Pedro Piedrabuena stronger than all Colombians

CALI – After eight days of competition, the PanAmerican games in the Rooseveld Club in Cali, Colombia were closed with a medal ceremony for a great champion. Pedro Piedrabuena won the tournament, even though he faced seven Colombians in the final eight. The American champion played a record general average of 1.687, and took home 1240 dollars, as well as the title.

It was Piedrabuena’s second PanAmerican title. On the final day of play, he succesively beat Colombian champion Alexander Lopera 30-9 in 13 innings (2.308), int the eighth final Arley Galeano 40-15 in 24, in the quarters Carlos Campino 40-33 in 25 and in the semi Cesar Garzón 40-17 in 18.

Piedrabuena had yet another Colombian opponent in the final. It started off badly for Piedrabuena: his opponent quickly took a 24-7 lead after 13 innings. The match was then stopped for several minutes, because at the adjacent table the battle for 3d and 4th place was reaching a climax: it ended in two penalty series, finally won by Alexander Salazar.

Twenty-two year old Catano never found his rhythm after the break, and the wheels came off. Piedrabuena made his last 26 points in only 7 innings, to win 40-33 in 27.

Catano could look back on a fine tournament, with a 1.484 average. Alexander Salazar won the bronze with 1.620. The supremacy of the Colombians was impressive: Piedrabuena was followed by 9 Colombians in the top ten.

Javier Teran from Ecuador, the ex-champion, was 11th with 1.086.

Alexander Salazar was especially happy with his podium position. The Colombian recently visited his friend and fellow Longoni player Marco Zanetti. ,,I am happy to have had that wonderful experience, because Marco, with all his technical know-how, has given me a better understanding of three cushion.’’