THE HAGUE/ZUNDERT - The so much praised and also feared Hague billiard arena at Jorissen's cafe and the famous stronghold of D'n Hoek in Zundert are the places tob e for the finals of the playoffs in the Dutch three cushion league this weekend. The two finalists, Buffalo.nl and STZ Zundert, decide in make a direct, double encounter which team will be the successor of the unbeatable Dallinga team last year. On Saturday, Biljartcafe Jorissen will undoubtedly be a full house, on Sunday the climax will follow in Zundert.
The previous encounters in the competition between the two finalists were significant for the difference in quality. Two times, the match ended in 4-4, both matches with varying chances of win or lose. The semi-finals were another proof of how small the difference is in the eredivisie. Buffalo.nl balanced on the edge of the abyss in front of its own crowd after the win in the away match against A1 Biljarts. STZ Zundert put up a small miracle after the 6-2 loss at home against MCR/De Uitspanning, winning the away match miraculously 8-0.
Buffalo.nl, with its unique line-up of four Dutch players in the league, made a shot at three successes at the end of the season. Two of them have already gone up in smoke: the cup final did not bring success and last week in the European Cup the Hague team was defeated by the strong French of Andernos. The title is the last and certainly not hopeless mission, but also in this double waits STZ Zundert as a feared rival.
This weekend, the two teams, which were playing almost every week in the strongest line-up a year, will face each other. Roland Forthomme opposes Glenn Hoffman, two players who already met in the European Cup last week. Peter Ceulemans, second man in the Zundert team, crosses swords with Jean van Erp, Barry van Beers plays against Jeffrey Jorissen and Raymon United against Herman van Daalen.
Both Saturday and Sunday, at The Hague and in Zundert, the kick-off is at 13:00.
Roland Forthomme, the 45-year player from Liège in Belgium, who was already in the finals of the play-offs, gives a preview to the final, answering seven questions about expectations, chances and memories.
1 The final of the playoffs came to an unexpected showdown: Buffalo lost in the semi-finals in the return, but could just take the overall win. Your team revenged for a 6-2 loss at home in a great return. What does that say about the teams potential within the league?
Roland Forthomme: ,, The four teams in the playoffs were in balance all the season, just look at the averages in the regular season. So, it can go both sides in the finals.''
2 How do you estimate the chances of your team and Buffalo?
Roland Forthomme: ,, Another fifty-fifty, I think. It can be 8-0 or 0-8, either Saturday or Sunday... Very exciting, so I expect...''
3 How many outsider is Buffalo in the final. You called the team even the Leicester of billiards, referring to the sensational British football champion of the Premier League.
Roland Forthomme: ,, They are not outsiders, I think, because we also are not the big favourite.''
4 You and Glenn Hofman faced in the European Cup as a foretaste. You won, after a strong start. How did you play in the league against each other this year?
Roland Forthomme: ,,I won all my matches against Glenn this year, but still it means nothing. Final matches in such an atmosphere (which I surely expect these two days) are always special.''
5 What kind of feeling do you have after last weekend, playing in The Hague? A unique billiard atmosphere?
Roland Forthomme: ,, Yes, indeed, I have never experienced such an atmosphere in the preliminary rounds of the European Cup. Stunning. As an organization and a reception, it was worth an European final.''
6 How many play-off finals have you played? I clearly remember the one with Ockenburg, against Twentevisie with Dick Jaspers. A very surprising title. What do you remember of that final?
Roland Forthomme: ,,This is my third final, one that we won with Ockenburgh and one we lost with Zundert last year. And also one title after the regular season with Fair Play in 1996. The title with Ockenburgh is one of my best memories, with Jean Paul de Bruijn, Henk Habraken and Martin Spoormans. Incredible and memorable. We were the big outsider and defeated Crystal Kelly and Hengelo with Jaspers. I think the family Nicodem still have goose bumps when they remember that day.''
7 What is your opinion about performing in the play-offs: the KNBB wants to change the league in a regular season without play-offs at the end.
Roland Forthomme: ,,The playoffs are only nice when there is a top favourite like with Dallinga. Because the winner was already known... But for now, the competition has been long enough. I agree with the new rules, to not finish with play-offs next year.''
The Zundert team with Barry van Beers, Peter Ceulemans, Raymon Groot and Roland Forthomme
Buffalo.nl with Jean van Erp, Glenn Hofman, teamleader Cor Trampe, Herman van Daalen and Jeffrey Jorissen