Cable Car bows to Signals in the best nominated

Tim Gosnel of Filling Station defeated newcomer Ramon Yao of Rack n’ Roll, 2-1, in the best-of-three finals of Master’s category of the NBA 8-ball Tournament. Gosnel, who has been playing for Filling Station for five years now, was very happy with the victory. "The last time, I get second place so it feels good to win the championship this year. Ramon Yao is a good shooter. He plays good. He missed the 8 - ball in the last shot and so I took it," he narrated. The master from Filling Station, who has been in the country for five years now, has been playing billiards for 30 years.

The master’s match was predicted by NBA president, who actually go for Yao. But he said Gosnel has the advantage since they would be playing at the Filling Station. Yao could be adjusting since the tables from Rack n’ Roll is different from the host venue.

In the best nominated category, Gerald Navales finished the game the hard way in the deciding match versus Nolan Garganilla, 2-1. Nolan accidentally scratch the cue ball on his safety shot on the stripe (11) in the deciding match and Gerald whose ball (5) was near the side pocket, draws the win and grabbed the championship. Nolan got the first set out from the miss of Gerald on stripes and finished the ball gracefully. The second set goes for Gerald out from the miss of Nolan on the stripe (14) in the corner.

"It was an upset. I lose the first game. I’ve made a lot of miss," said Gerald. He admitted that had the cue ball did not scratch, he could have a hard time in either making a safety shot on his last ball or pocketing it and could really lose the championship to Nolan. "He (Nolan) is a good opponent. An experienced pool player also. He makes a lot of safety shot. He is really an eight-ball player," concluded Gerald. Nolan on the other hand said that the game really went to Gerald. "It was a jinx. I made a lot safety shot in the decision game but the cue scratches. It’s his game. He’s (Gerald) a good player," commented Nolan.

Gerald has been playing with boxing champ Manny Pacquiao too. But he said money game is entirely different with 8-ball tournament. In the money game, one would always have a second chance and the stake can be raised. "Here, you only have one chance. If you lose, you lose," explained Gerald.

In other events, John Paul Tecson of Detour U-Turn bested Anthony Go of Hard Rock Café, 2-0 in the men’s singles finals while Iris Rañola of Hard Rock Café beat Shiela Dela Cruz of Filling Station, 2-0 in the ladies singles championship match. "It’s my first time. I feel happy. I have been playing pool for two years but it’s my first time to play for Hard Rock. I was just too lucky," said Iris.

She has been joining international matches like the RP-Singapore Cue Challenge in July 2002. Iris also played for the Asian 8-Ball in Singapore and finished runner up. A Singaporean won the championship. The latest tournament she participated was last year where she champs the First National Ranking held in Manila defeating lady cue master Rubilen Amit in the finals.

It was a friendly game between team captains Lyka Fernando of Filling Station versus sister team Boyet Dungo of Inn Suites. Boyet won over Lyka, 2-1 for the team captain finals. "Not because we’re sister team doesn’t mean I’m giving the game on him. He must earn it. I still want to win this game and it’s always a good feeling if a woman defeated a guy in billiard match. This could be a good match since we both lack sleep," the vice veep said. In the classified, another sister teams meet in the finals in the person of Troy Danao of Filling Station who triumphed over Raymon Fortaleza of Inn Suite, 2-0. #