Building a Team
OX supports and encourages players to keep practicing and competing to improve their game and sharpen their skill. We are building a team of OX players that exemplify individual effort and drive. Below are bios for the first two OX team players, Daniel Sardoncillo and Marissa Du. We are proud to support these players and have them call OX their home.
Daniel Sardoncillo
OX BILLIARDS is proud to sponsor and be the home of Daniel Sardoncillo. Daniel established himself early on as a top Washington State player with lots of upside. He represented the US in China as a junior player and has won several top tournaments. Although Daniel is a humble and friendly guy who takes his early success in stride, he is not content with early success and works hard to achieve loftier goals. He is a great addition to the OX family.
“It only took me one night to figure out what OX was all about, and my only complaint is I don’t live across the street from them.” Daniel says. “They have big plans in the future, and I’m very excited for what they have in store for us.”
Daniel’s dad, Junior, introduced pool to him at a young age. But before learning how to break and run, Junior was worried about Daniel breaking bones on a skateboard. “I used to be a skateboarder before pool and he kept stressing how I’d more than likely break every bone in my body becoming a pro. My dad took me to a pool hall when I was 10 and I was immediately pulled in!” Daniel says.
Daniel, like most pool players watched a lot of the greats. “My early heroes were Efren Reyes and Francisco Bustamante, but as I evolved as a player, so did the game and while I still love those classic players, I now look up to the new school players like James Aranas and Joshua Filler.”
Daniel was born in Puyallup, WA and has lived there his whole life. Pool has taken him across the globe. “Not only has pool taken me to different states across the US, but I’ve also landed in completely different cultures.” Playing cue-sports is a tough and sometimes lonely battle. It can be brutal and trying, especially when the pressure adds up. The good players know how to handle the pressure both on and off the table, “ I also think pool has taught me many important life lessons and how to deal with some stressful situations.” As a result, Daniel has reaped the rewards of hard work and confidence mixed with humility. “My favorite accomplishment is winning the Lincoln City 9-Ball. My biggest goal is to be on the Mosconi Cup US team.” OX BILLIARDS is proud to help him on his journey.
Marissa Du
OX BILLIARDS is proud to sponsor and be the home of Marissa Du. Marissa and her dad Yi walked into OX in early September 2021 and grabbed a pool table in the back of the club. Marissa walked around the table with confidence. With her dad coaching her, Marissa made some great pots with amazing cueball control. Her mannerisms and approach to the game is in one word, fearless.
Marissa is 12 years old and has been playing pool since she was nine. As a young kid, Marissa would watch Yi as he played pool. In three short years, her skill level is skyrocketing. In 2019, at age 10, she placed 4th in the BEF Junior National Championship 14u girls and more recently came in 3rd in a Fargo 550 and under tournament.
Although Marissa does not yet have a favorite pro player, she has mixed it up with professional snooker player and world champion, Judd Trump. She played Judd a few racks of 9-ball while he visited OX BILLIARDS for an exhibition on September 19th, 2021.
She was only supposed to play two racks against him, but after Marissa won the first rack of 9-ball and Judd won the second rack, she deserved a decider. She was fearless and focused. The evening was filled with adults playing Judd and miscuing out of nerves, but a confident Marissa powered through and was the only player to win a frame or rack against Judd.
One of Marissa’s goals, as a player, is to compete in the World Junior Championship representing the US. We are proud to sponsor and support Marissa along her way in pool, and life.