MANILA – The Philippine’s Antonio “Gaga” Gabica sealed a place in the semifinals of the 2009 Qatar International 9-Ball Pool Championship in Doha, Qatar after posting back-to-back wins on Sunday.

Gabica will face off with Mika “The Iceman” Immonen of Finland in the semifinal at the Qatar Billiards and Snooker Federation. 

Immonen was the 2001 World 9-Ball champion while Gabica was the 2006 Doha Asiad 9-Ball gold medalist.

Gabica, of Lapu-Lapu City in Cebu, defeated World 9-Ball champion Daryl Peach of Great Britain, 11-6, in the quarterfinal. He bested Wang Hsiang Hung of Chinese-Taipei, 11-7, in the Last 16.

Immonen, meantime, trounced another Cebuano native Israel “Amay” Rota, 11-4. He also overcame Niels “The Terminator” Feijen of the Netherlands, 11-5.

Meanwhile, 2008 World 10-Ball Champion Darren Appleton of Great Britain and reigning two-time World Junior Champion Ko Pin-yi of Chinese-Taipei will face each other to complete the final four.

Appleton turned back Toru Kuribayasahi of Japan, 11-8, and Shane “The South Dakota Kid” Van Boeing of the United States, 11-9. Ko defeated Briton Karl Boyes, 11-7, and Jalal Al Saresi of Jordan, 11-4.

The tournament champion will receive the top prize of $40,000. The runner-up gets $20,000 while the losing semifinalists will take home $10,000 each. The total pot prize is $150,000.

Others Filipinos who saw action in Doha were last year’s Qatar Open Champion Dennis Orcollo, Marlon Manalo, Jeffrey de Luna, Demosthenes Pulpul, Elvis Calasang, Raymond Faraon, Alan Cuartero, Joyme Vicente, Valerino Pajuay and Oliver Medinilla. – Marlon Bernardino