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Pedro Gonzalez, an emotional PanAm champion

07/20/2018

Published by frits bakker

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Pedro Gonzalez: first big title in his career after final win against José Juan Garcia

MEXICO CITY - He just came from the billiard table after his victory in the Pan American final and ran straight into a microphone. Pedro Gonzalez (42) had just won the most important title in his career and stammered with a trembling voice: ,,This is for my country, this is for Colombia.'' The emotions were understandable. The Colombian from Bogota had never achieved a big victory and now was the winner of the Pan American championship, following Pedro Piedrabuena.

They were with three Colombians in the semi-finals and not Pedro Gonzalez, but Robinson Morales and José Juan Garcia were the big contenders for the title. But first Gonzalez defeated his Peruvian opponent Guido Saco 40-24 in 22 innings. And in the final he faced José Juan Garcia, who reached the golden match by defeating Robinson Morales 40-35 in 27.

Pedro Gonzalez had a brilliant start with runs of 6 and 9 in the fourth and fifth inning, giving him an 18-13 lead. The match went on in favour of Gonzalez, who held the former junior world champion behind with 24-17, 32-25 and finally at the finish 40-32 in 18 innings. The champion played a fantastic final, one of the few matches in the championship over two average.

His way to the championship led Gonzalez in the pre-rounds along Felipe Gallegos (30-14 in 23), Adrian Perez (30-10 in 21) and Hugo Patino (30-16 in 20). Then he came to the last four by victories over Allan Marin (40-11 in 30), Juan Pablo Sisterna (40-23 in 22) and in the quarterfinals against Julian Morales 40-26 in 30.

Pedro Gonzalez recorded a very modest honour list, but is among the best Colombians since two years. He was second at the Colombian championship in a final race with Huberney Catano, second in the Feria de Manizales and finalist at the championship in 2016. The Pan American title was the absolute highlight in his career so far. He raised from 166th position on the world ranking to 31 and qualified for the World championship in Cairo.

The three Colombians in the last four: Pedro Gonzalez, Robinson Morales and José Juan Garcia

 

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