Tuesday, November 13, 2007 Pressure too much for `Superman' By Charles Raymond A. Maxey
IN THE greatest pool stage and waging yet the biggest battle of his career, Roberto Gomez, the man they call the "Superman," succumbed to pressure and let one big chance at glory slip from his hands.
Given a golden opportunity after Daryl Peach missed a table-length bank shot on the 9-ball in the 31st rack, Gomez was faced with a shot that seemed elementary for him judging from the way he had been playing all week.
If he makes this one, the 29-year-old Gomez, a native of Zamboanga, would be on the hill and be breaking for the match.
With the score tied at 15-15 and the pressure mounting, the Filipino cue master muffed the shot and sent the Filipino spectators at the Araneta Coliseum in total shock.
Peach sank the striped 9-ball instead to go 16-15 up and eventually won the match and the crown by taking the next rack on his break, 17-15, putting a bizarre ending to the 2007 World Pool Championship in Manila.
The 35-year-old Peach of Blackpool, England became the latest winner of the prestigious event and went home with the $100,000 champion's purse.
"You never really think you are going to win the World Championship, you only dream about it," Peace was quoted by World Pool Championship website as saying.
The heartbreaking defeat in front of his countrymen reduced Gomez to tears and he apologized afterwards for letting his countrymen down.
"I'm so depressed that I lost the match and didn't win the crown," said Gomez, who became the first qualifier ever to reach the finals in the history of the WPC.
"I was almost there. I couldn't say anything at the end," added Gomez, who admitted that the crowd's reaction on his every shot added more and more pressure on him as the match went on.
