Palarong Pambansa: Johari Elarcosa, Alexandra Nicole Gabrinez pluck eight-ball golds
Lapu-Lapu City’s Johari Elarcosa in the Palarong Pambansa billiards comepeition.
Johari Elarcosa and Alexandra Nicole Gabrinez ruled the billiards eight-ball event on Thursday at the 2023 Palarong Pambansa.
The 16-year-old Elarcosa of Lapu-Lapu City struck gold in the secondary boys’ eight-ball by pulling off a 6-4 upset of 18-year-old John Carlo Miraflor of La Carlota, Negros Occidental, 6-4 in a gripping finale held at Sta. Lucia East Grand Mall in Cainta, Rizal.
Article continues after this advertisementGabrinez, who hails from San Carlos City, Negros Occidental, hardly encountered any resistance from 17-year-old Lea Mae Galla of Saranggani with a 6-0 victory in the Palarong Pambansa secondary girls’ side.
The 16-year-old Gabrinez pulled off a 5-1 rout of Palawan’s Mariah Asuque in the semifinals while Elarcosa defeated 18-year-old Bernie Regalario of Paranaque City, 5-2, after climbing from two racks down at the onset.
San Carlos City’s Alexandra Nicole Gabrinez in the Palarong Pambansa.
Elarcosa had a runout on all seven remaining marbles in the 10th frame of their race-to-six contest, preventing a Miraflor comeback after the latter flubbed a shot on the right corner pocket.
Article continues after this advertisementGabrinez, a self-confessed fan of 2023 World Cup of Pool champion Johann Chua, had a relatively easier time with Galla bungling most of her shots, practically losing the rare chances that she had.
Gabrinez and Elarcosa, who idolizes 68-year-old Efren “The Magician’’ Reyes, are aiming for a double-gold performance in the 9-ball event.
