Gomez, Alcano, Valle launch campaign at Ramadan 9-Ball

Filipino cue artists Roberto Gomez, Ronnie Alcano and Gandy Valle opens their campaign Tuesday for the Ramadan 9-Ball Invitational Championship in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates.

A report on AzBilliards.com said Gomez is hoping to ride on his momentum following his successful stint at the Davao leg of the First Senate President Manny Villar Cup.

“I hope to continue the momentum I’ve got from my Villar Cup victory,” said the 29-year-old Gomez, who rose to prominence with his runner-up finish in the 2007 World Pool Championship.

Like Gomez, Valle is also looking to sustain his good performance this year, which started after ruling the Villar Cup Cebu Leg in June.

“I want this 2008 to become a bounce back year for me, and I hope I could win more tournaments before it ends,” said Valle, who was the runner-up to Gomez in the Villar Cup Davao Leg.

Alcano, on the other hand, will break into the tournament looking to end a long title drought.

The former double world champion has not won a title since reigning in the 2007 World 8-Ball Championship held in Fujairah.

“It was there in Fujairah where I last won a title. So I hope it will also be there where I will start winning again,” said Alcano.

BMPAP petitions Ombudsman to probe BSCP

Officials of the Billiards and Snooker Congress of the Philippines are facing charges of malversation of funds allegedly committed when they hosted the World Pool Championship two years ago.

The Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines Thursday filed a petition before the Ombudsman to determine whether public funds were technically misappropriated when the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) financially supported the staging in 2006 and 2007 of the WPC, which was organized by the BSCP and Raya Sports.

The BMPAP said there was conflict of interest when BSCP and Raya Sports, the private firm responsible for marketing the WPC, solicited public funds intended for the biggest nine-ball competition in the world.

BSCP chair and Raya Sports president Florentino “Yen” Makabenta said he hasn’t heard about the complaint and would issue a statement as soon as his lawyers get a copy of BMPAP’s petition.

“We need a copy of the complaint. We can’t react without it,” Makabenta told the Philippine Daily Inquirer (parent company of INQUIRER.net).

Cue artist Roberto Gomez, last year’s WPC runner-up, signed the petition and personally handed it to Assistant Ombudsman Mark Jalandoni.

Gomez was accompanied by former world champion Alex Pagulayan, billiards player Carlo Biado and BMPAP lawyers Michael Mejia and Jerome De Guzman.

“We write not to besmirch the reputation of Pagcor, BSCP and Raya and their respective officials,” said Gomez.

The petitioners declared it received information that a fraction of the Philippine Sports Commission’s share in the gross income of Pagcor “was not remitted but was instead used for the sponsorship of the WPC.”

Gomez rules Davao leg

Finally, the Superman soared high. Roberto Gomez, called Superman, finally broke out from a series of runner-up finishes as he defeated former champion and top hometown bet Gandy Valle, 11-4, in the finals of the First Senate President Manny Villar Cup Davao City leg.

The Gomez-Valle showdown was an all-Bugsy finals and was played before a mammoth Saturday crowd at the Atrium of Gaisano Mall. The Davao fans were hoping to see Valle win, but it was Gomez who took home the crown after the lopsided titular clash.

It was a breakthrough feat for Gomez, the 29-year-old pride of Zamboanga who rose to prominence -- albeit with a sour distinction, when he came up second in the 2007 World Pool Championship in Manila, losing to Englishman Darryl Peach in the finals riddled with "comedy of errors."

"Finally!" screamed Gomez, who romped off to a strong start and did not give Valle an opportunity to recover en route to becoming the fourth winner of this topnotch island-hopping series presented by Villards: Tulong sa Pagsulong ng Philippine Sports in partnership with the Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines (BMPAP).

Gomez received the P300,000 top purse from Villar during the awarding ceremony, also graced by Davao City Mayor Rody Duterte and Davao Representative Vincent Garcia, as well as former Cavite congressman Gilbert Remulla. Valle, the champion of the Villar Cup Cebu Leg last June, settled for the second-place honor and the P120,000 cash prize at stake in this three-day tournament sponsored by Camella Communities.

"I'm so sick and tired of always being a runner-up, which I've been almost a dozen of times, including that World Pool defeat, which continues to haunt me up to now," said Gomez, one of the top players of the star-studded Bugsy Promotions of businessman Perry Mariano. "So when I entered the finals, I told myself that there's no way I'm going to let this one slip away and I'll do all my best to win. Thank God I did," he added.

Gomez lost the lag but took the opening rack after Valle missed a tough-angled shot of the red-3. That ignited Gomez's run, where he scored seven of the first nine racks for a commanding 7-2 lead.

Valle, easily the favorite of the close to 7,000 Davaoeño crowd to win the crown, could only add two more racks across his name as he failed in his bid to become the first double winner of the series. "I really wanted to win this for my fellow Davaoeños, but breaks didn't come my way," said Valle, a former Asian Games gold medalist.

