JOINS BATA AND DJANGO IN THE WINNERS COLUMN
UNHERALDED Panfilo "Abu Linkok" Damuag posted back to back wins to join tournament favorites two-time defending champion Francisco "Django" Bustamante and Efren "Bata" Reyes in the winners column along with five others in the ongoing 4th 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 over the weekend.
The 30-year-old Damuag, playing under the Negros Billiard Stable (NBS) stunned 2004 Taiwan World 9-ball champion Alex "The Lion" Pagulayan (9-6) and 2007 Oslo, Norway Battle of Scandinavia 9-ball runner-up Jharome Peña (9-4), respectively to set up a third clash with last year's runner-up Leonardo "Dodong" Didal, who defeated youthful Jech-Jech Limen (9-5) and Michael "Fighter Laguna" Feliciano (9-4).
The Bacolod City based Damuag who hails from Norala, South Cotabato rallied from a 2-6 deficit in the opening match against Pagulayan, the winningest pool player in the 2005 Manila Southeast Asian Games, clustered seven straight racks for a 9-6 victory in the Php1.3-million tournament organized by Solar Sports in close cooperation with Puyat Sports where Php500,000 goes to the champion. The race-to-11 semi-finals will be aired today, Sunday at 12:00 noon live on Solar Sports in this event also supported by Philippine Billiards God Father Aristeo "Putch" Puyat.
" Nakalamang agad si Alex (Pagulayan) ng 6-2 sa akin pero hindi ako nasiraan ng loob at sa pagtitiyaga ay naka pitong run-out po ako sa alternate break para sa 9-6 victory," said Damuag in his game against Pagulayan - the 2005 US Open 9-ball champion and 2006 BSCP National Pool Championships winner.
In his game against Peña, Damuag, who made it to the round-of-16 in the 2006 Bali, Indonesia surged to a 5-2 commanding lead before nailing a 9-5 triumph.
" Iba naman ang nangyari kay Jharome (Peña), ako naman po ang mapalad na nakalamang sa laro at napanatili natin hanggang sa huli," added Damuag, also the 2004 Sagay Festival 9-Ball Champion and 2004 San Carlos City 9-Ball Champion.
NBS coach/manager Christopher Palses, watching in the sideline along with NBS president Jonathan Sy lauded Damuag's impressive wins.
"May future sa bilyar si Abu (Damuag) kailangan lamang niya ng break at motivation kaya full support kami ni (NBS president) Boss Jo (Jonathan Sy)," said Palses.
Bustamante, on the other hand nipped Danny Otacan (9-1) and Rene "Bata" Cruz (9-6) to face 2006 Kuwait 9-ball Open champion Jundel "Jano" Mazon, winner over Jose "Amang" Parica (9-3) and reigning national open champion Lee Vann Corteza (9-8), in that order.
Reyes, the 1999 Cardiff World 9-ball champion crushed Eduardo "Pikoy" Villanueva (9-2) and Carlo Biado (9-5) to meet 2007 US Bar Table 9-ball champion and 8-ball champion Warren Kiamco, who beat Jeffrey de Luna (9-8) and JayJay Millares (9-3).
2007 BCA Enjoypool.com 9-ball kingpin Dennis Orcollo and 2006 Doha Asian games 9-ball gold medalist Antonio Gabica hurdled their respective assignment to meet in the third round.
Orcollo, the 28-year-old former fisherman from Bislig, Surigao del Sur trounced Elmer Kalaquian (9-4) and Russian Petiza (9-7) while the 35-year-old Gabica from Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu clobbered 2006 SMB Asian 9-ball tour leg winner Gandy Valle (9-7) and double world champion Ronato Alcano (9-3).
(Report from MARLON BERNARDINO)
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