THERE was no stopping the express train named "Marvelous" Marlon Manalo.
Breaking good and pocketing even better, Manalo jumped the gun on the unsuspecting Karl Boyles of the United Kingdom en route to a runaway 9-1 victory in the P2 million total pot tournament dubbed as Manny Pacquiao International 9-Ball Open yesterday at the Hobbies Mall Billiards Hall.
Boyles avoided a shutout with a win on the seventh frame as Manalo miscalculated his preparation on the green six.
"I felt good with my shots. Kahit sino siguro ang kalaban ko mahihirapang manalo kapag ganun ang itinitira ko," said Manalo, one of the country's representatives in the Kabayan World 9-Ball Challenge: Philippines vs. Rest of the World on Nov. 12-13 in Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro.
Manalo will next face former world champion Mika Immonen of Finland, 9-6 winner over Jomar De Ocampo.
Equally impressive was teenaged sensation Filipino-Japanese Mike Takayama, who stunned reigning world champion Ronnie Alcano, 9-7.
The other undefeated players in the double elimination event sponsored by boxing idol Manny Pacquiao are Dennis Orcollo, Marcus Chamat, Richard Cuna and Jomel Sultan, Russian Petiza, Jeffrey De Luna, Michael Feliciano.
Orcollo downed Roel Esquillo, 9-5, Chamat toppled Romeo Silvano, 9-3, Cuna trounced Gandy Valle, 9-6, Sultan beat Jong-Jong Pangan, 9-5, Petiza topped Rodrigo Geronimo, 9-7, De Luna dumped Joven Bustamante, 9-6, and Feliciano turned back Jay-Jay Millares, 9-6.
Efren "Bata" Reyes, meanwhile, stayed alive with a 9-2 win over Gil Nakamura, 9-2, on the loser's bracket.
The champion will take away P1 million while the runner-up gets P500,000 in the event organized by Manny Pacquiao Promotion in close cooperation with Solar Sports. Meanwhile, everything is set for the 2007 Mindanao Open on November 6 at the Upper Sangan Labangan National Highway Labangan, Pagadian City, Zamboanga, del Sur on November 6. A total pot prize of P120,000 put up by sportsman Nasser Bandong. Please call or text (0916) 958-9897 for complete details.
Comments
Share your thoughts on the above article by Marlon Bernardino.