IT. PHILIPPINES WIN THE 2009 PARTYCASINO.NET WORLD CUP OF POOL
9.18pm: The 6-ball goes next, Reyes pots the 7-ball and it is fine for the 8-ball.
9.17pm Hohmann leaves the pink 4 out in the open but there is still a lot to do. Bustamante pots it, Reyes sinks the 5-ball. This could be it.
9.16pm: Philippines are now back at the table six balls from the title. Bustamante opts to play safe on the pink 4, they get a fortunate roll and Germany are hooked.
9.14pm: Germany are hanging on by the skin of their teeth. One misjudged shot, even by the narrowest of margins could see them lose.
9.13pm: Both sides are producing some wonderful safety shots. Any mistake now could be fatal. Hohmann leaves a makeable 1-2 combination and Reyes makes it.
9.10pm: Bustamante looks to have just about covered the 1-ball by the narrowest of margins so Souquet plays safe. Quite effectively too.
9.06pm: Reyes makes a dry break and it is tight and dramatic.
9.03pm: They are four balls away from a 10-9 lead but Souquet adds to the drama by failing to pot the 6-ball. Efren does and for the second time entertains the crowd with some rubbish dancing. Moments later Bustamante sinks the 9-ball. Philippines one rack from the title. Germany have to sit and pray.
8.58pm: What a final. Philippines come up with a dry break in the tenth and a makeable one-ball sees Germany looking at the hill.
8.52pm: Reyes makes a fine kicked bank shot on the 4-ball, leaves a tight safety and Souquet leaves the 5-ball hanging. This time a mistake from Souquet is punished as the 9-ball falls into the middle of the pocket. 9-9. Who ever wins two more rack first will be the champions.
8.45pm: Hohmann's miss on the 5-ball changes the course of the match again. Philippines win the rack but still trail by one. 8-9 is now the score in Germany's favour.
8.40pm: The German break in the next is contentious as one of the balls only just goes over the line. The Philippines players say it is not legal but referee Michaela Tabb disagrees. Philippines don't get the ball in hand they want. Their mood does not get any better as Bustamante misses the 1-ball.
8.31pm: But there is yet more drama. Germany should be moving two clear but Souquet tries to do too much with the cue ball looking for position for the 9-ball but in doing so misses the 8-ball. Reyes pots the 8-ball after the crowd have chanted his name. The supporters then chant Bustamante's name as he faces what should be a simple 9-ball. The chants turn into dismay as Bustamante misses the 9-ball and he slams his cue into the floor in frustration. Souquet sinks the 9-ball and every player is pumped up. Souquet punches the air, no doubt relieved that his earlier miss does not prove costly.
8.28pm: Bustamante comes to the table facing danger but a two-rail escape not only hits the 3-ball but also pockets it. The great shot is immediately invalidated as Reyes fails with a shot at the pink 4.
8.27pm: Souquet drops a clanger on the red three, Reyes leaves a good safety but Hohmann gets out of it.
8.26pm: It is not punished at this visit but Bustamante leaves a routine jump shot. The Germans pocket it but have no luck as the ball cannons into the three and pushes it safe.
8.23pm: A top drawer safety battle follows until Reyes leaves a full ball shot on the 2-ball.
8.18pm: He opts to play safe instead.
8.13pm: Again it is a tense start to the 16th rack. Any mistake now from either side could cost them the World Cup. A fortunate pot on the 1-ball set up a potential rack-winning 2-9 combination for Hohmann.
8.11pm: There is another twist as they miss the 4-ball. Reyes later gives the home fans something to cheer about for the first time in a while. The 9-ball goes into the side pocket and the gap is back down to one.
8.10pm: But the Germans are in great form and a kicked bank shot from Hohmann pots the 3-ball. A rash shot later by Bustamante gives Germany a good chance on the pink 4.
8.09pm: Reyes makes a three-rail escape and it's a wonderful shot as the cue ball is now hidden behind the 9-ball and 4-ball.
8.08pm: It is a good break from the Germans but they end up playing safe on the red 3.
8.03pm: Souquet moves Germany two ahead for the first time in the match by potting the 9-ball. If he or Hohmann do that three more times then they will be lifting the cup.
8.00pm: This rack is a comedy of errors as Reyes misses the 5-ball.
7.58pm: Germany look well place but Hohmann fails when trying to roll the red 3 down the side rail.
7.51pm: Reyes pots the 1-ball but Bustamante misses the 2-ball.
7.50pm: The German dry break leads to a safety from Bustamante. The 1-ball is hidden behind the 2 and 7 balls. and Hohmann leaves the edge of the ball showing.
