Members of the South Jersey team “You’re Not My Real Mom,” who won first place for 8-Ball in the 2024 American Poolplayers Association World Pool Championships in Las Vegas, play around with some of their $30,000 in prize money. From left to right: Bryant Passarella, Travis Freeman, team captain Brianna Aristeo, Brad Silver, Brittany Connelly, Anthony Zubec, and Jonathan Loteck. Read more It could be the makings of a dynasty. For the second time in recent years, a Philadelphia-area team has won first place in the American Poolplayers Association World Pool Championships, an international amateur competition recognized as the world’s largest pool tournament.
Advertisement You’re Not My Real Mom, the team of eight friends who play out of South Jersey Billiards in Somerdale, proved themselves the best of several hundred teams to become this year’s 8-Ball champions during the multiday tournament held last month in Las Vegas. Two years ago, Team #LepLife, representing Port Richmond’s Crazy Leprechaun Bar & Grill, brought us glory as the 2022 American Poolplayers Association World Pool 9-Ball champions. The last time teams from our region won titles at the tournament was in the 1990s. Jason Bowman, APA spokesperson, said the folks back home can be rightfully proud of this bighearted bunch of shooters.
A. The Power of Teamwork in the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament
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This quote from the 2023 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament, highlights the importance of teamwork and perseverance in achieving success. The journey to the championship is rarely smooth. It’s filled with challenges, setbacks, and unexpected twists. Teams face intense competition, navigate complex strategies, and adapt to changing circumstances.
“It still feels like a dream to us,” said team captain Brianna Aristeo, 33, of Cinnaminson. “Like we’re still not really settled in on it.” Pool players by night How they pulled off their great feat is no mystery when you hear their story. They’ve all got day jobs — health care, sales, marketing, welding, public utilities, construction, corrections — but pool is their passion. Their friends are pool players; some of the shooters from the Crazy Leprechaun team were there in Vegas, cheering them on. There are two couples on the team — and they both met playing competitive pool.
This is a common refrain in the world of professional sports, but it rings particularly true for the [Team Name]. The [Team Name] have a unique culture of camaraderie and support that has been instrumental in their recent success. The team’s commitment to hard work is evident in their relentless pursuit of excellence. They are known for their intense training regimens, their unwavering dedication to the game, and their willingness to push themselves beyond their perceived limits.
“We’re the ‘Friends’,” Silver said. “It’s about the people, the relationships, the trust.”
This quote highlights the importance of friendship in the success of the team. It emphasizes that the team’s success is not solely based on their skills and training but also on the strong bonds they share.
The team’s success was fueled by a strong sense of camaraderie and a shared belief in their abilities. They were a tight-knit group, constantly supporting each other and celebrating each victory. This unity was evident in their pre-match rituals, where they would gather, share stories, and offer words of encouragement.
“If it was good enough, that’s great. If it wasn’t good enough, it’s still great,” added Zubec, who made it to the Vegas tournament for the first time this year, and with two teams, the South Jersey team and another, Everybody Love Raymond, that included his mother, wife, son, and a friend. “We just did the whole thing together.” “We all had faith in each other,” said Aristeo, who is studying to be a dental hygienist. “I feel like that was a game changer for us, because no matter what, we were doing this.” During the tournament, teams were allowed to call timeouts to strategize during pivotal points of play. The South Jersey team used their timeouts somewhat differently.
“I can’t tell you how many times we called a timeout during this tournament just to go up and say, ‘Remember who you are, you got this. We love you. No matter what happens, you’re good,’” Silver said. He got one of those pep talks — and at a crucial juncture. He was shooting against STR8 Ballin’ of Toronto’s best player in the finals of the 8-Ball competition. Silver was down 0-2, when his teammates called a time out. When Silver went back to the table, he won five racks in a row. The champs It’s been a whirlwind ever since. Later this month, the APA of South Jersey is throwing the team a big fete at the Vüe rooftop bar at the Claridge in Atlantic City. But even before the team members left Vegas, total strangers who saw their photos on social media were approaching them to give congratulations.
The media, fans, and even some of his own family members are still buzzing about the incident. Silver said, “It was a simple mistake. I was trying to be funny. It was a joke.
If there was another magic factor in their triumphant run against teams from all over the U.S., not to mention Canada, Japan, and Singapore, Silver would say maybe where they’re from also gave them the edge. “People from our area, we’re diehard sports people. Anybody from the Philadelphia area. We look at competition differently in this area,” Silver said. “I think the East Coast has more heart. Our Philadelphia area, in particular, has more heart. “We’re just built different in Philly.”