GENERAL SANTOS CITY—Roberto Gomez bested Dondon Razalan, 11-6, in the finals to win the 3rd Manny Pacquiao 10-Ball Open Billiard Tournament at Arthur’s Billiard Hall here Thursday.
The win was worth P300,000 for the Zamboanga City-born Gomez.
“Dondon (Razalan) is good, but I gained the headstart,” said the 28-year-old Gomez in Filipino. “The fact that I was waiting in the finals was also a big factor because I was able to rest.”
Gomez, one of the rising stars of Bugsy Promotion, drew a bye in the opener and then subdued Gil Catamura, Rey Maniklin, Arnold Ramirez, Arnel Suscano and Razalan in succession to barge into the final.
The Japan-based Razalan, who hails from Calauag, Quezon, bested firecracker victim Jarry “Putol” Pelayo of Negros Billiard Stable (NBS), 8-5, to force a rematch with Gomez. Pelayo settled for third place and P25,000.
“My game turned sour,” said Razalan, who pocketed P100,000, in Filipino. “The breaks really went Gomez’s way.”
Edgardo Sibuco, house pro of One Side billiard hall in Ermita, Manila, beat Panfilo Damuag, 7-3, and settled for joint fifth to eighth places with Suscano, Timoy Saludo and Sonny Aton.
Davao City’s Leonardo Didal, the 2006 Solar Sports Fil-9 Ball Open runner-up, downed Sibugo for fourth place and P15,000.
Filipino-Japanese Mike Takayama wound up tied for 9th to 12th places with Ramirez, Godofredo Ducanes and Yoyong Neri.
At 13th to 16th placers were Negros Billiard Stable bets Ricky Zerna and Reynaldo Grandea, Johann Chua and Danny Otacan.
The event was organized by RP trickshot champ Julie Falcon and Boy Lopez. Marlon Bernardino, Contributor
