BC Deurne is unstoppable on his way to title

ANTWERP - The final sprint of BC Deurne in the highest league in Belgium is impressive. The leader won the home match against BC Biljart Express with the maximum score (8-0) and no-one and nothing seems to be able to stop race to the championship of Eddy Merckx and his team mates. Jef Philipoom sparkled once again with a high run, one of fifteen in his match against Gerwin Valentijn, his teammate in the Dutch league.

The only serious pursuer, KBC Zanzibar, has the difficult task to take the full win in the stronghold of the Ceulemans-team tonight. KBC Zanzibar has a theoretical disadvantage of two points with three matches to play. Roland Forthomme, Davi Christiani, Jimmy Mues and Paul Stroobants travel to Lier tonight with only one mission: grab the maximum victory to keep his chances alive.

Jef Philipoom again played strong in a 50-25 match he won in 22 innings against Valentijn. That made him the best player of the 19th round so far. Two players scored an average of 2,000. Martin Spoormans did it in a superb match against Wim van Cromvoirt (50-34 in 25), Richard Bitalis showed that the qualities are still there every now and then, he won 42-26 in 21 innings against Wesley Jaeger.

BC Lugo climbed thangs to a 5-3 win over Op de Meir one place at the rankings and is now sharing the eighth place with BC Quality Zele and BC De Ploeg. Patrick Kesteloot was the only player who won for Zele in the duel with BC Kasteeldreef. Peter de Backer had to bow his head for Frédéric Caudron (50-28 in 26), Jean Paul de Bruijn for his Dutch team mate Eddy Leppens (50-47 in 35).

Dion Nelin, Leon Smolders and Michel Mens kept the team of Geox Herentals in the top three of the ranking by a 6-2 victory over Koninklijke Eeklose, which team has been firmly put on the penultimate place.

BC De Ploeg shared the points with Kon. Kortrijkse. Martin Horn defeated Ronny Brants, Allan Jensen won his match against Henk Blauwblomme. The Kortrijk-success came from two French players, with Richard Bitalis in a wonderful role.