TILBURG - The Dutch three-cushion billiards season resumes this Sunday, April 19, in the Kozoom league with two matches from the top five of the standings. Cues&Darts, the league leader, plays against Aartsbouw, the number two. Dallinga, the number five, meets Bousema, the number three. The difference between those teams in the leading group is only six match points, and Team Eekhoorn and Bousema have even played one fewer match. The top fixture, Cues&Darts with 26 points against Aartsbouw with 25, brings three Dutch players, two Belgians, one Turk, one Spaniard, and one Dane to the Tilburg arena.
On Center Court, Glenn Hofman and Eddy Merckx meet each other. Ruben Legazpi faces Turgay Orak, Jef Philipoom meets Barry van Beers, and Huub Wilkowski crosses swords with Allan Schröder.
The first match at Aartsbouw ended 7-1 in favor of the home team. Aartsbouw played with Merckx, Van Beers, De Jaeger, and Brants. Cues&Darts played with the same team as now: Hofman, Legazpi, Philipoom, and Wilkowski. Only Merckx against Hofman drew at 40-40 in 28 innings; Aartsbouw won three matches.
The averages of the two top teams are 1.413 for Cues&Darts and 1.324 for Aartsbouw over 17 matches out of a total of 20 in the regular season. The averages of the eight players in that match so far:
Ruben Legazpi 1.826
Glenn Hofman 1.737
Eddy Merckx 1.692
Turgay Orak 1.659
Jef Philipooom 1.502
Huub Wilkowski 1.362
Allan Schröder 1.318
Barry van Beers 1.238
Kozoom and KNBB asked two Dutch players from the top match, Huub Wilkowski and Barry van Beers, about their expectations for Sunday:
1 Will you field the strongest possible team for this match between the numbers 1 and 2?
Huub Wilkowski: "The strongest team would be with Torbjörn Blomdahl, but he plays in Germany. So otherwise we do have four of the five starting players, meaning Glenn Hofman, Ruben Legazpi, Jef Philipoom, and Huub Wilkowski. This time without Joey de Kok. We can field Blomdahl in the important final weekend.’’
Barry van Beers: ,,Yes, in principle the strongest team, although the question is whether Allan Schröder is better than Ronny Brants or Wesley de Jaeger. I am moving from 2 to 3 myself because Turgay Orak is playing, so on paper we are being stronger.’’
2 The ambitions for both teams are undoubtedly to reach the play-offs; how do you rate the chances?
Huub Wilkowski: ,,We have almost certainly made it, after making up five points on Aartsbouw and remaining undefeated halfway through the season.’’
Barry van Beers: ,,As things stand now, we are both playing for first place. That guarantees a spot in the final, and that is what we are playing for. So Sunday will be important; the play-offs are already practically decided.’’
3 What do you expect from the atmosphere and the crowds at Cues&Darts on Sunday? Many home fans, many supporters from Aartsbouw?
Huub Wilkowski: ,,Many of us will certainly come, as always in top matches. Moreover, some guests from sponsors will be coming. It will definitely be well-attended.’’
Barry van Beers: ,,Usually about 10 or 15 come along with us, and maybe a bit more now because it is a top match. We also have some loyal supporters. It will surely be a great match.’’
4 Who has the toughest schedule in the last two matches after Sunday? Cues&Darts at home against Dallinga, away to Bousema. Aartsbouw away to RCN and at home against Bousema?
Huub Wilkowski: ,,The upcoming weekend we play against Dallinga, we are both coming with a handicap. Dallinga is missing Jean Paul de Bruijn and Steven van Acker because they are playing in France. For us, Glenn Hofman and Jef Philipoom have to go to France. But we do have Ruben Legazpi. And away against Bousema, we can therefore play with Blomdahl.’’
Barry van Beers: ,,We both still play against Bousema; those are tough matches for both of us. We also have to play against RCN, so the difficulty of the schedule is roughly the same.’’
5 Is it already decided which players you will play the playoffs with?
Huub Wilkowski: ,,With the regular four players from last year, and now with Ruben Legazpi added as well.’’
Barry van Beers: ,, For us, definitely in the first three positions. Eddy Merckx, Turgay Orak, and I will certainly play. Besides that, it is a matter of rotating between Ronny Brandts and Wesley de Jaeger.’’
6 Will there be many changes to the team for next season?
Huub Wilkowski: "As is already known, Joey de Kok is being replaced by Martien van der Spoel. Furthermore, it depends on whether our second team gets promoted. In that case, there will certainly be reinforcements, either for the first or second team."
Barry van Beers: "For us, Peter De Backer is joining as a reinforcement. Turgay Orak will be playing less, and Eddy usually plays a few times in Denmark."
The lineups for Sunday's top-of-the-table clash between Dallinga and Bousema are:
Dallinga with Jean Paul de Bruijn, Peter De Backer, Steven van Acker, Berry Dallinga (provided Berry Dallinga has recovered from a severe knee injury).
Bousema with Tayfun Tasdemir, Jeffrey Jorissen, Johan Loncelle, and Frans van Schaik.
The lineups for SIS/Vervoort against Team Eekhoorn:
SIS: Jean van Erp, Raimond Burgman, Martien van der Spoel, Harrie van de Ven
Team Eekhoorn: Nick Polychronopoulos, Peter Ceulemans, Frans van Kuijk, Kurt Ceulemans.
The full schedule for Sunday:
Cues&Darts-Aartsbouw
Dallinga-Bousema
SIS/Vervoort-Eekhoorn
Paperclip-Burgmans Biljarts
Harwig-Van Baal.