BSAM PRESENTS THE CHEMBUR GYMKHANA BILLIARDS LEAGUE 2017
Serrao helps Catholic Gym emerge billiards champions
06-Jul-2017
Champions...Catholic Decapitare'
Mumbai: Skipper Derek Sippy, Melwyn Mascarenhas and the dependable Car Serrao, all rose to the occasion and were instrumental in CG ‘Decapitare’ (Catholic Gymkhana) emerging champions of the BSAM-The Chembur Gymkhana Billiards League 2017. In the final, Catholic Gymkhana, who started with a combined team handicap of +120 points rallied to brush aside the challenge from MG ‘Partysipants’ (Matunga Gymkhna), who played with a lower handicap of +35, by charging to a 608-553 victory, at The Chembur Gymkhana billiards hall, late on Thursday evening.
However, the star performer for Catholic Gymkhana was once again Serrao, who continued with his fine run of form and produced another impressive performance to outshine Ankit Thakkar in the decisive third frame. Serrao (+40), who required to race to 200 points as compared to Thakkar who had the advantage to score just 182 points, showed good touch and enjoyed a excellent run of the balls.
The Catholic Gym cueist, Serrao, carefully studied the angles and confidently and quite consistently struck the balls with a high-degree of accuracy as he played some long-losers and perfect cannons to accumulate his points as he went on to tame Thakar, who struggled to find his rhythm, by 200-127 points margin to secure the win for his gymkhana. There were not many substantial efforts from both players.
Earlier, seasoned pro Devendra Joshi (-80) provided Matunga Gym with the perfect start defeating Catholic Gym’s Mascarenhas (+30) by a commanding 200-88 margin in the first frame. The 112 points difference helped Matunga Gym wipe out the 85 points handicap which they had given to the opponents and they enjoyed a 27 points advantage.
In the second frame, Sippy (+50) defeated Shailesh Rao (+70) 200-191 to shave off 9 points from Matunga Gymkhana’s advantage, who still carried 18 points handicap going into the deciding third frame.
But, Serrao made light of the handicap with his fine display to clinch the issue and secure the win for Catholic Gym, who are the only unbeaten team in the competition this year. Catholic Gym won all 10 matches, including 6 in the league phase.
Catholic Gym returned home richer by Rs 50,000 and the ‘Champions’ trophy while Matunga Gym received the runners-up trophy and a cash award of Rs 25,000. The two losing semi-finalists, KG ‘Four & Half Men’ and MCF ‘Tough Men’ received a cash prize of Rs 12,500 each. Siddharth Parikh of PJHG ‘Probables’ , who had compiled a break of 193, won the award for the highest break.
Results (finals):
CG 'Decapitare' (+120) beat MG 'Partysipants' (+35) – 608o-553: (Melwyn Mascarenhas (+30) lost to Devendra Joshi (-80) 88-200; Derek Sippy (+50) bt Shailesh Rao (+70) 200-191; Carl Serrao (+40) bt Ankit Thakkar (+45) 200-127).