DAVAO CITY — Sa wakas ay nagkampeon na si Roberto ‘Superman’ Gomez matapos ang ilang sunod na runner-up finishes nang kanyang igupo ang former champion at top hometown bet na si Gandy Valle, 11-4, sa all-Bugsy finals para makopo ang First Senate President Manny Villar Cup Davao Leg nitong Sabado ng gabi sa dinayong Atrium ng Gaisano Mall dito.
Isang malaking panalo ito para sa 29-gulang na pambato ng Zamboanga na sumikat sa kanyang runner-up finish sa 2007 World Pool Championship sa Manila, matapos matalo kay Englishman Darryl Peach sa kanyang mga alanganing errors.
“Finally!” sigaw ni Gomez, na malakas ang simula at di niya binigyan ng pagkakataon si Valle na makarekober para maging ikaapat na winner ng topnotch island-hopping series na ito na hatid ng Villards: Tulong sa Pagsulong ng Philippine Sports sa pakikipagtulungan ng Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines (BMPAP).
Tumanggap din si Gomez ng P300,000 top purse mula kay Senate President Manny Villar sa awarding ceremony, na dinaluhan din ni Davao City Mayor Rody Duterte at Davao Congressman Vincent Garcia, kasama si former Cavite Representative Gilbert Remulla.
Nagkasya si Valle, champion ng Villar Cup Cebu Leg noong June, sa second-place honor na may katapat na P120,000 cash prize sa three-day tournament na ito na sponsored ng Camella Communities.
“I’m so sick and tired of always being a runner-up, which I’ve been almost a dozen of times, including that World Pool defeat, which continues to haunt me up to now,” dagdag ni Gomez, isa sa top players ng star-studded Bugsy Promotions ni businessman Perry Mariano. “So when I entered the finals, I told myself that there’s no way I’m going to let this one slip away and I’ll do all my best to win. Thank God I did.”
Nakarating si Gomez sa finals matapos talunin sina Rene Mar David, 9-4, Elmer Haya, 9-6, former double world champion Ronnie Alcano, 9-7, reigning world no.1 Dennis Orcollo, 10-7.