AFTER easily trouncing compatriot Francisco "Django" Bustamante in the semifinals, Alex Pagulayan came from behind to beat fellow former world champion Mike Immonen of Finland 8-6 in the title match of the 2008 PartyPoker.net World Pool Masters Sunday at the Riviera Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada.

"This was like winning the World Championship. I’ve always wanted it. I’ve finally broken the ice," exclaimed Pagulayan, 28, who humbled Bustamante 8-4 in their semis showdown.

Pagulayan, who won the world 9-ball title in 2004, won $20,000.

The road to the title, however, was not easy. After his relatively easy victory over Bustamante, Pagulayan trailed 3-6 against the equally-determined Immonen, who made it to the title match by trouncing 18-year-old Taiwanese sensation Ko Pin-yi in their semis battle.

The match took a sudden twist on the 10th rack after Immonen committed an illegal break. He pocketed a ball but failed to carry two other balls past the head string, giving the table to Pagulayan who promptly dropped all balls to gain momentum.

Pagulayan displayed nerves of steel after that, taking the next five racks for the win.

"This is 9-ball and I couldn’t get too upset because I didn’t get a chance. I thought if he runs the set, then he runs the set, but I knew that if I get a chance I would need to focus and concentrate and do the best I can," said Pagulayan, whose previous best finish in the annual event was as runner-up to Germany’s Ralf Souquet in 2006.

"I really didn’t think I’d won it until the last 9 ball dropped. There were lots of people watching and that was good for me to have that support," he added.

Immonen settled for the runner-up purse of $10,000, while Bustamante, who won the tournament in 1998 and 2001, took home $5,000, the same amount received by Ko.