IN a pulsating down-the-wire duel, Taiwanese Ko Pin-yi pounced on Filipino James Aranas’ error in the 21st frame to eke out an 13-11 decision Sunday night and clinch the APF Asian 9-Ball Open crown at the Aspire Recreation Centre in Singapore.
With the score deadlocked at 10-all, Aranas tried to sink the 1-ball in the right corner pocket from long distance, but it rimmed out and the cue ball bounced off the opposite rail then rolled slowly into the same pocket.
This enabled Ko, who trailed 5-6, to clear the rack on the way to reaching the hill first at 12-10 in the race-to-13 series, sealing the deal in the 24th frame by clearing the rack following a near-perfect break.
Ko took home the top prize of SGD $10,000 (roughly P403,000) while earning ranking points in the tournament jointly organized by the British promotions outfit Matchroom and the Asian Pool Federation.
Known by his moniker “Dodong Diamond,” Aranas, who hails from Bacoor, Cavite, settled for the runner-up purse of SGD $5,000 (P201,000) in his best performance since reaching the semifinals of the International 9-ball Open in October 2021 in Norfolk, Virginia.
