Guzman Outlasts DaBreo in Tri-State Tour Stop
Tri State Tour / Queens, NY
by Skip Maloney
Juan Guzman completed an undefeated day on the Tri-State Tour May 2 by withstanding a strong, one-loss side challenge by Rafael DaBreo in the finals. The $750-added, B-D handicapped, 10-ball event drew 32 entrants to Master Billiards in Queens, NY.
Guzman had a 6-0 run through the tournament bracket, and midway through he was among the winners’ side final four. He sent Michael Harrington west 6-4, as Marco Dy did likewise to Dave Shlemperis 6-2. Guzman sent Dy to the semifinals by the same score and was in the hot seat awaiting DaBreo.
DaBreo, in the meantime, having won his opening two matches before being sent to the one-loss side, was on a five-match comeback trail to the finals. He got by Charles Bromley and Geoff Bauer for the right to meet Shlemperis. Ryan McCarthy was waiting for Harrington. DaBreo and McCarthy dropped Shlemperis and Harrington into the tie for fifth place, respectively, and faced each other in the quarterfinals. DaBreo advanced to the semifinals with a 6-4 win over McCarthy and then duplicated that score in the match against Dy that put him into the finals.
Under the handicap system, DaBreo began the single elimination race to 6 (for him—7 for Guzman) with a game in hand and quickly added two to go up 3-0. Guzman, however, bounced back with four racks in a row to take the lead at 4-3. DaBreo responded with two racks to reach the hill at 5-4, but they were his last. Guzman finished it with three wins in a row to take home top honors.
Juan Guzman completed an undefeated day on the Tri-State Tour May 2 by withstanding a strong, one-loss side challenge by Rafael DaBreo in the finals.
Results:
1st Juan Guzman $700
2nd Rafael DaBreo $350
3rd Marco Dy $200
4th Ryan McCarthy $110
5th Dave Shlemperis $75
Michael Harrington
7th Geoff Bauer $50
Ramon Feliciano
9th Charles Bromley
Trevor Heal
Alexander Rojas
Yomaylin Feliz