Team Philippines blinked first in its marquee showdown with Great Britain, absorbing a crushing 4-1 defeat in the finals of the 1st World Team Pool Championship Sunday at Exhibition Grounds in Hannover, Germany.

The Filipinos found the English too tough to handle as the Europeans came through with remarkable shots of their own to sprint away from a 1-all deadlock on the way to ruling the prestigious event that earned them the $100,000 (P4.7 million) winner’s prize.

Despite the setback, the Philippines still emerged the best Asian finisher in the 48-country tournament that ran for 9 days. The Filipinos were the only Asians to reach the Final Four with Greece settling for third ($30,000), and Russia fourth ($20,000).

England got off to a strong start with a 6-1 victory in the first 8-ball Scotch doubles, before the RP team leveled the count at 1-apiece with a similar 6-1 win in the second 8-ball play.

But that was the best the Filipinos could do as the English gave the Filipinos no chance, taking the next three matches on account of individual victories by Mark Gray, Karl Boyes and former world ten ball champion Darren Appleton.

Gray trounced Antonio Lining, 8-2, in the first 9-ball play, Boyes nipped Lee Van Corteza, 8-7, in the same event before Appleton routed former world No.1 Dennis Orcollo, 7-1, in the 10-ball event.

The last match of the day – a 10-ball play pitting Ronnie Alcano and Daryl Peach – was called off after the English posted their fourth win in the race-to-four event. The other members of the RP team are Warren Kiamco and Marlon Manalo.