ANTONIO "Ga'Ga" Gabica scored a long-awaited victory this year when he beat compatriot and fellow PBDF player Marlon "Marvelous" Manalo, 13-8, in the finals of tough Mandaluyong Mayor's Cup Ten Ball Championship dubbed as inauguration of Philippine Pool Tour (PPT) at the Mandaluyong Hall Auditorium in Mandaluyong City, on Sunday.
Gabica who failed to bagged any single local and international title this year, also the 2007 San Miguel Beer Philippine 9-Ball Open Champion, appeared to regain his best form in the time of World Ten Ball Championships slated on September.
Gabica received the top prize of $10,000 and slot for this year's World Ten Ball.
He raced a 3-1 to 5-2 lead and took four of the seven racks for a 9-5 lead. However, Manalo came back in the game close the match at 9-8 winning three straight racks before Gabica never looked backed for a 13-8 victory.
"Suwerte lamang talaga kasi kahit nakauna tayo kay Marlon (Manalo) ay talagang lumaban siya at dumikit pa sa bandand huli."said Gabica, who teaming up with Manalo to went home the gold medal in the doubles competition in the last year's Southeast Asian Games in Thailand.
" Buti di tayo bumigay sa bandang huli," added Gabica, the 2006 Doha Asian Games 9-ball gold medalist and 8-ball silver medallist.
The tournament, jointly organized by Billiards and Snooker Congress of the Philippines (BSCP) and Raya Sports aired lived through ABS Studio 23 and the Filipino Channel. The event was hosted by mayor Benhur Abalos in close cooperation with League Cities of the Philippines. World Class Brunswick Billiard Table is the official billiard table.
Actually, it was a third straight victory of Gabica over Manalo in their head to head duel after the former (Gabica) beat the latter's (Manalo) twice recently in the Billiards and Snooker Congress of the Philippines (BSCP) qualifying tournament for the Guinness 9-ball tour and World 8-Ball slots.
Gabica trounced national junior champion Jericho Banares, 11-3, yesterday to arrange a titular showdown with Manalo, who earlier booked his semi-finalist seat by beating Leonardo Andam, 11-7.
"Inaasahan kong gaganti si Marlon (Manalo) at tiyak bentahe siya kasi sa teritoryo niya ang venue, I mean y'ung home crowd support sa kanya, " Commented the Lapu-Lapu City native Gabica before the race-to-13 finals.
Interestingly, Gabica and Manalo, both top player of the Philippine Billiards Development Foundation (PBDF) under the tutelage of Amado "June" Diokno and Willie "Hoots" Aldeguer.
Gabica's road to the race-to-13, winner's break format came from wins over Richard Rollo, 9-5, Silverio Tulabing, 9-4, Courtent Symons of England, 9-4, and Tomoo Takano of Japan, 9-4.
Manalo, on the other hand beat Luis Saberdo, 9-6, James Al Ortega, 9-7, Gerald Carbonera, 9-4, and Allan Soliman, 9-5, respectively.
Meanwhile, Banares and Andam, both advance into the Final Four via back door. Banares, 18, beat
Leonardo Didal, 9-7,and take 7-0 lead to frustrate ex-world titlist Thorsten Hohmann of Germany into a 9-4 victory.
Andam on his part bested Chien-Te Chung of Taiwan, 9-2, after taking a 3-0 lead then ousted compatriot Mario Tolentino via 9-7 wins.
contributed by MARLON BERNARDINO
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