Filipinos continue dominance

MANILA, PHILIPPINES—Filipinos continued to dominate the qualifying sessions of the World Ten Ball Championship at the Star Billiards Center.

Jundel Mazon and Roberto Gomez became the third and fourth locals to earn a spot in the main draw through the qualifying round on Saturday night.

Mazon overwhelmed veteran campaigner Antonio Lining in Qualifier 5, 9-3, while Gomez outlasted Mario Tolentino in Qualifier 6, 9-7.
Pitted against a more accomplished opponent, Mazon quickly took the initiative and won the last four racks to eliminate Lining.
“I have to be aggressive and put some distance between us early. I know it’s hard to beat Lining in a close match,” said Mazon in Filipino.
The close match happened later in the evening.

After winning the opening rack, Gomez found himself trailing from the third to the ninth rack. But the former finalist in the World Pool Championship clustered rack wins down the stretch to earn a return trip to the world stage.

Gomez became an instant pool celebrity two years ago when he went from the qualifying round all the way to the finals of the WPC.

BY: MARLON BERNARDINO