“The Lion” Alex Pagulayan is King of the Jungle, in Vegas

“The Lion” is King of the Jungle, in Vegas!!! Snaps off the Pool World Masters as well as wins the Action Challenge over Shane Van Boening! Former World Champion “The Lion” Alex Pagulayan earned $20K last Sunday night at the Riviera Hotel and Casino in snapping of the World Pool Masters. He also follows up with major win defeating 2007 US Open 9 Ball Champion Shane Van Boening.

In the final match, it was looking like it was all Mika Immonen as he was looking very dominant. “The Ice Man” has stepped up his game of late as he has been placing consistently in the top 5 in recent events. Alex was down 6-3 in the match, and was thinking to himself that it was a repeat of the World Pool Masters in 2006, but lost to Ralf Souquet.

But what proved to be the turning point of the match “The Ice Man” Mika Immonen, broke and made an illegal break as he only had 2 balls pass the headstring. “The Lion” Alex Pagulayan then showed Vegas who was the King of the Jungle as he wins the next 5 consecutive racks for the World Pool Masters Title.

“The Lion” Alex Pagulayan reprieved himself from his last “Action Challenge” match up vs 2007 US Open Champion Shane Van Boening. In a 3 day marathon race to 100 Challenge Match, Shane had Alex buried at one point by as much as 22 games down as it looked like Shane was going to easily cruise to the win.

Alex showed the fans who were watching it on TAR, as well as all of the people who were watching the match in person, what it is to have the heart of a Lion. After the first day the score was 30-24 Shane. On the second day, Shane incrementally increased his lead to 70-63.

On the third and final day of the race to 100, Alex at one point was down 22 games and was clearly on the ropes. In an impressive turn of events, Alex came out of his corner with a clever combination of tactical play, like a seasoned boxer looking to grind back points… and when saw opportunities to strike, started to combine racks like carefully placed punches.

Alex slowly grinded back to being 90-85 down, when Alex like an angry Lion in the jungle started to tear up his opponent in the field of battle. “The Lion” roared back to take the lead 99-92, and while Shane gave his fans some hope as he won the next two games 99-94, it just wasn’t enough to stop the momentum that Alex built up.

Alex Pagulayan proved to be the “Lion” in the Vegas jungle as he closed out the 2007 US Open 9 Ball Champ and last years former 10 Ball World Champion 100-94.

Pagulayan Wins PartyPoker Masters

Alex Pagulayan is the 2008 PartyPoker.net World Pool Masters Champion as he came from behind to beat Mika Immonen 8-6 in the front of a packed crowd at the Riviera Hotel, Las Vegas .

The Filipino was 6-3 down at one stage and looking in severe trouble but the match turned on an illegal break by Immonen whereby he pocketed a ball but failed to carry two other balls past the headstring.

From there Pagulayan cleared to table to gain the necessary momentum and he became stronger over the closing stages to take victory.

“This was like winning the World Championship for me. I’ve always wanted it but I’ve finally broken the ice, “ said a jubilant Pagulayan.

“This is 9 ball and I couldn’t get too upset because I didn’t get a chance. I thought if he runs the set, then he runs the set but I knew that if I got a chance I would need to focus and concentrate and do the best I can.

“I really didn’t think I’d won it until the last 9 ball dropped but there were lots of people who like me watching and that was good for me to have that support,” he added.

Pagulayan made two balls from the opening break of the final and although Immonen got to the table, the diminutive Filipino took the rack for the early lead.

In contrast to the earlier semi-finals, there was another break that produced three balls but Pagulayan could not capitalise as he missed the 2 ball. Immonen took advantage to run out and level it.

A golden break from Immonen, as the cue ball kicked the 9 ball home, saw Immonen take the lead and he almost did the same again in the fourth, as the 9 ball hung in the pocket. The Finn pocketed the 1 ball and then made an easy 2/9 combination to go 3-1 ahead.

The 1 ball rolled into the corner pocket off the next break but Immonen made a bad miss on the 3 ball as he seemed to hit it too hard.

Pagulayan over hit his shot as he ran out of position on the 4 ball but he redeemed the situation with an excellent cut, gaining good shape on the 5 ball. From there he ran out to take the score to 3-2 to Immonen.

