PASAY CITY, PHILIPPINES - AT LAST, Roberto Gomez fullfiled his dream when he earn a seat in the main draw of the 2006 Philippine World Pool Championship slated on Nov.4 to 13 at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City.
Gomez, known around the local pool as Pinoy Superman because he showed nerves of steel in the money game trounced Oi Naoyuki of Japan , 9-6, in the first qualifying tournament Saturday at the Star Billiards Center in Joy. St., Grace Village in Quezon City.
The 26-year-old cue artist from Zamboanga City became the 14th Filipino entry in the biggest and toughest 9-ball event in the world.
Gomez, playing under the Bugsy's Promotion of businessman Ceferino "Perry" Mariano, took the initiative in the alternate break match, racing to a 4-0 lead. But the Japanese quickly leveled at 4-all. “ I just lucky." said Gomez.
On his way to the finals, Gomez beat Hisash Kusano, 7-5, Tomoo Takano, 7-6, two-time World Junior 9-Ball Championship winner Hui Kai Hsia, 7-5, Philippine representative to this year's World Junior 9-ball Championship Rene Mar David, 7-3, and World Pool veteran Warren Kiamco, 7-2.
Mariano thought Gomez got his ticket to the main draw as early as the third round. “When he (Gomez) beat Hui Kai Hsia i knew he can make it to the main draw,” said Mariano.
Gomez himself admitted that beating Hsia boosted his confidence heading into the later rounds.
“We knew Hui Kai Hsia is one of the top player in my field.”
In the second qualifying round late Saturday, Nien Rong-Chih got the better of Chien Chin Ju in an all-Taiwanese final, 9-4, to advance into the group play staring Nov. 4 at the Philippine International Convention Center.
There are still 10 slots remaining in the main draw.
Among the victims of Nien were World Pool veteran Max Eberle, 7-4, and Filipinos Jherome Peña, 7-5, and Lee Vann Corteza, 7-1. Chien, on the other hand, earlier rallied past teen-sensation Mike Takayama, 7-6.
Meanwhile, the third qualification tournament gets underway yesterday in the same venue. Doha, Qatar Asian games bound Leonardo "Dodong Dadiangas" Andam, Ramon "Maestro Monching" Mistica and Ismael "Amay" Rota are hoping to advance in the main draw which offers US$100,000 to the champion.
" It's hard to qualified in the main draw but I will do my best." Andam added, the 19991 Manila Southeast Asian games most bemedalled athlete with five golds and also veteran of WPC.
