Pagulayan routs Limen in National pool

Top seed former world 9-ball champion Alex Pagulayan outclassed Jec Limen, sweeping the last seven racks to fashion out a 9-2 victory yesterday at the start of the 2006 BSCP National Pool Championship at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

Pagulayan, who gained the top ranking after Efren "Bata" Reyes and Francisco "Django" Bustamante begged off due to a previous commitment abroad, hardly worked out a sweat in disposing of Limen as he led the romp of the fancied bets in the P2-million tournament.

"I’m slowly adjusting because I just arrived," said Pagulayan, who gained worldwide prominence by copping the world 9-ball championship in Taiwan two years ago.

Ninth seed Antonio "Gaga" Gabica, who won a gold medal in the 2005 Manila Southeast Asian Games, also hurdled his opening day assignment, leaning on his powerful breaks to beat Raymond "Boy Bicol" Faraon, 9-2.

But Leonardo "Dodong" Andam, the veteran campaigner ranked No. 11 here, bowed to unheralded Napoleon Labrador in a sorry 6-9 defeat.

Gabica, 33, never gave Faraon a chance as he seized the first four racks and coasted to the victory in this event, which stakes P1 million to the champion.

"I just got lucky, had a good start," said Gabica, a native of Lapu-Lapu, Cebu, in Filipino.

In contrast, Andam struggled early, trailing at 5-8 before Labrador came through with superb shot to post the upset win in the tournament backed by Touch Mobile, Alaxan, PCSO, Star Paper Corp., Brunswick, Aramith Balls, Ivan Simonis and Predator Cues.