Pagulayan gains semis over Gabica

Top seed Alex Pagulayan pulled off another escape act in the BSCP National Pool Championship, battling back from two-rack deficit in the early going and repulsing Antonio Gabica, 9-7, to barge into semifinal round from the winners’ bracket at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium yesterday.

Pagulayan, who edged unheralded Edgar Acaba, 9-7, in the second round and Leonardo Didal, 9-6, in the third, found the going tough against Gabica, a veteran campaigner, but fought back from 2-4 down by seizing five of the next six racks to wrest a 7-5 lead.

But Gabica, who bested Rolando Garcia, 9-3, Wednesday night to arrange a clash with the former world 9-ball champion, clawed his way back behind a series of spectacular shots, including one in the 14th rack that knotted the count at 7-all.

Gabica, however, came out empty on the break in the 15th rack, setting Pagulayan for a run out for the victory.

"I know I get stronger the longer the tournament gets," said Pagulayan. "You need luck to win, and I had it tonight."

Pagulayan next faces the winner between Ramil Gallego, who downed Jimmy Ching, 9-2, and Ronnie Alcano, a 9-2 winner over Bobby Petiza, which was being played at presstime.

The other two semifinalists in the winners’ group were tournament sensation Gandy Valle and Dennis Orcollo.

Valle, a gold medalist in both the 1998 Bangkok Asian Games and 2005 Manila SEAG, shocked local legend Jose Parica and Rodolfo Luat while Orcollo trounced Mario Tolentino, 9-6, Wednesday night.

Meanwhile, Leonardo Andam dropped a 7-9 decision to unheralded Victor Arpilleda to become the first big gun to fall in this six-day event staking P1 million to the champion.

Other survivors in the losers’ bracket were Nestor Ocampo, who eliminated Paquito Suarez, 9-5, Elmer Haya, who walloped Romeo del Rosario, 9-3, Lee Van Corteza, who overcame Panfilo Damu-ag, Jr., 9-2, and Roland dela Cruz, a 9-5 winner over Benjamin Guevarra, Jr.