ANTONIO "Ga-Ga' Gabica and unheralded Bob Flores blasted their respective opponents yesterday to remain in the title hunt of the $30,000 Mandaluyong Mayor's Cup ten-ball championship at the Kaban ng Hiyas Building in Mandaluyong City.
Gabica, top player of Philippine Billiards Development Foundation (PBDF) who is aiming another title-shot after winning the 2007 San Miguel Corporation Philippine 9-Ball Open beat Richard Rollo, 9-5, in the first round then subdued Silverio Tulabing, 9-4, in the second round while Flores, a relatively unknown in the local pool crushed Ken Escano, 9-6, and Michael Mengorio, 9-4, respectively.
"Kailangan talaga dito ang much more focus at s'yempre dapat pumabor sau ang bola," said the 35-year-old Lapu-Lapu City (Cebu) pride Gabica, who needed to beat former world champions Efren "Bata" Reyes in the semis and Ronato "Volcano" Alcano in the finals to win the 2007 San Miguel Corporation Philippine 9-Ball Open.
Tomoo Takano of Japan also notch back to back wins by demolishing Alvin De Guzman, 9-4, and Elmer "Buddy" Kalaquian, 9-8, respectively, to strengthening his bid in this $10,000 top prize event which is presented by San Miguel Beer in close cooperation with League Cities of the Philippines and hosted by mayor Benhur Abalos. Official billiard table is Brunswick billiard table.
Meanwhile, Marlon Manalo, Jeffrey de Luna, former world 9-ball champion Thorsten Hohmann of Germany to follow the foot-step of the opening day winners that includs another ex-world 9-ball champion Johnny Archer of the United States, 2006 Asian Games 8-ball gold medalist Satoshi Kawabata of Japan and Chieh-Te Chung of Taiwan.
The 2005 WPA World Pool Championships 3rd placer Manalo, who hails from Mandaluyong City nipped Luis Saberdo, 9-6, De Luna, the 2006 Asian Games 9-ball silver medalist nipped John Berile of France, 9-3, while Hohmann trounced Benigno Lopez De Leon, 9-2, late Tuesday.
In other matches saw, US campaigner Ramon "Maestro Monching" Mistica and Japan tour stalwart Armando "Agila" Cagol bowed their respective opening assignments.
Mistica from Murphy, Quezon City succumbed to John Carlo Cerna, 9-6, while the Caloocan City based Cagol yielded to Cebu ace John Albert Refulle, 9-5.
Other notable winners in the opening round are James Al Ortega, Gilbert Carbonera, Lester Dulawan, Allan Soliman, Raymond Faraon, Gerry Watson of Canada and Kenji Taguchi and Yong Bak Wang of Japan.
After this stop in Mandaluyong, the Tour will travel to Puerto Princesa in Palawan next month before going to Cebu, Davao, Olongapo and then to Pasay for the final leg, which would sandwich the world tilt in September.
contributed by MARLON BERNARDINO, edited by jovie sison
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