Aactive Pool League Playoffs Wrap-Up
Aactive Pool League Playoffs Wrap-Up
April 16th – 27th, 2025
Assiniboia Downs, Winnipeg, Manitoba
After kicking off the season in September 2024 in bars, pool halls, and taverns across Winnipeg, the Aactive Pool League season reached its thrilling conclusion with the 2025 Playoffs. The event brought together 220 teams and over 1,200 players across 10 divisions, all competing on 40 Valley Pool Tables at Assiniboia Downs. With a prize fund of over $175,000 and a top prize exceeding $6,000 in some divisions, the playoffs were a true celebration of skill, strategy, and community in Manitoba’s vibrant pool scene.
The first week of playoffs featured six divisions: Premier, Vegas, Cash Plus, Cash 3, Fun, and the two Handicap leagues. The second week saw four divisions compete: Super Vegas, Cash Plus, Cash 2, and Cash 1. Each division delivered exciting matchups, intense competition, and a strong sense of camaraderie among players and fans alike.
Division Highlights:
Week 1 included:
• Premier
• Vegas
• Cash Plus
• Cash 3
• Fun League
• Two Handicap Leagues
Week 2 featured:
• Super Vegas
• Cash Plus
• Cash 2
• Cash 1
Fun League Spotlight:
The Fun League saw 13 teams competing, culminating in an exciting final between Straight Shooters and Stick It To Em. The Straight Shooters, undefeated throughout the tournament, held the advantage from the A side while Stick It To Em fought their way back through the B side with three clutch wins.
In the final, Straight Shooters clinched the championship with a commanding 116–80 victory, completing a perfect, undefeated run.
Congratulations to the champions:
- Captain Lori Rupert
- Daniel Decaria
- Alan Meilleur
- Amber McPherson
- Robb Bacon
- Sandra Gray
💥 Cash 1 League Spotlight:
Among 38 teams, Sling Shot emerged as the dominant force. After defeating Gin Bros in the A side final, Gin Bros survived a nail-biter against The Hangover, escaping the B side final with a 1-point win. But in the championship, Sling Shot proved too strong, taking the title with a commanding 134–70 victory and remaining undefeated.
🏆 Champions:
- Captain Jeff Evangelista
- Dennis Advincula
- Mark Agustin
- Jasper Benedito
- Ruel Natividad
- Asher Palad
⚡ Cash 2 League Spotlight (40 Teams)
The Cash 2 League was stacked with talent, and the finals did not disappoint. Pho-Cue bested The Domin8tors in the A side final, sending them to face a red-hot Boogie Knights squad in the B-side final. Boogie Knights had battled through four must-win matches and then defeated The Domin8tors by 30 points to earn a spot in the final.
In the first match of the championship, Boogie Knights edged out Pho-Cue 139–124, forcing a decisive, winner-take-all match. But Pho-Cue responded with dominance, winning the final 139–98 to claim the title.
Champions:
Captain Nikol Opena
Arvie Advincula
Van Aliakbar
Noel Marcelino
Ruel Natividad
Isaiah Ilag
Jeff Evangelista
Jared Ross
Cash 3 League (31 Teams)
Corpu reached the A side final and narrowly defeated Cuevas Bakery 148–141. Cuevas Bakery bounced back with a dominant 146–86 win over Just Wanta Play in the B side final. In the championship, Corpu completed their undefeated run, sealing the title with a 137–109 victory.
- Champions:
Captain – Blister Vicmudo - Budjie Buhain
- Jonathan Pacatang
- John Vincent Arjona
- Rodel Randa
- Vener Arjona
Cash Plus League (23 Teams)
Competition began with 4 divisions of Round Robin play, leading into a Final 16 bracket that started Saturday at 12:30.
In the A side final, Da Crazy H8ers edged out Desiree’s Team 148–139. Desiree’s Team then faced Gambling Fools in the B side final but fell 149–112.In the championship, Gambling Fools jumped ahead early, leading after two rounds. But Da Crazy H8ers rallied back, securing the title with a 137–129 comeback victory and completing an undefeated playoff run.
- Champions:
- Captain – Darren Jesmer
- Mike Handy
- Randy Bischoff
- Kevin Nazer
- Ted Lamoureux
- Virgil Sumaling
Vegas League (23 Teams)
Competition began with 4 round robin divisions, leading into a Final 16 bracket starting at 9:00 a.m. on April 19.
