Manila, Philippines- Team Asia led by Captain Rubilen Amit managed to extend their lead over the West to a margin of 3 matches. Asia came out strong winning the first 3 matches of the day before Team West stopped the bleeding with a win in the triples. Amit and China's World #1 Siming Chen have been instrumental in Asia's success, while USA's Villarreal and Ireland's Corr have had the best performances by far for the West. The AM8.com Queens Cup concludes today with Team Asia going in up 7 to 4 against the West. Asia needs 3 more match wins to clinch the win and successfully defend their title.
The 2015 AM8.com Queens Cup will be airing live nightly on primetime hours of 6:00pm - 10:00pm on ABS-CBN Sports + Action channel. The AM8.com Queens Cup is igniting the greatest rivalry in women's billiards . On April 16-18th, 2015 the second installment of the AM8.com Queens Cup will feature champions vs champions as the best women from Asia will take on the best in the West! Last year, Team Asia dominated Team West during the 3 days of competition. This year the USA & Europe will be looking to even the score. The AM8.com Queens Cup will be hosted by the award winning Resorts World Manila Casino & Hotel and sponsored by Andy Cloth , Aramith Balls, Viking Cue, with live streaming by Red Cube Productions. The Queens Cup is a Dragon Promotions production.
"I'm definitely more tired than usual as the captain has so many more duties. I think it's worn me down some, that's why I might have missed those two 10-Balls tonight", said the demure World Champion Amit. Rubilen is the most successful female athlete in the history of the Philippines, winning 7 gold medals for her country in the past 10 years. Amit had missed two game win chances by missing the final ball. Still, Amit was able to seal two wins of her own for the team.
Team Asia started off very strong again winning the triples 4-2. The next match in singles pitted Barretta against Siming Chen. Barretta had a golden opportunity to take a 2-0 lead, but squandered the opportunites against the World #1 and lost 4-2. The next match with Laurance vs J.Chen was a comedy of errors as both players succumbed to the pressures of the event. In one game, both players had 2 chances at the 10-ball before it went in.
Finally the West was able to stop the bleeding in the triples with Corr and Villarreal backing up the West with some superb firepower. Villarreal has been instrumental playing well and uplifting the team spirits. Corr has been the best player of the event on either sides, playing solid in all her matches with minimal mistakes.
Corr and Barretta were not able to take advantage of the momentum stoppage with Barretta again missing some golden opportunities against Amit & Siming Chen.
"The shot clock is fast at 30 seconds, and not really suitable to my style. I will have to adapt for it tomorrow", said Barretta.
In the final match of the day the 4 on 4, Team West came together once again playing well with some help from errors from Asia's Eunji Park who had a weak performance on Day 2. West won 4-2 which relieves some pressures off of Karen Corr who will go in today first in the singles against Park.
Day 2 Results:
Triples: Corr/Barretta/Laurance 2 vs 4 S.CHEN/ PARK/ AMIT
Singles - Jennifer Barretta(USA) 2 vs 4 Siming Chen (CHN)
Singles - Ewa Mataya Laurance 1 (SWE) 4 vs Jennifer Chen (TPE)
3-on-3 - Corr/ Villarreal/Laurance 4 vs 2 Amit/S.Chen/J.Chen
Doubles - Corr/Barretta 2 vs 4 Amit/S.Chen
4 on 4 - West 4 vs 2 Asia
Day 3 April 18th Line-up Asia vs West:
Singles: Karen Corr vs Eunji Park
Doubles - Corr/Barretta vs Park/J.Chen
Singles -Karen Corr vs Siming Chen (Captains pick)
3-on-3 - Laurance/Corr/Villarreal vs S.Chen/Amit/J.Chen
4-on-4 - All players
Singles - Vivian Villarreal vs Rubilen Amit
Singles - Captains pick
4-on-4 - All players
ABS-CBN Sports + Action will be airing QUEENS CUP 2015 on the following dates :
LIVE
Apr. 16, Thursday at 6:00pm - 10:00pm
Apr. 17, Friday at 6:00pm - 10:00pm
Apr. 18, Saturday at 6:00pm - 11:00pm
REPLAY
Apr. 20, Monday at 2:00pm - 6:00pm
Apr. 21, Tuesday at 2:00pm - 6:00pm
Apr. 22, Wednesday at 2:00pm - 6:00pm
"We started slow, but ended strong again. And tomorrow's line-up is in our favor. We are already doing better than the last Team West from the first Queen's Cup, so we know we are a different team. We can win", said Ewa Mataya Laurance, skipper for the West.
