My Saturday morning began with my favorite pre-tournament breakfast of Pork Chops & Eggs. Mmmm… My favorite. Fit for a 13-16th place finisher:
I headed to the Cue Club for the Big Box Summer Series $750 added 10 Ball Tourney.
Only 26 players showed up, but only 26 of the toughest players in town. One of whom, you may recognize, Santos Sambajon!!!
I’d first seen him play in Vegas, four years ago when he was in the finals of the BCA Open 9 Ball Championships against Tony Robles. Unfortunately, he didn’t win, but I was quite impressed and he went on a mini terror there for a while up until a couple years ago when he took some time off from pool to be with his family.
I had the privilege to spend a great deal of time picking Santos’s brain on Saturday. I wasn’t too shy about it either. Can you believe he left his wife and four children behind in the Philippines for 14 years while he came to states to pursue his profession? He said he was miserable and couldn’t win anything.
It wasn’t until just a couple years ago that he brought them to the states where he was living in New York at the time and relocated the entire family to Chicago. Only now, knowing they live in a safe neighborhood, within walking distance from school, does he feel comfortable leaving his wife and 13, 14, 16, and 17 year-olds to re-pursue his dream of pool.
His first major tournament outside of retirement was the 2008 Derby City Classic in Louisville, KY. And now, Northglenn, Colorado.
Apparently, he was supposed to be out here last weekend for the $4,000 added 5th Annual Burt Kellerman Memorial Tournament at Table Steaks South. But, when his friends flew him in for the wrong weekend, they were lucky there was another tournament he could play in.
He was a perfect gentleman and pleasure to watch and hang out with. I can’t wait to see him on the scene again.
Here are some photos from the tournament:
As for me, if you asked me before the tournament, “Who would you like to beat more than anyone in this room?” I would’ve named the two players I lost two. UGH! I lost my first match 6-3 after missing three 10-balls. 
I completely outplayed this guy but really wanted to beat him so bad. I have never been an emotionally driven player. Some players can be fueled by that, but I made three beautiful runs and missed all three 10 balls. Sad, but true. It was a learning experience.
I played well in my next match and won 6-3 against a strong player (everyone in the tournament was a strong player). The good news is that the three 10 balls I missed were the only 10 balls I missed in the tournament.
Next, I lost 6-2 against the “bully.” I was so proud of myself though. I had already learned from my first match and jumped out to a 2-0 lead. I felt I played smart patterns, ducked when I was supposed to, and didn’t make any flagrant, careless mistakes. Unfortunately, with the winner-break format, I didn’t have many chances after the second game. I missed a 6-10 combo to make it 3-0 and the rest is history.
It’s okay. At least I didn’t fold. I put up a good fight and I feel proud of how I played and that I didn’t let the big bully get to me. It’s still sad to me. I used to really admire this player. And now, there’s absolutely nothing he can do or say that can regain my respect for him. Thus is life.
I’m still on the health wagon and am barely caught up. I think I will finally unpack and do laundry this week…
