GABICA SET SIGHTS ON WORLD POOL CHAMPIONSHIP CROWN AFTER WINNING HIS SECOND SMB RP 9-BALL OPEN
MANILA, PHILIPPINES - Today the Philippines, tomorrow the world. Antonio "Ga'Ga" Gabica, the country's most underrated player wants to conquer them all.
The power-breaking cue artist showed the form that he can win again the title that he won three years ago by beating fellow Bugsy stablemate current WPA 9-ball and WPA 8-ball champion Ronato "Volcano" Alcano (15-9) in the finals on his way to a second San Miguel Beer Philippine 9-Ball Open crown late Sunday at the Decagon Hall in Silvercity Mall, Julia Vargas Avenue in Ortigas Center enroute the top purse of P500,000.
Two balls on the break in the final rack then sank the yellow no.1 ball using a tough bank shot then followed a 2-9 combination for the 15-9 victory.
Local benefactor/businessman Perry Mariano had something to say to his ward, "Ngayon alam na siguro ng mga tao bakit ko palaging sinasabi na si Ga-Ga (Antonio Gabica) is the most underrated player today."
Gabica's road to the race-to-15, alternate break finals came from wins over 2006 SMB Asian 9-ball tour leg winner Gandy "Sapsal" Valle (9-7), Alcano (9-3), 2007 BCA Enjoypool.com 9-ball champion Dennis "Robocop" Orcollo (9-8), before losing to two-time defending champion Francisco "Django" Bustamante (9-7) in the fourth match of winner's brackets on Saturday then beat Carlo "Cool" Biado (9-6) in the loser's brackets then toppled pool maestro Efren "Bata" Reyes (13-10) in the cross-over semi-final round Sunday afternoon before beating Alcano (15-9).
Alcano, on the other hand beat Eduardo Saracho (9-3) in the opener before yielding to Gabica (9-3) then dominated the loser' brackets by trouncing 2004 World 9-Ball Champion Alex Pagulayan (9-6), Russian Petiza (9-7), Warren Kiamco (9-7), current national open title-holder Lee Vann Corteza (9-6), and Panfilo Damuag (9-6) then ousted Bustamante (13-12) in the cross-over semis before bowing to Gabica.
In the 2004 inauguration leg of RP 9-Ball Open, Gabica beat Orcollo (17-6) in the finals plus obtaining a world record 11 consecutive racks beating the 10 straight racks of former world 9-ball champion American Earl "The Pearl" Strickland.
It was Gabica's first major title this year after two runner-up place finishes here and abroad.
Last March 2-4, the 35-year-old Lapu-Lapu City ace Gabica settled for a runner-up place behind eventual winner compatriot Warren "Warrior" Kiamco in the 2007 US Bar Table 9-Ball Championships in Sands Regency Hotel in Reno, Nevada and contented another second place finish in the 2007 Cebu 9-Ball Open Challenge last July which won by 2004 World 9-ball champion Alex "The Lion" Pagulayan was held at the SM Cebu Trade Hall in Cebu City.
But Gabica is still one hungry soul. "Maganda kung World 9-Ball Championship ang mapanalunan natin pero ok na din kasi halos kumpleto lahat dito kasi ng pinalad na nag champion tayo noong 2004 ay hindi kasali si ninong Efren (Reyes) at Django (Bustamante)," Gabica said after the match who failed to advance in the main draw in the last year's edition of WPC here in Manila.
"Pero kailangan ko munang dumaan sa qualifying round kasi hindi naman tayo seeded sa main draw ng WPC," Gabica added, who bagged the gold medal in the 9-ball competition and settled silver in the 8-ball competition in the 2006 Asian Games in Doha, Qatar.
The world championship of 9-ball will be staged again for the second consecutive year in the country organized by Yen Makabenta's Raya Sports group on November 3 to 11 at the Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City.
"Magandang warm-up event na din ang Philippine Ball Open bago mag WPC qualifying event," He also needed to warm up before frustrating Alcano in the finals of the double elimination P1.3-million tournament organized by Solar Sports in close cooperation with Puyat Sports and supported by San Miguel Beer.
Gabica dominated the entire game that lasted almost three hours grueling battles against Alcano from taking a 3-0 commanding lead to 4-2, 6-4 and 7-6 in this race-to-15, alternate break format.
Break and run of Gabica in the 18th racks took him two racks advantage (10-8) and a 3rd dry break of Alcano in the 19 th racks seized the former (Gabica) an 11-8 lead before 12-8 lead after Gabica's fourth break and run-out in the 20th racks.
A second golden break of Gabica in the 22nd racks put him a formidable 13-9 lead, and Alcano's fourth dry break in the 23 rd racks led Gabica to reach the hill (14-9).
Two balls on the break in the final rack then sank the yellow no.1 ball using a tough bank shot then followed a 2-9 combination for the 15-9 victory.
Before taking on the rest of the world, Gabica will first test the local field when the country's first ever San Miguel Corporation (SMC) Scotch Doubles 10-ball event gets underway on September 19, 20 and 21 at the Elbowroom/ Metro Walk in Pasig City.
He is also schedule to compete in the 32nd Annual U.S. Open 9-Ball on October 14 - October 20 at the beautiful Chesapeake Conference Center, in Chesapeake Virginia then fly back home for the P2 million total pot prize of first ever Manny Pacquiao International 9-Ball Open on Oct. 24 to 27 at the Hobbies of Asia Bldg. in Macapagal Avenue in Pasay City with the winner taking away the whopping top prize money of P1 million.
Final Pay-outs: (32-players field)
Champion: Antonio Gabica (P500,000)
Runner-up: Ronato Alcano (P250,000)
Losing Semi-Finalists: Francisco Bustamante and Efren Reyes (P100,000 each)
Past Champions:
2004 Antonio Gabica
2005 Francisco Bustamante
2006 Francisco Bustamante
2007 Antonio Gabica
(Report from MARLON BERNARDINO)
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