Jayson Shaw (Courtesy David Thomson - Mediumpool.com)
Diamond Derby City Classic XXII, January 24-Feb.2, 2020
Caesars Southern Indiana, Elizabeth, IN
David Thomson
DIAMOND BIG FOOT CHALLENGE
LIVE from the Accu-Stats TV Arena
Format: Race to 11, single elimination, alternate break, all balls count, except the 10 on the break. It’s respotted.
Results: Monday.
Jayson Shaw, hailing from Glasgow - no, not Kentucky - Scotland, with a devastating 11–5 demolition of Filipino Lee Vann Corteza, became a 3 time Diamond BIG Foot Champion. He stuffed the $16,000 winner’s check into his pocket and, exhausted, headed for bed. “What’s in Your Wallet?”
But, we’re getting ahead of ourselves, let’s find out how they got there.
The battles began in the Accu-Stats TV Arena with Filipino Alex Pagulayan pitted against fellow countryman Lee Vann Corteza.
Alex wasn’t exactly prepared as he had to borrow a spectators’ spectacles to inspect and rough-up his tip.
That’s the bad news about turning 40, you can need reading glasses. The good news is you become the most recent inductee to the BCA Hall of Fame.
Perhaps Lee Vann should have borrowed the tip-shaper too as, due to a miscue, he was soon behind 3-0. Then, down 3-5, he did it again. This time, the mis-hit caused the 5-ball to jaw and sit deep on the shelf of the Diamond pro-cut pocket.
Alex, having to swerve slightly, missed and with Corteza having ball-in-hand, he was 4-5 and breaking. They were then back on serve at 5-5. As the momentum was with Corteza, he leapt ahead 8-7, 9-7, 10-7.
Enter Alex the Lionheart. His dry breaks were gone. His tiptop position was back, therefore, he didn’t have to use his butt extension as often. And he was on the hill, with the break.
It was dry! And, they were open like an umbrella. The Cyclop orbs were spread everywhere…with whitey on the one.
Corteza, courageous, cool, calm, and reflective, quietly stroked his way through the rack. Never did he stray from the required position or the task.
Experience was his guide until Alex, smiling, was out of his seat offering a graciously received high five.
Corteza later commented when asked, “How did you hold it together after Alex’s comeback to tie with you on the hill?” Still beaming from ear to ear, he replied, “We’ve been in battle many, many times before.” Experience indeed.
Onward to Semi’s #2: Eagle Eye vs. Django.
Jayson Shaw loves BIG Foot, he wishes all tourneys were held on it. It’s expanse may be familiar; he pocketed balls on a 6’ x 12’ snooker table when he was wee.
Francisco Bustamante doesn’t care what table he’s on, as long as he’s competing. At 55, he’s got a bigger break than guys half his age. Bring it on Big Foot.
And he did, but not until the end.
With alternate break, it’s important to make choices that can steal the opponent’s serve. So, after Bustey’s opening dry break, Shaw was offered less than a pocket width for the one. Even with his eagle eye he, wisely, chose to play safe. And, he was off and running.
His spurt continued but Bustey was soon sniffing close to his heels before Shaw, tired of it, kicked it into high gear.
At around 7-3, Bustey held on tight and stayed with him, rack for rack, for 4 or 5 games.
Bustey’s finally found himself needing 4 with Shaw on the hill.
But, beware, there is no quit in any Filipino. it’s not in their DNA.
With the finals in his sight, Shaw’s break dried up again.
Bustey was at bat. Midway, he got stalled to give Jayson an opportunity for the match. He got straight-in on the 8 on the long rail. It jawed and sat up for Bustey to rise to 10-8.
Shaw was a little shaky in the next rack. He later confessed that he hadn’t eaten since breakfast. “It wasn’t nerves,” he commented. “the shakes were more physical than mental.” Bustey took the next 2 games and we had another hill match with him breaking.
What followed cannot be described here. Words would not do it justice. It must be seen to be believed. It seemed that there were at least 10 snookers, 10 safeties that led to snookers, even Bustey announced, “Exciting match, bro.”
“I knew something was going on back there.” said Bonnie at the tournament desk. ”I heard all the oohs and ahs.”