7.49pm: Philippines can only leave themselves in trouble and that provides the spur for the Europeans to regain their lead in this topsy-turvy clash. Their was one moment of panic for Germany though as they nearly scratched when potting the 8-ball. But they don't, the 9-ball is pocketed and it is 7-6 to Germany.
7.48pm Hohmann makes it and Souquet applies a mean snooker.
7.47pm: A superb safety shot from Souquet leaves the home outfit in trouble. Bustamante's two-rail escape hits the 1-ball but leaves it as a potential pot.
7.46pm: Reyes's break is an illegal one. Germany have a conference and planning their strategy.
7.45pm: The Filipino team are back from a toilet break and it's now rack 13. Will it prove to be an unlucky one for one of the sides.
7.37pm Reyes, for the third time, makes a poor shot as he misses the 6-ball. But he gets away it with it as Hohmann then does likewise. The pressure is getting to everyone. The team that keep their composure will win the cup. Reyes underhits the positional shot from 8 to 9 but Bustamante, a tad fortunately, downs the 9-ball. 6-6.
7.35pm: The German lead is under threat in the next as Souquet leaves the 1-ball on for Reyes.
7.32pm: Bustamante is at fault when he leaves the orange 5 on into the bottom corner and Germany, for the first time in the final, move ahead. This is the third thrilling match of the day and the capacity crowd have been treated to some great entertainment today.
7.30pm: Hohmann's foul in the next gives Philippines ball-in-hand with a busy table in front of them.
7.27pm: The tension increases as Germany win the next one and after ten exciting rack we are all level and it is in effect a race to six match. 5-5.
7.20pm: It is now 5-4. So hold on tight and prepare for many thrills and spills. This could well be a rollercoaster end to an amazng tournament.
7.15pm: But Reyes misses the brown 7 as Philippines were eyeing up restoring their three-rack advantage. The legend's face appears sagging with tension after that miss.
7.14pm: Philippines get the advantage from the following safety contest.
7.11pm: Dry break from Souquet in the ninth.
7.09pm: But nothing is straight-forward in pool and Bustamante misses the green six and that enables Germany to bring the score to 5-3. It certainly looks a lot better for them than 6-2 would have done.
7.08pm: A dry break from Reyes means Germany can put a different complexion on this match. However, Hohmann then goes in-off and Philippines look set for a 6-2 advantage.
7.05pm: Phlippines had led 3-0 in the early stages and now once again were three in front again. Bustamante downs the 9-ball. 5-2.
7.03pm: The Europeans lose the table early in the seventh rack and Philippines take care of that rack. 4-2.
6.55pm: Germany run out the fifth from the break and have reduced the deficit to only one. 3-2.
6.43pm: Germany get off the mark and the score in the 2009 PartyCasino.net World Cup of Pool is now 3-1.
6.41pm: Bustamante makes a great pot on the 1-ball but leaves Reyes with no position on the 2-ball. He then leaves a straight pot into the bottom right pocket and Germany could be winning their first rack of the final shortly.
6.40pm: Bustamante's break is an illegal one, Germany pass back the table and Reyes pushes out. That leaves an intense, high-quality safety battle with none of the players daring to make a mistake.
6.35pm: Reyes sinks the 8-ball and leaves it perfectly for Bustamante. The 9-ball follows and the Philippines are 3-0 up.
6.32pm: Souquet escapes from a tight snooker but can only leave the 2-ball on. The crowd are in good voice and the Philippines B are dealing with huge amounts of pressure... so far.
6.27pm: Hohmann, shooting into a blind pocket, misses an attempt on the brown 7, and gets a consoling pat on the back from his team-mate. With only three balls left on the table Philippines have a great chance to finish off the rack and do so. 2-0 Philippines.
6.23pm: The Philippines break is called illegal by the referee as one ball is pocketed and only another one goes past the headstring. Bustamante, not sure of the rules, complains but Michaela is absolutely correct.
6.20pm: Philippines, to the delight of the majority of the support, take the lead as Reyes pots the 9-ball. 1-0 to the hosts.
6.17pm: Germany (Thorsten Hohmann and Ralf Souquet) win the lag and have the first opportunity in the final. The Philippines B side of Efren Reyes and Francisco Bustamante will have to wait. But it is not long before Souquet misses the pink 4.
6.15pm: Current IBF Light-Flyweight Champion Brian Viloria goes to make the ceremonial first break. However, he miscues and slices the ball. After a quick lesson from Francisco Bustamante Brian's shot hits its target.
6.10pm: To say it is carnage here would be an understatement. There most be 2,000 people desperately trying to see any of the action of the final. Every seat is taken, we're ten deep round the side of the arena and at least five deep on the balcony above the arena.
