SUPERMAN almost did it, but Daryl Peach, the “Dazzler” from Blackpool, England, found the Kryptonite he needed to down Filipino Roberto Gomez, 17-15, and win the 2007 World Pool Championship.

Gomez, known internationally as Superman, had already made history as the first qualifier (non-seeded player) to make it all the way to the finals of the World Pool Championship. After coming from behind to level the match at 12 racks apiece, Gomez was flying high and seemed poised to win the championship as he took the next three racks to lead, 15-12.

Peach, however, who has also made history as the first Englishman to ever reach the finals of the World Pool Championship, refused to wilt and made his own comeback, with the predominantly pro-Filipino crowd at the Araneta Coliseum showing their appreciation for his great escapes from Gomez’s safeties and grace under pressure.

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I’VE just tuned in to Studio 23 to catch the 2007 World Pool Championship battle between Filipino Roberto Gomez and England’s Daryl Peach.

This won’t be a blow-by-blow attempt at liveblogging since I was only able to watch the match now, but keep refreshing to get the results of the final racks. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that Gomez will be able to pull this off and make this the second straight year that a Filipino has won the 2007 WPC.

Rack 24

The crowd at the Araneta Coliseum erupts as Gomez, known internationally by the moniker Superman, completes his comeback against England’s Daryl Peach to level the score at 12 racks apiece, making the race-to-17 championship a race-to-5 affair.

Rack 25

After a battle of safeties, Gomez wins the rack to grab the lead, 13-12.

Rack 26

For a moment it looked like Peach would level the match after Gomez handed him a lifeline, but Superman flies high and finishes the rack to extend his lead, 14-12.

Rack 27

The crowd roars its approval as Gomez sinks the 9 ball to make the score 15-12. Gomez is now just two racks away from winning the championship.

Rack 28

Rack 28 proved to be another battle of safeties. The crowd showed its sportsmanship and appreciation for good pool, applauding Peach for his world-class play and grace under pressure as he made seemingly impossible escapes from Gomez’s safeties. Peach eventually won the battle of wills to cut down Gomez’s lead, 13-15.

Rack 29

OK, this is turning into a real nail-biter. Peach is pouring the pressure on as he cuts down Gomez’s lead further, 14-15.

Rack 30

I think I’m going to have a heart attack. You’ve really got to hand it to Peach; it’s tough coming from behind, particularly if you’re playing against the hometown favorite, but he’s a true champion. It’s now 15-all.

Rack 31

Superman gets an opportunity after the 2 ball refuses to sink in the corner pocket after Peach banks it. Peach shakes his head in disbelief. Gomez, however, misses a simple shot while trying to sink the 5 ball to hand an opportunity to Peach. Peach pockets the balls but then ends up dead straight on the 8. Peach sinks the 8 but now finds himself in a horrible position for the 9. He has no choice but to bank, and he goes for it. In doing so hands what looks like a gimme shot to Gomez. Gomez, however, commits another terrible error and misses the 9, handing the rack to Peach. Peach is now on the hill, leading 16-15.

Rack 32

Peach is now breaking for the championship. He’s the first Englishman to ever make it this far in the World Pool Championship, and now he has the chance to win it all. The commentators quip that Peach is taking a long time coming back from the bathroom, but add that they don’t blame him because this is the first time he has ever had to play at this level.

Peach finally breaks. After a battle of safeties, Peach finds himself down to the last five balls for the title. Peach bites his lips as he prepares to sink the 8 ball. Now he’s on the 9 ball.

Peach sinks the 9 ball. He has won the 2007 World Pool Championship.

WHO would have thought we’d end up with this finals match in the 2007 World Pool Championship?

The host country’s hopes of winning the crown remain alive as the last Filipino bet standing, Robert Gomez, takes on England’s Daryl Peach this Sunday.

Let’s keep our fingers crossed

By Associated Press

BEIJING–A Filipino marketing manager and an American who works with Chinese orphans are among eight foreigners living in China who have been picked to join in the 2008 Beijing Olympics torch run across the country, organizers said Friday.

Marcos Antonio Torres was picked from among 262 applicants in a contest organized by Chinese computer maker Lenovo Group, an Olympic sponsor, and the government newspaper China Daily. Each will carry the torch for 200 meters on Chinese soil.

Torres is a marketing manager in Beijing who launched an online campaign to appeal for votes. He said it made him a celebrity in his homeland.

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WE’VE launched the Hey, Joe INQUIRER.net blog of author and sports columnist Ted Lerner, who will be covering the 2007 World Pool Championship and writing feature stories on pool and the Filipino passion for this sport.

