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Singapore: Antonio “Gaga” Gabica and Joven Bustamante posted
contrasting victories in the opening round of the Guinness 9-Ball
Tour 2008 Singapore leg Friday at the Velocity@Novena Square here.
Gabica had an easy time against Siauw Weito of
Indonesia, 9-4, while Bustamante labored before beating Li He Wen of
China, 9-7.
Gabica, a former Asian Games gold medalist,
raced to a 5-2 lead and never looked back. Bustamante had a tougher
time, needing a lucky break on the 16th rack to finally dispose of
his Chinese opponent.
Li had a chance to tie the match at 8-all, but
scratched on his final break.
Gabica and Bustamante could clinch automatic
quarterfinal berths with wins later in the day. Gabica was scheduled
to meet local bet Toh Lian Han while Bustamante was to play against
Han Hao Xiang of Hong Kong.
Earlier, Alex Pagulayan and Jericho Bañares
dropped their opening matches.
Nitiwat Kanjanasari of Thailand edged Pagulayan,
9-8, while Nguyen Anh Tuan of Vietnam trounced Bañares, 9-3.
Pagulayan and Bañares still have a chance to
enter the quarterfinals. But they should beat highly fancied
opponents in their respective groups later in the day. Pagulayan was
set to meet Ibrahim Bin Amir of Malaysia while Bañares was
scheduled to play Wang Hung Hsiang of Chinese Taipei.
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