PINOYS SWEEP U.S. PRO BILLIARDS SERIES

Pennsauken, New Jersey, Nov. 19, 1997 - Jose "Amang" Parica won his second consecutive title in the Camel Pro Billiards Series as Filipino team mates continue to dominate the circuit.

Parica, wearing a Philippine flag patch on his shirt, defeated Buddt Hall of the United States, 9-8, in the finals of the New Jersey Open to win the championship and the $18,000 prize. He won the Boston Open Championship three weeks ago. The New Jersey tilt is the fifth of the seven-event series.

Teammates Rodolfo Luato, Francisco Bustamante, Leonardo Ayam and Antonio Lining, Jr. were among the top money winners in New Jersey. The star-studded field of competitors included American legends Earl Strickland, Johnny Archer and Nick Varner.

Parica has overtaken teammate Efren "Bata" Reyes as frontrunner in the Camel point system rankings. Reyes has not won a tournament in weeks due to effects of withdrawal from years of chain smoking. Reyes fell to third place.