Perez Chalks Up Tri-State Tour Victory

By Todd Fleitman

The Tri-State Tour hosted a "C"-"D" handicapped 9-ball tournament at Olympia Billiards in Queens, NY, o­n Saturday, September 25, which ended with a conclusive final match as Anthony Perez battled back through the o­ne-loss side to oust Brenda Heras 8-4.

In the beginning, it was Heras who couldn't be beaten, blitzing through the winners' side.  Her victories included a 6-5 win against Perez, along with another five victories. 

Douglass Rhee, who won his first match, became another Heras victim in his second match, sending him to the left side of the chart.  Rhee and Perez fought throughout the brutal bracket to eventually face o­ne another in the semifinals.  Both men were not o­nly playing for a shot in the final but for another chance at Heras.  The hill-hill match saw both make superb shots, but ultimately Perez secured the 6-5 victory.

The final match between Heras and Perez was a much-anticipated o­ne for the spectators and the players themselves.  o­ne final victory would give Heras an undefeated sweep of the tournament, while a victory for Perez would seal an extraordinary comeback capped off by a win against the person who sent him to the o­ne-loss side.

Perez asserted himself right way, going up 4-1.  But Heras didn't give up, winning four of the next five games.  Up 5-4, Perez caught a gear and took off, claiming the 8-4 tournament victory.

Results:

1st Anthony Perez

2nd Brenda Heras

3rd Douglass Rhee

4th Tom Tomasovic