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Source: gmanews.tv

-- Roberto Gomez of the Philippines is making his return to the world championship stage.

Runner-up to Daryl Peach of Great Britain in the 2007 World Pool Championship (WPC), Gomez secured a berth in the main draw of the 2nd World Ten Ball Championship after ruling Qualifier 6 of the WTBC’s qualifying round at the Star Billiards Center.

Gomez pulled off a come-from-behind 9-7 win over Mario Tolentino in the finals to qualify for the year's biggest pool event slated Nov. 25-30 at the World Trade Center.

Another Filipino player dominated Qualifying 5 and booked a seat in the WTBC, Jundel Mazon, who ripped veteran campaigner Antonio Lining, 9-3.

After winning the opening rack, Gomez found himself trailing 2-5 against Tolentino, an experienced cuemaster and coach of the national team.

But Gomez climbed back into contention by clustering several racks. Down the stretch, he took the lead and held on until the finish.

By earning a berth in the 2009 WTBC, Gomez got a chance to duplicate and even better his feat in 2007, when he rose from the qualifying round all the way to the finals of the WPC.

Mazon’s victory came as a big surprise, though.

Pitted against a more accomplished opponent in Lining, Mazon took the initiative with aggressive play. He raced to an early lead, and whenever Lining would take a rack, Mazon would storm ahead.

The match closed with Mazon taking the last four racks.

“I had to be aggressive and put some distance between us early," said Mazon. “I know it’s hard to beat Lining in a close match."