The next Efren "Bata" Reyes is a woman! Wish her luck!

Iris Ranola, who came to the US as an immigrant last year, is on the verge of winning her first
WPBA US 9-Ball Open Championships on her very first try! She's in the finals against Kelly Fisher,
who defeated the Black Widow, Jeanette Lee (7-5) in the other semifinal match-up.

Ranola's road to the finals was tough as they come, as she defeated a couple of former US champions
along the way. She squeaked passed perennial no. 1 woman player Allison Fisher (9- in the 1st
round, demolished Aileen Dimmick (9-2) in the 2nd, crushed Helena Thornfeldt (9-2) in the 3rd,
won a nail biter against Ga Young Kim (9- in the 4th round, ran roughshod over Sarah Ellerby (7-2)
in the quarterfinals, won a hill-hill against fellow newcomer Yu Ram Cha (7-6) in the semis, and now
is set to meet the new WPBA's womans' no. 1 player Kelly Fisher!

The TV rounds, meaning ESPN will air these games at a later date starts with the quarterfinal matches.


The finals is about to start in 36 minutes, or 5 pm (Pacific DST) or 8 am Philippine time.

Let's all pray for Iris Paclanders! Bring home the bacon gurl!



You can follow the finals here, for those who's interested ---> http://www.wpba.com/cms/

Sorry, she lost the finals by 7-2 to Kelly Fisher. Fisher wins the 2008 WPBA US Open 9 Ball Championships and takes over the #1 Ranking.