ANTONIO "GAGA"GABICA, the country's most underrated pool player today downed pool maestro Efren "Bata" Reyes (13-10), yesterday to book the first finals seat in the 4 th annual San Miguel Beer (SMB) Philippine Open 9-ball Championship at the Decagon Hall in Silvercity Mall, Julia Vargas Ave. Ortigas Center beside Alchemy and behind SM Shoemart and Tiendesitas near C5.
The 35-year-old Gabica, member of the star-studded Bugsy Promotion won the opening lag and surged a 4-2 lead to take the fight out of Reyes, who is the 1999 Cardiff World 9-ball champion, in the race to-13, alternate format of the first semi-finals TV matches yesterday afternoon in P1.3-million tournament organized by Solar Sports in close cooperation with Puyat Sports and offering P500,000 to the champion.
"Suwerte lamang kasi bagama't may mga error tayo ay may error din si Ninong (Efren Reyes),"said the 2004 inauguration champ Gabica after the match referring to Reyes,God Father in his wedding to his wife Jean Gabica.
Perry Mariano, local pool benefactor lauded Gabica's impressive showing to top favorites Reyes. "Ga-Ga (Gabica) is the most underrated player today."
Gabica, the 2007 Cebu 9-ball Challenge runner-up who bagged the 9-ball gold and 8-ball silver medals in the last year's ASIAD in Doha will face Bugsy stablemate current double world champion Ronato "Volcano" Alcano, who edges two-time defending champion Francisco "Django" Bustamante (13-12) in the second TV matches of the semi-final round late Sunday.
After the game was tied at 6 all, Gabica clustered three consecutive racks to take a 9-6 commanding lead after Reyes missed a tough 8-ball shot in the 15th racks.
Reyes cut the lead at 9-7 after a run-out in the 16 th racks but Gabica scored two of the three racks for his fifth break and run to move a comfortable 10-8 lead.
In the 21st racks, Reyes made a 1-7 combo that sank the yellow no.1 ball but suffered another scratch in the blue no.2 ball that lead Gabica on the hill (12-9).
Reyes, the acknowledge "The Magician" in pool world won the 22nd racks to close the match at 12-10, however, Reyes missed another tough 9-ball shot in the 23rd racks to give Gabica's 13-10 victory to progress.
Gabica and Alcano, both assured already P250,000 for reaching the finals while losing semi-finalists Reyes and Bustamante was contented at P100,000 each.
The 35-year-old Gabica, member of the star-studded Bugsy Promotion won the opening lag and surged a 4-2 lead to take the fight out of Reyes, who is the 1999 Cardiff World 9-ball champion, in the race to-13, alternate format of the first semi-finals TV matches yesterday afternoon in P1.3-million tournament organized by Solar Sports in close cooperation with Puyat Sports and offering P500,000 to the champion.
"Suwerte lamang kasi bagama't may mga error tayo ay may error din si Ninong (Efren Reyes),"said the 2004 inauguration champ Gabica after the match referring to Reyes,God Father in his wedding to his wife Jean Gabica.
Perry Mariano, local pool benefactor lauded Gabica's impressive showing to top favorites Reyes. "Ga-Ga (Gabica) is the most underrated player today."
Gabica, the 2007 Cebu 9-ball Challenge runner-up who bagged the 9-ball gold and 8-ball silver medals in the last year's ASIAD in Doha will face Bugsy stablemate current double world champion Ronato "Volcano" Alcano, who edges two-time defending champion Francisco "Django" Bustamante (13-12) in the second TV matches of the semi-final round late Sunday.
After the game was tied at 6 all, Gabica clustered three consecutive racks to take a 9-6 commanding lead after Reyes missed a tough 8-ball shot in the 15th racks.
Reyes cut the lead at 9-7 after a run-out in the 16 th racks but Gabica scored two of the three racks for his fifth break and run to move a comfortable 10-8 lead.
In the 21st racks, Reyes made a 1-7 combo that sank the yellow no.1 ball but suffered another scratch in the blue no.2 ball that lead Gabica on the hill (12-9).
Reyes, the acknowledge "The Magician" in pool world won the 22nd racks to close the match at 12-10, however, Reyes missed another tough 9-ball shot in the 23rd racks to give Gabica's 13-10 victory to progress.
Gabica and Alcano, both assured already P250,000 for reaching the finals while losing semi-finalists Reyes and Bustamante was contented at P100,000 each.
for more visit www.billiardphilippines.com
by: Marlon Bernardino
No comments:
Post a Comment