MANILA – Cebuano Antonio “Gaga” Gabica wound up as the best Filipino finisher in the 2009 Qatar International 9-Ball Pool Championship, settling for a joint third place at the Qatar Billiards and Snooker Federation in Doha, Qatar on Monday.

Gabica, the 2006 Doha Asian Games 9-Ball gold medalist, yielded to former world champion Mika “The Iceman” Immonen of Finland, 11-3, in the semifinal round.

Immonen went on to take the crown and the $40,000 top prize after trouncing Ko Pin-yi of Chinese-Taipei in the finals, 13-9.

Ko, the reigning two-time World Junior Champion, received $20,000 as the runner-up. He beat 2008 World 10-Ball champion Darren Appleton of Great Britain, 11-8, in the other semifinal.

Appleton and Gabica, meantime, got $10,000 each for reaching the tournament’s final four.

The $150,000 tournament was also joined by other Filipinos including Marlon Manalo, Jeffrey de Luna, Demosthenes Pulpul, Elvis Calasang, Raymond Faraon, Alan Cuartero, Valerino Pajuay, Joyme Vicente, Oliver Medinilla, Israel Rota and 2008 Qatar Open champion Dennis Orcollo. – Marlon Bernardino