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ANTONIO GABICA notched two straight wins to lead the march of
favorites in the Mandaluyong Mayor’s Cup 10-Ball Championship
Wednesday at the Kaban ng Hiyas Building in Mandaluyong City.
The Doha Asian Games gold medal winner in 9-ball
defeated Richard Rollo, 9-5, and Silverio Tulabing, 9-4, to stay in
the winner’s bracket of the double-elimination tournament
supported by San Miguel Beer and hosted by Mayor Benhur Abalos of
Mandaluyong City.
With his breaking game clicking all the way,
Gabica raced to a big lead in both his matches and never looked
back.
“Mahirap kapag dikit ang laban,” Gabica
said. “Mas malakas kasi ang pressure sa kagaya namin na inaasahang
manalo.”
Unheralded Bob Flores also posted two straight
wins to join Gabica in the third round of the winner’s side.
Flores crushed Ken Escano in the first round, 9-6, and proceeded to
beat Michael Mengorio, 9-4.
Tomoo Takano of Japan also advanced in the third
round after surviving a hill-hill affair opposite Elmer Kalaquian,
9-8. He earlier subdued Alvin de Guzman, 9-4.
Local boy Marlon Manalo also didn’t
disappoint. The many-time winner in international competitions
downed Luis Saberdo, 9-6.
Also opening their bids on the right note were
pre-tournament favorite Jeffrey de Luna and former world champion
Thorsten Hohmann of Germany.
De Luna, arguably the strongest breaker in pool,
trounced John Berile of France, 9-3, while Hohmann toppled Benigno
Lopez de Leon, 9-2.
Other notable winners in the opening round were
James Al Ortega, Gilbert Carbonera, Lester Dulawan, Allan Soliman,
Raymond Faraon, Gerry Watson of Canada and Kenji Taguchi and Yong
Bak Wang of Japan.
-- Noli S. Cruz
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