SLUISKIL - Johan Loncelle the billiard player is back after being away for a long time. The life of bars and coke has given way to a life with his cue and a bible. Ten years without billiards, due to two positive dope tests (cocaine) are behind him. In the Belgian league, Loncelle made his come-back last week (winning 40-39 to Therese Klompenhouwer), in the Dutch league he won his match in Sluiskil for Bousema.
Johan Loncelle, once a big talent in three-cushion, has become another person. The billiard-fan who saw him back in the Dallinga arena whispered: "He now believes in God, not anymore in coke.'' The reputation is not forgotten. The young Belgian, ten years later: "The first time I used coke, I felt like in paradise, a wonderful feeling.''
But not so much later, Loncelle felt like he was in hell. "You feel completely paranoid.'' Two times after a match of billiards, he tested positively, he received his first two-year suspension and after being back, there was another positive test with an eight year suspension. It has broken his billiard career. And now, so many years later, Loncelle went 'into the Lord', with bible studies and unconditional faith, without going to church. "I do not pray, I do not beg, I talk to God.''
The question now is, can he still come back in his career, reaching a high level after such a long stop? He gives himself a few years. The talent is still there: even in this first week after his suspension Loncelle could show it. In his match against Steven van Acker, with Bousema against Dallinga, Loncelle recorded a promising 2.000 average and he finished with eight in his last: 40-20 in 20 innings. The Bousema team won 6-2.
L&B Ledermode is an important pursuer after beating A1 Biljarts 8-0. Eddy Merckx won the center court match against Birol Uymaz 40-36 in 27, Peter De Backer was the best winner for his team with a win over Martien van der Spoel 40-19 in 19. At SIS Schoonmaak, Jean van Erp, Raimond Burgman and Jeffrey Jorissen continued the winning pace against Jack van Peer (23 innings), Roofthooft (19) and Berkelmans (30 innings). Glenn Hoffman, the leading player, was defeated by Huub Wilkowski (40-35 in 27), which led to a 6-2 victory for the league-leader in The Hague.
HCR Prinsen finished at the maximum score against Aardexpress (0-8). Anno de Kleine was the best in the team, just ahead of Dick Jaspers in 28 innings. STZ Zundert kept the victory, 6-2, in his own home against Burgmans Biljarts. Team Eekhoorn stumbled over Hartje van Wanrooy, despite Frans van Kuyk's nice score in his match against Harrie van der Ven: 40-17 in 19. Kurt Ceulemans, Jack Wijnen and Jerry Hermans were defeated in there own house by Davy van Havere, Frank Martens and Ad Broeders.