GABICA, DAVID TANDEM JOINS SMC SCOTCH DOUBLES 10-BALL
THE TANDEM of Antonio "Ga-Ga" Gabica, the country's most under rated player today and Renemar "Revo" David, the 2006 Sydney World Junior quarter-finalist, joins the elite-cast when the forthcoming 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.
"Puspusan ang ginawa kong paghahanda sa mga nalalapit kong local at international tournament. Bukod sa 50 racks a day sa Bugsy pool haus ay nag gi- gym din ako sa umaga sa City Lifetime Gym sa Tomas Morato," said the 35-year-old Gabica, one of the top player of star-studded Bugsy Promotion also consistent visiting City Lifetime Gym in Tomas Morato every morning before doing a 50 racks a day at the Bugsy Lair's pool haus in Sgt. Esguerra, Quezon City.
Prior to the SMC Scotch Doubles 10-balls event, Gabica, the 2007 Cebu 9-ball challenge runner-up will leave the country on September 6 along with Bugsy stablemate double world champion Ronato "Volcano" Alcano to represent the country in the US$10,000 top prize Brunei 9-Ball Invitational Cup 2007 from Sept 7-8 at the Indoor Stadium in Berakas, Brunei which features some of the world’s best cue masters.
Gabica, the 2004 Solar-Fil 9-ball champion, also looking to duplicate his feat he won three year's ago when the Php500,000 top prize 2007 SMB RP 9-ball Open Finals gets going on September 14.
Local billiard benefactor and Bugsy Promotion boss Perry Mariano had something to say to his ward. "Ga-Ga (Gabica) is the most under rated player today. I have no doubt that he can win a big tournament this year, kailangan n'ya lamang ng determinasyon at buong tiyaga." He added.
In a separate interview yesterday, Billiards and Snooker Congress of the Philippines (BSCP) president Ernie Fajardo added "Hindi naman kaila ang mga kabayanihan na binigay sa bansa ni Ga-Ga (Gabica) kaya kumpiyansa ako na malaking pag-asa muling manalo sa pandaigdigang torneo si Ga-Ga." Fajardo referring to the 9-ball gold medal and 8-ball silver medal that pocketed Gabica in the last year's Doha Asian Games in Qatar.
Aside from the pair of Gabica and David, other team entry that includes 2007 Korean Pro tour 9-ball champion Joven Bustamante and snooker ace turned pro billiards Benjie Guevarra.
For more details, please contact tournament director Jojo Santos at (0915) 700-8000, Gandy Valle (0916) 958-9897 and Jharome Pena at (0918) 394-2779.
Other Filipino pool shark's are expected to join the country's first ever San Miguel Corporation (SMC) Scotch Doubles 10-ball event where the top prize of Php140,000 goes to winning pair (team), are: Alcano, 2007 BCA Enjoypool.com winner Dennis "Robocop" Orcollo, 2006 Doha Asian games 9-ball silver medalist Jeffrey de Luna, 2007 Oslo, Norway Battle of Scandinavia 9-ball champion Roberto Gomez, 2006 SMB Asian 9-ball tour champion Gandy Valle, Carlo Biado, Mike Takayama and Elmer Kalaquian.
Bronco stable on the other hand will parade Jundel Mazon, and Jomar de Ocampo while rising Negros Billiard Stable (NBS) will likely field top gunner reigning national open champion Lee Vann "The Slayer" Corteza, who is fresh from a runner-up finish last Sunday in the 2007 Guinness 9-ball tour Grand Finale in Bali, Indonesia.
CUE SPORT’S DIFFICULT TASK IN THAILAND SEAG
MANILA, PHILIPPINES---Minus the man that anchored the RP billiards and
snooker team's successful bid in the last Southeast Asian Games, officials of the sport remains upbeat about its campaign in the 2007 edition of the biennial meet in Thailand this December.
Billiards and Snooker Congress of the Philippines (BSCP) president Ernesto Fajardo and chairman Yen Makabenta admitted that duplicating the eight gold medals the Filipino cue masters won in the Manila SEA Games two years ago may be a difficult task now that Alex Pagulayan is doubtful to see action in the Dec. 6-15 meet. But both echoed the same sentiment that the country is still a force to reckon with in the sport with Asian Games gold medalist Antonio Gabica and silver medal winner Jeffrey `Bata' de Luna leading the Filipinos' charge at the main hub of the meet in Nakhoratchasima.
"We've never been into the habit of predicting the number of golds, but definitely it is in the pool events where we are really strong," said Fajardo, joined by Makabenta in the weekly PSA Forum yesterday at the Shakey's United Nations Ave. branch. At the moment, Fajardo said the BSCP is in the process of deciding which players will make the
billiards team, with both Gabica and de Luna having the best shot of making it.
Gabica beat de Luna for the gold in the 9-ball singles at the Doha Asiad last year, although he fell short in the 8-ball singles where he settled for the silver to Satoshi Kabawata of Japan. "Their strong showing in the Asiad is not an assurance, but they (Gabica and de Luna) have a very good chance of landing in the team," said Fajardo.
Already assured slots in the snooker team are Benjie Guevarra, Reynaldo Grandea, Francisco dela Cruz, Al Ortega, Joven Alba and former Asian champion Marlon
Manalo.
"Marlon expressed interest to play with the snooker team. I hope it pushes through because he remains one of our best bets in snooker," said the BSCP president
in the same forum sponsored by Shakey's and PAGCOR. Behind the three gold medals of Pagulayan, the RP team run away with the overall title in the sport during the 2005 Manila SEA Games, including two gold medals each won by double world champion Ronnie Alcano (15-ball singles and 15-ball doubles), Leonardo `Dodong' Andam (snooker and 15-ball doubles) and Rubilen Amit (8-ball and 9-ball) in women's billiards.
Unfortunately, Pagulayan has decided not to play for the team this time, according to Fajardo, following his reported misunderstanding with the BSCP. Pagulayan, the 2004 world 9-ball champion, is the defending 8-ball singles champion and a part of the
team that won the 9-ball doubles (along with Dennis Orcollo) and men's snooker team (Alba and Andam).
But Makabenta said Pagulayan will be representing the country in the 2007 World Pool Championship later this year at the Araneta Coliseum. The BSCP chairman said Pagulayan already earned his slot in the meet featuring the best cue artists around the
world along with fellow Filipinos Reyes, Bustamante, Orcollo, Alcano, Lee Van Corteza, Manalo, Antonio Lining, Bebeng Gallego, de Luna, Rodolfo Luat and Joven Bustamante.
Around 10-12 slots are still available and will be up for grabs during the five-day qualifier to be held on Oct. 27-31, added Makabenta.
(Report from MARLON BERNARDINO)
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