FILIPINO Roberto "Pinoy Superman" Gomez downed compatriot Jharome Peña, 9-5, in the championships round to rule the "The Battle of Scandinavian" 9-ball billiards tournament at the Elbowroom in Oslo, Norway over the weekend.
The 27-year-old Quezon City based Gomez defeated Darren Appleton of England, 9-5, in the semifinal round to arrange an all Filipino finals.
The 24-year-old Peña made it to the finals after beating Raj Hundal of United Kingdom in other final-four matches also with the same score.
Gomez and Peña, two of the rising star from Bugsy promotion whose stint here is being supported by the Department of Tourism (DOT) headed by secretary Ace
Durano and assistant secretary Cynthia Carrion received 3,000 euros (or roughly P210,000) and 1,000 euros (P70,000), respectively.
"Naniniwala ako na malaki ang posibilidad na sina Roberto at Jharome ng susunod sa yapak nina Ronnie (Alcano), Dennis (Orcollo), Ga-Ga (Gabica), Jeff (De Luna) at Gandy (Valle). Kailangan lamang talaga mabigyan ng break sa international event yung mga bata," said local billiards patron Ceferino "Perry" Mariano.
Billiards and Snooker Congress of the Philippines (BSCP) president Ernesto Fajardo said Mariano made the right move in sending the two young poll masters abroad.