MANILA, Philippines—Antonio “Gaga” Gabica, the 2006 Doha Asiad 9-ball gold medallist scored back-to-back wins on Sunday to seal a place in the semifinals of the on-going 2009 Qatar International 9-ball Pool Championship at the Qatar Billiards and Snooker Federation in Doha, Qatar.
The Lapu Lapu City, Cebu native bested Wang Hsiang Hung of Chinese-Taipei, 11-7, in the Last 16 then subdued world 9-ball champion Daryl Peach of Great Britain, 11-6, in the quarterfinal match to arrange a semi-final duel against former world champion Mika “The Iceman” Immonen of Finland. Immonen who took the world 9-ball crown in 2001 trounced another Cebuano native Israel “Amay” Rota, 11-4, and Niels “The Terminator” Feijen of the Netherlands, 11-5, respectively.

Meanwhile, 2008 World Ten Ball Champion Darren Appleton of Great Britain and reigning two-time World Junior Champion Ko Pin-yi of Chinese-Taipei will face each other to complete the final four.
Appleton turned back Toru Kuribayasahi of Japan, 11-8, and Shane “The South Dakota Kid” Van Boeing of the United States, 11-9, while Ko defeated Karl Boyes of Great Britain, 11-7, and Jalal Al Saresi of Jordan, 11-4.

The winners in the $150,000 total pot prize tournament will then battle it out for the championship and the top prize of $40,000. The runner-up gets $20,000 while the losing-semifinalists will receive $10,000 each.
Others Filipino who saw action were last year’s Qatar Open Champion Dennis Orcollo, Marlon Manalo, Jeffrey de Luna, Demosthenes Pulpul, Elvis Calasang, Raymond Faraon, Alan Cuartero, Joyme Vicente, Valerino Pajuay and Oliver Medinilla.

BY: MARLON BERNARDINO