Gomez, de Luna, Chua dump foes

LAST year’s runner-up Roberto “Pinoy Superman” Gomez, Asian Games silver medallist Jeffrey “The Bull” de Luna and Johann “Bubwit” Chua of the Philippines posted emphatic victories yesterday in the opening round of the 11th Predator International 10-Ball Championships at the Robinson’s Galleria in Ortigas.

Gomez of Zamboanga City and member of the star-studded Bugsy Promotions, defeated countryman Warren “Warrior” Kiamco, 9-5, the Marindugue bet de Luna hammered Satoshi Aoki of Japan, 9-5 while the Bacolod City ace Chua routed compatriot and former World Junior quarterfinalist Renemar David, 9-4.

Down 4-5, Gomez clustered five straight racks to beat Kiamco of Cebu in this race-to-9, winner’s break format to advance in the next round of the double elimination event which offers $10,000 to the champion.

“Buti na lamang sa 10th frame nagsablay si Warren (Kiamco) then naka diretso na tayo,” said Gomez, who lost to hall of famer Efren “Bata” Reyes in last year’s finals.

Reyes meanwhile, took a first round bye in the event organized by Dragon Promotions Inc. in close cooperation with Puyat Sports and ABS-CBN 2 through Studio 23.

Meantime, the 19-year-old Chua took a 7-0 lead to dominate David.

Also winning their opening round matches were Jayson Shaw and Chris Melling of the United States, Dennis Grabe of Estonia, Ronato Alcano and Jech Limen of the Philippines, Wu Hao of China, Omar Al Shaheen of Kuwait, Daryl Peach of Great Britain, David Alcaide of Spain, Thorsten Hohmann of Germany, Raj Hundal of India and Takashi Uraoka of Japan.

Shaw bested Brett Anar, 9-3; Melling beat Erid Erm, 9-6; Grabe upset Tony Drago, 9-5; Alcano won by default over Reda Belhaj, 9-0; Limen edged Francois Cottances, 9-8; Hao ripped Rick Zerna of the Philippines, 9-3; Al Shaheen defeated Lemaire Emmanuel, 9-7; Peach tripped Allan Cuartero, 9-7; Alcaide blanked Son Nguyen, 9-0; Hohmann crushed Shinjiro Kurokawa, 9-3; Hundal toppled Bobby Lee, 9-3 and Uraoka waylaid Marcus Chamat, 9-6.