JAMES Aranas lost a close finale to Ko Pin Yi of Chinese Taipei, 13-11, on Sunday in the 2022 APF Asian 9-Ball Open at the Aspire Recreation Centre in Singapore.
Aranas faltered with crucial mistakes after a 10-10 tie and finished second at the end of a relatively impressive showing in the tournament that drew 96 competitors.
[READ: Centeno rules Asian-9-ball, earns spot to world meet]
The player called as 'Dodong Diamond' back home committed a miscue in the 21st rack with a scratch, enabling Ko to break the tie with a one-to-nine combination.
After holding in the alternate break format final, Ko reached hill with a break-and-run in the 22nd and closed the match with another break-and-run in the 24th.
Ko proved to be a nemesis for Filipino pool players in the tournament after also beating Johann Chua, 11-2, in the semifinals on Sunday afternoon.
Aranas started the day with an 11-6 win over Naoyuki Oi of Japan but an all-Filipino final did not materizlise after Chua's defeat.
Chezka Centeno ruled the women's event, beating Seo Seoa of Korea, 11-7.
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