Hangars Hooligans were dominant from the start, going undefeated in round robin play and defeating Super MJ 172–155 in the A side final. Super MJ rebounded with a 177–141 win over Challengers in the B side final on Monday, April 21, setting the stage for a rematch in the championship.
In a thrilling final, the match was tied 73–73 after two rounds, but Hangars Hooligans pulled away in Round 3, thanks in part to back-to-back runouts by the husband-and-wife duo of Lisa and Perry Van Damme, securing a well-earned championship finish.
Champions:
- Captain Dennis Wong
- Lisa Van Damme
- Perry Van Damme
- Gregg Wilson
- Michael Wong
- Heebert Liu
Super Vegas Division (21 Teams)
After round robin play, 16 teams entered the knockout bracket. In the A side final, Ballocks jumped out to a 30+ point lead over Shoot My Balls, who staged a comeback but ultimately fell short, 165–156.
Shoot My Balls rebounded in the B side final with a strong 162–120 win over Corny’s Team, pulling away with a dominant third round.
The final rematch between Ballocks and Shoot My Balls was an instant classic. Shoot My Balls built a 40-point lead after two rounds, but Ballocks stormed back with five straight wins to tie it by the end of the third. The battle see-sawed until the 25th and final game, with the score virtually even.
Edison Labao stepped up and delivered a 10–6 victory to seal the match.
In the final match of the entire tournament, with the score tied again, Labao once more came through, winning 10–2 to clinch the Super Vegas championship and end the playoffs on a spectacular note.
Congratulations to the Super Vegas Champions!
- Captain – Elmer DeGuzman
- Edison Labao
- Chester Asumbrato
- Roger Caldoza
- Jayson Benedito
- Jeff Villanueva
Premier League (8 Teams)
The top-tier Premier League began with round robin play and led into an 8-team knockout bracket.
In the A side final, Prime Time edged Come Get Some 173–162, thanks to a clutch 10–6 win in Game 25 by Darcy Gilkes.
After defeating Strokes of Genius in the B side final—highlighted by Henderson Salcedo’s 10–2 Game 24 win—Come Get Some earned a rematch against Prime Time in the final.
Prime Time took a 40-point lead by the end of Round 2, but Come Get Some stormed back, taking the lead after three wins to open Round 5. With the match tied 152–152 after Jeremy Hanson’s 10–0 win in Game 24, it all came down to the final game.
Darcy Gilkes once again delivered under pressure, winning 10–2 to crown Prime Time as Premier League Champions—for the third straight year!
Congratulations to the 3-peat champions!
- Captain – Jeremy Hanson
- Brent Calnitsky
- Darcy Gilkes
- Ryan Solleveld
- Duane Duarte
- Derek Gledhill
Monday Handicap League (7 Teams)
Just Do It won the A side final against Arden’s Team 151–140, but Arden’s Team fought back through the B side and forced two matches in the final.
After taking the first match 144–110 in 13 games, the second came down to the wire. With the match tied going into Game 16, Aleaf An stepped up and delivered a 10–3 victory to secure the 142–138 championship win for Arden’s Team.
Congratulations to the Monday Handicap Champions!
- Captain – Arden Smoke
- Ethan Smoke
- Frank Young
- Aleaf An
- Kris Espinelli
Thursday Handicap League (11 Teams)
Commandos charged through the tournament undefeated, defeating Find Out in the A-side final 181–135, then taking down The Legends 172–151 in the final—without needing the last two games.
Congratulations to the Commandos on a well-earned championship!
- Captain – Arvie Advincula
- Jeff Evangelista
- Ruel Natividad
- Asher Palad
- Emman Tahimic
Hall of Fame Inductions
Aactive is proud to recognize the newest members of the Aactive Pool League Hall of Fame.
- Donna Bartlett
- Andy Spence Sr
- Rod Frisken
- Deana Rasmussen
- Ariel Delos Santos
- Fred Lecaine
Congratulations to the six inductees! This is a tremendous honor and a testament to your lasting contributions to the game and the league.
League Wind-Up Social – May 3rd
🎉 Don’t forget to join us for the Aactive Pool League Wind-Up Social on Saturday, May 3rd at Sonix Bar & Grill.
Doors open at 6:00 PM — come celebrate the season, share stories, and enjoy a great evening with teammates and league friends!
🙏 Thank You to All Players & Teams
To every player, captain, and team — thank you for being a part of the Aactive family over the past 7 months. It has been a true pleasure to aid, guide, and cheer you on throughout the season.
We hope you had as much fun as we did.
See you Saturday — and we’ll see you again next season!
Scott Morgan
