MoD develop 9-ball Midas touch

AK MD SAIFUL AZRI PG ROSLEE is still having a good time.

The reigning Borneo Games male athlete of the year extended his run of good form by steering the Ministry of Development (MoD) to a win in the final of the 9-ball Team event at the Inter-Ministry Sports Festival yesterday.

"It was a fun tournament to play against players from the other ministries. It was also a new experience for me, having to play as a team," said Ak Md Saiful Azri, in an interview with The Brunei Times.

Taking on the Ministry of Defence (MinDef) at the Billiards & Snooker Hall of the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium in Berakas, AK Md Saiful Azri's tight 7-5 victory over Mohammad Zulhelme Zakaria anchored his team's 2-1 win.

MoD finished the job when Hj Abd Salam Hj Ali Marican and Pg Haslini Pg Kiply edged out Shari Hj Emran and Muhaimin Hj Serudin 7-5 in the fixture's lone doubles match.

Md Amir Hasan Hj Kamis restored a little pride for MinDef by beating Hj Md Khairil Hj Isa 7-4 in the remaining dead rubber.

"The pressure is different when representing the country but the competition was tough especially in the final. We had met earlier in the group stages and we were lucky (to come out) with the same scoreline," added the 26-year-old, who won three gold medals during the 3rd Borneo Games in December.

"We would like to thank the Ministry (MoD) for all their support. It was good team effort which helped us win the competition," continued Ak Md Saiful Azri.

Ak Md Saiful Azri is gearing up for World Pool Masters Qualifying in Malaysia next month.

In the third-place playoff, the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports (MCYS) easily defeated the Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA) 3-0.

National cue sports coach Lim Tat Hwe breezed past Hj Mohd Nasronsyah Hj Kamal Pasah 5-0 in the first match before Mohd Sofian Abdullah and Hj Okida Simangasing eased past the pair of Musa Hj Bagol and Ruslin Hj Raman 5-2 to secure the victory.

Mohamed Musthaq Raibin completed the sweep with a 5-2 drubbing of Haslani Hj Ismail in the third match.The Brunei Times