KHOBAR- Host team Hempel's Dart Vaders-2 produced two scintillating wins last Friday against powerhouse opponents leading the team to its third straight win and solo lead in the Hempel Dart Cup ‘08 here. Its first prey was JAL Arrows, whom it defeated 9-8, via four-man team decision game. Then it brought down top contender Afico Striker-2 in its second game. 9-7. Against JAL Arrows, although it missed the outright win when Danny Mata lost to JAL's Darlo Landingin in the 16th and final match that ended with an even score of 8-8, Dart Vaders-2 outplayed the Arrows in the decision four-man team plays with Mata, redeeming himself from a crucial lost earlier by hitting the winning shot. Its second game against Afico Striker-2 was fiercely contested and played exceptionally well producing numerous records for the day. It was a battle of nerves until the final match and Dart Vaders came up victorious again with Danny Mata providing the winning point, an upset win on the 16th game versus Chris Calalo of the Afico Striker-2 at 9-7. Dart Vaders withstood the outstanding game of Striker's Gary Terso and Calalo both achieved double records of the day - Terso produced 17-darts out finish in his first and second match while Calalo hit the second T80 of the tournament that led to his best 16-dart out finish of the game. However Dart Vaders countered it with their own records as well with Pong de Dios hitting his own T80 and Benjie Tamayo producing the highest 3-darts out finish at 120. Afico Striker-3 defeated Al-Mana Los Darteros (9-5): Rejuvenated veteran darter Mel Ponce provided the needed spark for the Afico Striker-3 winning all his matches with ample support from Abel Fari–as, Gilbert Santos and reserve Tony Romero against Al-Mana Hospital Los Darteros. Striker-3 improved its standing at 1-1 win-loss record while handing Los Darteros its third consecutive setbacks. Afico Striker-4 trounced Bulleros (9-2): Frank Casoco had a superb game for the Afico Striker-4 winning all his matches that powered it to a convincing win against the debuting Bulleros which composed of veteran campaigners Mario Lorenzo, Noel Ramilo, Dodong Salas and new recruit Louis Hermogenes. Casoco also achieved the record of 18-darts out finish in his second match while Salas hit the fourth T80 of the tournament in his third match of this game. Hempel's Dart Vaders Team-1 edged Afico Striker-1 (9-8): Dart Vaders-1 rallied from 6-8 deficits and forced the decision four-man team plays, which it fortunately won. Mhon-nee Lopez saved the day for the Dart Vaders with his pressure-packed winning out-shot on the double-ten (D10) but not after a sorry missed winning shot of Striker's Arnold Ramos on the D16 and D8 respectively. Noel Marte Dizon and Nath Ramilo survived the scare by winning their crucial matches on the 15th and 16th games respectively to force the decider. Both teams played without their ace players, Dart Vader's Agaton Espiritu and Striker's Allen Rosales. JAL Arrows beat Bulleros (9-4): After two stinging setbacks, the Arrows finally displayed their sharpness and the killer instinct in dispatching the seemingly uptight Bulleros, who suffered their second straight loss. JAL's pride Jerry Roldan and veteran Flasci Guevara both had splendid games winning three matches each while teammates Darlo Landingin and Greg Perias supported with 2 and 1 wins respectively. __
