Saturday January 21, 2001. With the threat of a major snow storm hovering over the area 40 players paid no attention and came to the Rhode Island Billiard Club for Mike Zuglan's Joss Northeast 9-Ball Tour's 13 stop of the season. Luckily all day the weather man seemed to be overstating the storms impending doom and these folks went at it right from the start. The field small but by no means light had Jose Parica, Santos Sambajon, Mike Zuglan, Mika Immonen and many more great players. playing their usual great games Parica and Sambajon went through the day without a loss. Also going through unbeaten on Saturday were two of the young guns on the Joss tour. Chris Biddle the UCON senior and good player from Connecticut and the 17 year old from Woburn, Ma. Mike Minichello. Biddle had to knock off Mike Zuglan and Hunter Lombardo and Minichello had to get by Chris Uhlman and Frankie Hernandez. On the one loss side we had Rob Saez vs Hunter Lombardo and Marty Herman vs Mika Immonen joining Parica, Sambajon, Biddle and Minichello for Sunday. Winning their entry fee back but not returning would be Mike Zuglan, Jared Clowery, Frank Hernandez and Chad Bazinet.

We woke up Sunday to 11 inches of snow blowing and gusting like New England storms do but everyone including about 50 fans made it back for the finals. First match of the day was Parica against his road partner and great player Santos Sambajon Jr. Santos came out firing and never looked back sending Jose to to the one loss side easily. Chris Biddle beat on Mike Minichello 9-5. On the other side of the chart Marty Herman had Mika 7-3 when he missed a 7 ball and let Immonen back in. Mika won the set 9-7 playing great Mika's next opponent would be Jose Parica. Both players went right at it and it was close all the way. Mika missed one 5 ball and scratched twice on the break. That was the difference as Parica won the hill hill match. In the first of the true double elimination format. Parica went right at Sambajon and played beautiful beating him 9-5. But in Match 2 it was all Sambajon. Almost getting out from everywhere Santos was unstoppable and won the set 9-3 for his first win of the season and his third Joss event in three years.

Congratulations and thanks to Anthony and Phylis Costanzo for not only running a nice event, but also braving the storm. Great job! This week the Joss tour goes to Classic Billiards in Rochester, NY for a $3000 added event.

Final Standings:
1.   $1300   Santos Sambajon Jr
2.   $825   Jose Parica
3.   $625   Chris Biddle
4.   $450   Robbie Saez
5/   $325   Mika Immonen
6               Mike Minichello
7/   $225   Hunter Lombardo
8               Marty Herman
9/   $100   Mike Zuglan
10             Jared Clowery
11             Frankie Hernandez
12             Chad Bazinet

By: Pat Murray