Before facing Valle, Gomez had to endure a tough grind. He opened his campaign by beating two-time world juniors campaigner Rene Mar David, 9-4, before repulsing another rising star Elmer Haya, 9-6, in the second round. That set him up with a quarterfinals encounter with former double world champion Ronnie Alcano, whom he narrowly beat, 9-7. In the semis, Gomez got off to a good start but had a hard time in disposing off reigning world no.1 Dennis Orcollo before escaping with a 10-7 win.

Valle made it to the finals by subduing stablemate Carlo Biado, 10-8, in their Final Four match.

Gomez ends title drought in Davao

DAVAO CITY—There was no denying Roberto Gomez this time.

Gomez, best remembered for winding up runner-up in the 2007 World Pool Championship, routed local pool idol Gandy Valle, 11-4, Saturday night to rule the First Senate President Manny Villar Cup Davao leg at the Atrium of Gaisano Mall here.

“Finally!” screamed Gomez, after Valle threw in the towel even with two balls left in the final rack, handing Zamboanga’s pride the crown and the P300,000 that goes with it.

The 29-year-old Gomez, who faltered in the crucial stages of the WPC finals against Englishman Darryl Peach, breezed to a 7-2 lead and was never threatened by Valle, the Cebu leg winner of the island-hopping series presented by Villards: Tulong sa Pagsulong ng Philippine Sports in partnership with the Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines (BMPAP).

Valle settled for second and P120,000 in the tournament backed by Camella Communities.

“I’m so sick and tired of always being a runner-up, which I’ve been almost a dozen of times,” said Gomez, admitting that the World Pool defeat continues to haunt him.

Gomez lost the lag but won the opening rack after Valle missed a tough-angled shot on the red-3, sparking the runaway win that somewhat disappointed the nearly 7,000 fans.

“I really wanted to win this for my fellow Davaoeños, but breaks didn’t come my way,” said Valle, a former Asian Games gold medalist.

En route to the finals, Gomez beat two-time World Juniors campaigner Rene Mar David, 9-4, in the opener; rising star Elmer Haya, 9-6, in the second round; former double world champion Ronnie Alcano, 9-7, in the quarterfinals; and world No. 1 Dennis Orcollo, 10-7, in the semifinals.

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.

Valle, Gomez forge title clash for Villar Cup top plum

Local pool idol Gandy Valle thwarted Carlo Biado’s fiery rally to win, 10-8, on Saturday and forge a title duel with Roberto Gomez in the First Senate President Manny Villar Cup Davao leg at the Atrium of Gaisano Mall here.

The in-form Gomez, the 2007 World Pool runner-up, bested current world No. 1 Dennis Orcollo, 10-7, in the other semifinal of the event that lured the country’s top cue artists to this city celebrating its Kadayawan Festival.

The 31-year-old Valle and Gomez will clash in the race-to-11 finals slated last night, with the winner bagging P300,000 plus trophy.

His win over Biado put Valle at the threshold of becoming the first two-leg winner of the island-hopping series presented by Villiards: Tulong sa Pagsulong ng Philippine Sports in partnership with the Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines (BMPAP).

“I’m very happy to go this far in this very tough field,” said Valle, winner of the Cebu leg last June. “The pressure of playing in front of my fellow Davaoeños is so big, and I’m very glad I was able to handle it. I just hope I could continue to do so in the finals,” added Valle, who trounced Joven Bustamante, 9-5, in the quarterfinals Friday night.

Valle is likely to encounter rough sailing against Gomez, who also downed former double world champion Ronnie Alcano, 9-7, in the quarterfinals of the event backed by Camella Communities and supported by Puyat Sports, Bugsy Promotions, Negros Billiards Stable and Gaisano Mall.

Starting hot, Valle took four of the first five racks. He, however, bungled a relatively easy shot on the red-3 in the sixth frame, allowing La Union’s Biado to recover.

World 9-ball finalist Gomez wins Davao stop of Villar Cup

Roberto Gomez defeated Gandy Valle 11-4 to win the Davao City leg of the Manny Villar 9-ball Cup Saturday night at the Gaisano Mall.

Gomez received P300,000, while Valle pocketed P120,000.

Gomez lost the lag but he took the opening rack after Valle missed a tough-angled shot of the red-3. That ignited Gomez’s run, where he scored seven of the first nine racks to take a 7-2 lead and coast to the title.

Before he faced Valle, Gomez had to endure a tough grind. He opened his campaign by beating two-time world juniors campaigner Rene Mar David 9-4 before downing another rising star Elmer Haya, 9-6, in the second round.

That set Gomez up for a quarterfinals encounter with former double world champion Ronnie Alcano, whom he narrowly beat 9-7.

In the semis, Gomez just had enough nerves in the end game to escape with a 10-7 win over world no.1 Dennis Orcollo.