Leslie Joy Hutalla of Laguna College of Business and Arts delivered a commanding 4–0 victory over Sta. Rosa in the Secondary Girls’ 8-Ball Billiards event of the Regional Athletic Association Meet (RAAM).

 

The 16-year-old cue artist, now on her third RAAM appearance, carried the pressure of being Calamba’s last hope as she stood as the only remaining player in the competition.

 

Despite the situation, Hutalla stayed composed and focused on enjoying the game. She dominated every rack, often leaving her opponent with three to four balls on the table while she cleared hers.

 

Sta. Rosa attempted to close the gap in the fourth rack, but Hutalla kept control of the table and finished the match to complete the sweep in the race-to-four contest.

 

Hutalla shared that she always says a short prayer before taking her first shot, while also following the advice of her coach, Mary Grace Tuzon, to stay relaxed, enjoy the game, and keep smiling.

 

The young player also noted that the smaller pockets of the competition table made the match more challenging, but the support of her family motivated her to perform well. “Huwag kang matakot na magkamali kasi part lang yun ng laro,” Hutalla said when asked about the lesson she learned from billiards.