The Filipino made a schoolboy error in the next as he hit the 4 ball prior to hitting the 2 and with ball in hand, Immonen ran out to restore his two rack lead at 4-2.

The Finn took the next rack to move to 5-2 and all the pressure was now on Pagulayan. He responded well as he ran the next rack to reduce arrears.

There was disappointment for Pagulayan though as he scratched off the break in the next. The balls were laid out nicely and Immonen completed an easy run out to take his lead to 6-3.

Immonen made an illegal break in the next as he pocketed a ball but did not bring the requisite two others past the headstring. The punishment of loss of visit allowed Pagulayan back to the table and he made a tidy run out to get within two of Immonen.

Now playing with renewed vigour, he delivered a good break that gave him a chance to get right back into it and he duly responded as a break and run took him to within a rack of Immonen. Now on a roll, Pagulayan broke and ran the 12^th rack to draw level at 6-6.

Breaking from the centre of the table, Pagulayan deposited the 1 ball into the centre pocket and played a fine long reverse cut to down the 2 ball. In the zone now, Pagulayan completed his fourth rack in a row to move to the hill at 7-6.

Just when he needed some luck, Immonen returned to the table as Pagulayan scratched on the break as he drew the cue ball into the pocket.

There was disaster for Immonen as he drew the cue ball all the way down table and into the corner pocket as he went from the 1 ball to the 2.

With ball in hand, Pagulayan worked his way through the table and as he planted the 9 ball, he let out a yell of joy as he became 2008 PartyPoker.net

“It was brutal, why did it have to happen there?” said a disappointed Immonen.

“I was able to get a good lead but the illegal break was the real turning point as it gave him the opportunity to get back in it.

“He had some nice layouts but he played well and probably deserved to win. But that’s the way it is sometimes. I’m getting more consistent and the No.1 spot will come sooner or later,” he added.

Pagulayan KO's the Rocket

Alex Pagulayan (Philippines) became the first semi-finalist at the PartyPoker.net World Pool Masters as he defeated Rodney Morris 8-6 at the Riviera Convention Centre, Las Vegas .

It was an entertaining encounter that was thoroughly enjoyed by the Vegas crowd and Pagulayan enjoyed just the right amount of skill coupled with good fortune to see him across the line.

“I enjoyed that absolutely,” said Pagulayan. “I was nervous and a bit shaky but I think I played well under the conditions and tried really hard to focus. “In the end I had a bit more luck than him. Out there, under the gun, the table played tough but race to eight, with the TV and crowd, everything is tough,” he added.

They shared the early racks but Morris broke and ran the seventh to move into a 4-3 lead but the match effectively became a race to four when Pagulayan took the next following a dry break from Morris.

‘Come on make some balls!’ shouted Pagulayan after his next break shot and his wish was granted as two balls dropped.

He played a tidy safety but Morris escaped. He could not escape the next snooker as he flashed at a table length kick and missed the blue 2 by a long way. With ball in hand Pagulayan cleared the table to go into a 5-4 lead.

The Filipino scratched on the break though and with ball in hand Morris levelled it at five racks each.

A dry break though left the 1 ball on for Pagulayan via a cross table bank and although he made it, the cue ball stopped too close to the 2 ball so he was forced to play safe.

Pagulayan fouled as he tried to pot a hanging 3 ball via a bank off the top rail but missed the object ball completely. With ball in hand, Morris ran out to go 6-5 ahead.

There was a ball on the break for Morris but he missed a bank on the 2 ball. Pagulayan overran the cue ball going from 3 to 5 but rescued the situation with a good pot and he cleared the table to level things at 6-6.

A good quality snooker from Pagulayan forced Morris to play a two rail kick but he missed the 1 ball entirely. Pagulayan spurned his ball in hand opportunity as he missed a pot on the pink 4 but Morris missed a 4/8 combo himself and Pagulayan ran out to reach the hill at 7-6.

Pagulayan pushed out in the next and the two players exchanged safeties before Morris jumped the 1 ball into the centre pocket. The 2 ball wasn’t available so he played a safe. Pagulayan went for the bank but fluked the 5 ball, landing perfectly on the blue 2.

From there he ran the remaining balls to book his semi-final spot.