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ROBERTO Gomez and Jeffrey “Jeff Bata” de Luna, the country’s
finest young pool stars, will try to cap their breakout season on a
high note as they compete in the tough Super Cup 9-Ball Invitational
in Taiwan.
Gomez, runner-up in this year’s World Pool
Championship, is the last player invited to play in the highly
anticipated and star-studded event.
The hottest commodity of the Bugsy Promotions is
hoping to do well in his first stint abroad after his sensational
campaign in the WPC.
“Alam ko na ito na ang bunga ng magandang
ipinakita ko sa WPC kaya asahan ninyo na hindi ko ito sasayangin [I
know that this is the fruit of my good showing in the WPC, so expect
me not to waste this opportunity],” said Gomez.
De Luna, on the other hand, is perhaps the most
promising talent in local pool.
The former child prodigy is quickly establishing
himself as one of the best in the game especially on the breaking
aspect.
His aggressive plays and no-fear attitude helped
him beat his more illustrious compatriots in big-time competitions.
De Luna took the measure of fellow Bugsy star
Dennis Orcollo in the finals to rule the Manny Pacquiao
International 9-Ball Open and was the top performer for Team
Philippines in the Kabayan World 9-Ball Challenge in Calapan City,
Oriental Mindoro.
They are expected to face a rough sailing at the
home of the country’s chief rivals in pool supremacy—the
Taiwanese.
Former world champions Chao Fong-pang and Wu
Chia-ching will spearhead the bid of the locals. Yang Ching-shun,
the acknowledged top player of Taiwan, is also in the field.
Western players are also expected to pose a
stiff challenge with Rodney Morris, the top scorer for the Rest of
the World in the Kabayan World 9-Ball Challenge, leading the way.
“Magandang test ito para sa mga bata [It’s a
good test for my wards],” said Bugsy manager Perry Mariano.
“We’ll see kung kaya na nilang dalhin ang bandera ng bansa
katulad ng ginawa ng mga players natin na nauna sa kanila [We’ll
see if they are worthy to bear our country’s flag like the other
players who went before them].”
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