We’ve also just launched the 2007 World Pool Championship Special Site, so keep visiting it for the latest updates.

Here’s an excerpt from Ted’s first entry:

The venue for the tournament has been changed from the intimate Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) to the legendary Araneta Coliseum, the very building where Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier battled in their classic third encounter back in 1975. That fact alone should tell you that this year’s WPC is poised for fireworks. To this day, “The Thrilla in Manila” is still considered one of the greatest heavyweight fights in the history of the sweet science.

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By Dennis U. Eroa
Inquirer

CHICAGO, Illinois–Joan Tipon’s Olympic dream will have to wait for now.

The reigning Asian Games bantamweight champion started cold and lost to archrival Worapoj Petchkoom of Thailand, 13-5, at the start of the International Amateur Boxing Association World Boxing Championships here Tuesday.

The foxy Thai, who lost to the Filipino in the 2006 Doha Asiad finals, was in complete command after taking a 3-0 lead at the end of a boring, action-less first round as Tipon boxed without his usual flair and confidence.

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By Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines–The Philippines bagged 12 gold medals, including four in the senior division, in the recent 8th ASEAN Taekwondo Federation Championships held in Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Vietnam.

Bantamweights Jeffrey Figueroa and Esther Marie Singson, lightweight Brix Darmo Ramos and welterweight Ernesto Juan Mendoza III led the winners in the two-day tournament.

The Smart/Petron team also won 9 silvers and 17 bronzes.

James Martin Luzuriaga and Christine Rose Virtudazon won the junior poomse silver and bronze medals, respectively, and then combined to take the bronze in pair poomse.

The other gold medalists:

Juniors — Sydney Darryl Crispino, fin; Jyra Marie Lizardo, fly; James Martin Luzuriaga, fly; Karla Jane Alava, feather; Gerry del Rosario, welter; Dennis Resaba, light middle; Kirstie Elaine Alora, middle; and Christine Rose Virtudazo, light heavy.

The silver medalists:

Seniors — Billy Joel Corral, fin; Carlos V, fly; Manuel Rivero Jr., light; Marlon Avenido, welter; Igon Ducay, middle; and Ma. Criselda Roxas, middle.

Juniors — Gyie Michael Genoso, bantam; Mark Reynald Dizon, light; and Ronald Golding Jr., welter.

The bronze winners:

Seniors — Gerrielyn Aranzanso, fin; Loraine Lorelie Catalan, fly; Emmanuel Alivio, bantam; Veronica Domingo, welter; Katherine Ann Bunyi, heavy; and Michael Alejandrino, heavy.

Juniors — Kirn Aldrin Ammay, fly; R-jay del Rosario, bantam; Mira Taculog, bantam; Kathleen Estrabo, bantam; Marigold Taculog, feather; Nicole Mapilisan, feather; Allen Roy Unson, light; Mary Joannina Langit, welter; Marifi Violeta Gadit, welter; Alexander Alivio, light middle; and Emron Mae Golding, light middle.

By Tim Collings
Agence France-Presse

SAO PAULO, Brazil–Kimi Raikkonen won the 2007 Formula One drivers world championship here Sunday for Ferrari when he produced a flawless run to victory in the Brazilian Grand Prix.

The ‘ice-man’ from Finland drove superbly to grab the 15th win of his career and his sixth this year ahead of his Ferrari team-mate and local hero Felipe Massa.

Defending double drivers world champion Fernando Alonso of Spain finished third in his McLaren and ended up sharing second place in the drivers’ title race with his team-mate Lewis Hamilton.

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By Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines–Ronnie Alcano missed a chance to make pool history Saturday.

Shane Van Boening took the measure of the dual world champion Alcano for the second time in as many days, 13-10, and bagged the 32nd US Open crown Saturday night in Chesapeake, Virginia.

The loss prevented the 34-year-old Alcano from becoming the first player to reign supreme in the World Pool Championship, World 8-Ball Championship and US Open at the same time.

The 24-year-old Van Boening, who sent Alcano to the losers’ bracket Friday, grabbed $50,000 and a spot on Team USA in the Mosconi Cup. Alcano settled for $25,000.

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By Marlon Bernardino
Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines–Filipino Ronato Alcano stayed on course for a historic achievement in the 32nd US Open at the Chesapeake Convention Center in Chesapeake, Virginia, late Friday.

Unshaken by a loss in his previous outing, Alcano raced to a 10-0 lead and went on to post an 11-3 victory over Louis Ulrich, moving within three wins of becoming the first player ever to reign in the World Pool Championship, World 8-Ball Championship and US Open at the same time.

He won the world 9-ball title last year and the world 8-ball crown early this year.

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