Gomez draws inspiration from daughter

Newly crowned First Senate President Manny Villar Cup 9-Ball Open Davao City leg champion Roberto "Superman" Gomez of Zamboanga City offered his victory to his one-year-old daughter Samantha.

"Para sa anak ko ito. Inspirado akong maglaro at manalo dahil sa kaniya. Masayang-masaya ako sa panalong ito. Malaking pasalamat ko at binigyan ako ng Diyos ng magagandang breaks (This is for my child. I'm inspired to play and win because of her. I'm very happy with this victory. I thank God for giving me good breaks)," Gomez told Sun.Star Davao after crushing Gandy Valle, 11-4 in the finals Saturday night at the Atrium of Gaisano Mall.

The 29-year-old Gomez, a runner-up in the 2007 World Pool Championship in Manila, said it was great to play against Valle, 31, whom he cited as a player who can really clean up the table. "But I just really got lucky with my breaks while he struggled with his," Gomez said. Valle, an Asian Games gold medalist Valle who ruled the Villards Cup Cebu Leg in June, trailed early in the match, 1-5, as he succumbed to costly safety errors and miscues.

Gomez also capitalized on Valle's three straight dry breaks to control the match when he led at 10-4. In the 15th rack, Valle threw in the towel while Gomez was set to shoot the black 8-ball to the applause of the spectators. Later, Valle admitted he couldn't make good his breaks. "I really had bad breaks. It was his game all throughout. I'm happy for him," he said.

Valle's wife Rosyl added: "I'm happy that he (Valle) made it to the finals although he didn't win the title. Well, he has already won the Cebu leg. It's good somebody else won the Davao leg." Gomez bagged the P300,000 top prize, while Valle received P120,000 from Senator Villar, who personally awarded the prizes.

Former world champion Alex "The Lion" Pagulayan, meanwhile, entertained the crowd with his antics and trick shots albeit a handful of tries to perfect them after the championship match. Efren "Bata" Reyes also wowed the appreciative crowd with his magical shots as he defeated two-time world champion Ronnie Alcano, 5-1, in their 15-ball rotation exhibition match witnessed by Villar, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte and former Cavite congressman Gilbert Remulla.

"Masayang-masaya po ang experience na makapaglaro dito sa Davao kasama ang mga pinakamagagaling na Filipino players sa mundo. Nagpapasalamat po kami sa oportunidad na binigay sa amin ni Senator Villar na makalaro dito at mapanood ng mga taga-Davao (It's a good experience to be able to play with the best players in the world right here in Davao. We're thankful to Senator Villar for giving us the opportunity to play here and be witnessed by Dabawenyos)," Reyes said.

The next stop of the Villards Cup: Tulong sa Pagsulong ng Philippine Sports, sponsored by Senator Villar in cooperation of the Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines (BMPAP), is set in the Visayas.