After the safety exchanges, Bustey, finally, got a shot. All he had to do was remain calm and maintain composure as he had done when given earlier opportunities. That strategy got him on the hill.
He stayed steady being aware that, as the 9 was near the upper end of long rail, he needed enough natural angle to get to the 10 sitting below the spot.
He landed a little thin. Rather than cinch the 9 and take a longer shot on the 10, he decided to dig into it with low english and get “undoggable,” as Danny D would say, position on the 10.
The english over-cut the 9 to leave it dangling in the jaws for Jayson. He jumped from his seat in disbelief. And the result? Rather than an all Filipino final, the Scot was in the mix.
The Finals: Lee Vann Corteza vs, Jayson Shaw
Dry breaks were the cause of Corteza’s loss. Shaw capitalized on most of them and sped ahead, 8-3.
There is no quit in Corteza. He will shoot the right shot regardless of the consequences.
Shaw stumbled at 8-3 and allowed Corteza one, 8-4. Corteza broke dry. 9-4. Shaw broke dry. Corteza got to the 3 and had to leave Shaw long.
Jayson shoots with such authority; no babying the ball. No one told him these shots were difficult.
He speared it in, only to scratch in the side. 9-5.
It’s a miracle! Corteza made a ball on the break! Unfortunately, with no shot on the one, he left a safe which got him back to the table only to hang the 5 in the tight Diamond pro-cut pocket.
Jayson was on the hill…and breaking.
Bingo, a ball was pocketed and he had an open shot.
There was no holding back now. Enough of this nonsense of letting Lee Vann back at the table.
What followed was a clinic displaying such precision to get on the two or 3 key balls that would have stymied a lesser man. There was no nervous energy, no doubt, no drama. Jayson knew this title was his.
He later commented on his need for food after the match with Bustamante.” I had to go and play my Bank Pool match with Orcollo. I couldn’t make a ball. I needed meat! So, I went to Binion’s and had a nice steak before the finals.” Nice plug for Caesars on-site steak house!
Results
Semis # 1: Lee Vann Corteza .857 def. Alex Pagulayan .865 11-10
Semis # 1: Jayson Shaw .851 def. Francisco Bustamante .822 11-10
FINALS: Jayson Shaw .894 def. Lee Vann Corteza .807 11-5
The good news is that, thanks to Accu-Stats.com, you can see it all on their Video On Demand streaming service or, for the “Old School” crowd, DVD!
DIAMOND BANK POOL CHAMPIONSHIP
Short Rack. Race to 3.
451 began. At last accounting, there were about 10.
Billy Thorpe was delivered his first loss by the spunky kid form Detroit, Evan Lunda, who had also filled Filler’s buy-back card. Neither player was allowed a game! Lunda admitted, “I love playing heavy hitters. It truly fires me up.”
Filler had exited an exhausted Bustamante. 3-1, then continued to meet last year’s runner up, Omar Al Shaheen who had eliminated Konrad J.
Lee Vann ousted Josh Roberts, Orcollo laid the first loss to Tim DeRuyter, Shane killed Kiamko, Brumback sent Alex buying back, Corey routed Chris Robinson after handing Frost his walking papers as he had been beaten earlier by Shaw.
Shaw, after the 10-Ball bout with Bustey, was so underfed, admitted he couldn’t make a ball against Orcollo. Shaw, previously, had sent Bustey to buy back.
Again, more accolades to the invincible, well almost, Larry Nevel who battled with last year’s champion Billy Thorpe before falling off the hill on the last ball!
Play continues at NOON Tuesday.
See it LIVE from the Accu-Stats TV Arena on the DIAMOND 9’ Pro Am.
accu-stats.com
DIAMOND ONE POCKET CHAMPIONSHIP
365 entries, up 20 from last year!
Not many upsets. Check in tomorrow for a complete update.
Banks and One Pocket continue at NOON.
Don’t miss a stroke at accu-stats.com
Accu-Stats thanks its Arena Sponsors: Diamond Billiards, Simonis Cloth, Cyclop Balls, Cuetec Cues, Cue and Case, MEZZ Cues, McDermott Cues, National Billiard Academy.
