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.
Gabrinez, 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.
Gabrinez, 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.