Star-Studded Joss Tour Led by Sambajon

By Bill Rosenberger

Joss tournament director Mike Zuglan must be doing something right.  His latest tour stop at Comet Billiards in Parsippany, NJ, not o­nly attracted 55 players but included some of 9-ball's most talented competitors.

Among the top players who competed o­n October 30-31 included travel partners Karen Corr and Julie Kelly from the WPBA, Danny "Kid Delicious" Basavich, and Santos Sambajon Jr.  Zuglan said the field never surprises him.  "I never know who's going to show, but I'm never surprised at the names." 

With all the top players came a lot of spectators who saw great matches both days.  o­ne of Saturday's more interesting matches was between Zuglan and Corr, who recently finished second at the WPBA U.S. Open.  He won 9-8, but said she "plays better than many of the regular guys o­n the tour."

On Sunday, the big matches took center stage.  Sambajon and Zuglan laid their undefeated records o­n the line in the hot seat match, and Sambajon made quick work and won 9-4.

Zuglan and Basavich faced off in the semifinals in what may have been the best match of the day.  With the score tied at 2, and then 3, Basavich stretched out a small lead to 6-4.  Zuglan battled back tie it at 7-all, but Basavich grabbed the next game to lead by o­ne.  In the sixteenth rack, Basavich missed the 4 ball, leaving Zuglan to run out the rest of the match to take the victory 9-8. 

In the final match, Sambajon and Zuglan squared off again in what started as a close match.  Early, the two traded games back and forth, but with the score tied at 2-all, Sambajon took five took five straight racks.  Zuglan managed to run o­ne rack before Sambajon finished him off 9-4.  When asked about his final match with Sambajon, Zuglan replied, "He played the best I've ever seen him play."

Results:
1st Santos Sambajon Jr. $1,600
2nd Mike Zuglan $1,100
3rd Danny Basavich $800
4th George Sansouci $600
5th Mike Davis, Karen Corr $450
7th Joey Korsiak, Joe Tucker $300
9th Tom Walter, Christian Smith, Teddy Garrahan, Jack Weltch $200

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