OOSTERHOUT – The first match in the play-offs for the Top league three-cushion billiards in Holland was a walkover for Eekhoorn and the end of the road for Dallinga’s team. The Brabant side defeated the Zeeland team 8-0, so there was no doubt about the difference in class. Team Eekhoorn advances to the next match against Aartsbouw; for Dallinga, a nice season has come to an end. The Zeeland players are preparing for the next season, in which they will enter the competition primarily with their own (Zeeland) players.
Team Eekhoorn brought a lot of experience to the match and lived up to its ambitions. The camping team has its sights set on the title, finished third in the final standings, and still has two obstacles to overcome.
The first yielded four wins in four matches. Most impressive was the victory of Nick Polychronopoulos, who got off to a flying start against Dallinga’s top player Jean Paul de Bruijn (11-0 in 1 inning), saw his opponent claw his way back slightly (24-21) but ultimately pulled the trigger at 40-22 in 12. Polychronopoulos demonstrated his great class with both the start and the finish.
Peter Ceulemans made the difference visible in that second half of the match. He defeated Peter De Backer, regarded in Belgium as a shrewd tactician, by a wide margin: 40-27 in 27.
Before the break, the score was already 4-0 in favor of Eekhoorn, although Jerry Hermans needed a long climb against Berry Dallinga (40-23 in 48 innings). Frans van Kuyk faced the most resistance, but ultimately also defeated Steven van Acker 40-33 in 28 innings.
The match was an atmospheric start to the playoffs. Dallinga had traveled to Oosterhout in a supporters' bus, where at least as many fans cheered on the home team.
It is not yet known when Team Eekhoorn will play against Aartsbouw. That match was initially scheduled for May 30, but Aartsbouw is looking for an alternative playing day.