By MARK REY MONTEJO
Antonio Lining banked on his experience and blanked Taiwan’s Lo Li-Wen, 8-0, to rule the 2024 10-Ball Tokai Grand Prix in Aichi Prefecture, Japan over the weekend.
Lining, 61, who won the rich Japan Open twice – 2006 and 2014 – proved that age is just a number after dominating his much younger rival by displaying remarkable accuracy to the cheers of the crowd.
Li-Wen actually got off to a great start but stumbled when Lining started to make some great shots reminiscent to his stunning conquest of the legendary Efren “Bata” Reyes in the quarterfinal round of the Motolite International 9-ball Tournament 24 years ago.
Prior to his title victory, the Mindoro cue artist crushed Japanese bets Shousuke Hamada (8-3) and Kento Oda (8-1) in the Round of 16 and quarters, respectively.
He also toppled Japanese Kenichi Uchigaki, 8-4, in the semis.
Meantime, Aoki Tomoe upset fellow Japanese Tani Miina, 7-5, to clinch the women’s crown.
