MANILA, Philippines — Pinoy master cue artist Roland Garcia bowed to Russian defending champion Fedor Gorst in the finals of US Pro Billiards Predator Arizona 10-Ball Open at the Casino del Sol in Tucson, Arizona on Sunday.
Gorst took 2 sets, 4-3, 4-2, to retain his coveted the title and earned $25,000 for his repeat feat as Garcia netted $15,000.
It shall be recalled that Gorst won the last year’s inaugural meet at the expense of another Pinoy ace Carlo Biado.
It was a heartbreaking ending for Garcia, who had won all his previous assignments prior to the championship match.
"Medyo kinapos na rin po, tsaka nahirapan din ang katawan dahil sa matinding lamig dito, kaya kinapos po talaga," explain by Garcia in an interview of Ms. Judith Caringal of Radyo Pilipinas 2 thru Facebook messenger.
Earlier, the 42 year old Magalang, Pampanga pride Garcia went 3-0 in the elimination phase, crushing Biado (4-2, 4-2), among others, to advance to the knockout phase. Garcia then outclassed Japanese Naoyuki Oi in the Last-16, 2-4, 4-0, 4-3, Swiss Michael Schneider in the quarterfinals, 4-1, 2-4, 4-3, and Spanish Francisco Sanchez Ruis in the semis, 4-0, 3-4, 8-7.
Another Filipino entry Joven Bustamante was the only other Pinoy to get past the elims but got the boot from Schneider in the Last-16, 4-1, 3-4, 1-3.
Biado got an early exit after absorbing his second loss at the hands of Estonian ace Denis Grabe, 4-3, 2-4, 3-4. Roberto Gomez suffered the same fate in his 4-1, 4-1 setback to Gorst in the loser’s bracket.-Marlon Bernardino-
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