Marlon Manalo, Antonio Gabica to play in All Japan 9-Ball

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Reigning national champion Marlon Manalo and Doha Asian Games 9-ball gold medallist Antonio Gabica will leave for Manila on Nov. 18 to compete in the 41st All Japan Championship 2008 set on Nov.19 to 24 at the Hotel New Archaic Hall Oct, 3-96 Showa-dori, Amagasaki-shi, in Hyogo, Japan.

"Sana malampasan ko ang third place finish ko dito two years ago," Gabica told to this writer in an interview over the weekend during the closing rites of the 2nd Billiard Stars Search was held at the famous Star Billiards Center in Grace Village, Quezon City.

The 36-year-old Gabica, the pride of Lapu-Lapu City revealed that after the All Japan Championship, he along with Manalo will compete in the US Pool circuit slated next month.

Manalo on 2nd Billiards Stars Search set Nov. 5-9

Thursday, October 16, 2008

Filipino billiards enthusiasts gather anew to compete for top honors in the second leg of the Billiards Stars Search which gets underway on Nov. 5 to 9 at the famous Star Billiards Center in Grace Village, Quezon City.

Defending champion Elvis Calasang lead the cast along with reigning national champion Marlon Manalo, Antonio Gabica, Jeffrey de Luna, Mario Tolentino, Victor Arpilleda, Edgar Acaba, Leonardo Didal and reigning RP Junior champion Jerico Banares in Division A.

The four (A, B, C and D) division event is organized by the Billiards and Snooker Congress of the Philippines in close cooperation with Raya Sports, Philippines Billiards Foundation and Star Billiards Center.

The game is a Ten Ball WPA rules using the winner's break format. Entry fee is P400. Prizes include cash, trophies and in kind. Cash prizes will depend on the number of entries.

Interested parties may register at Star Billiards Center, tel. No. 364-6041, 0917-888-8888, Rizal Memorial Center, tel. No. 0928-744-1740, or Raya Sports, tel. No. 895-2021.

Foreign cue artists main draw in World 10-Ball

Saturday, September 20, 2008

Organizers of the World 10-Ball Championships are banking on a host of foreign cue artists to be the main draw in the week-long tournament, which will be missing the country’s top pool players.

A total of 128 players will vie for the $400,000 purse at stake, $100,000 of which goes to the champion of the tournament slated from September 29 to October 5 at the Philippine International Convention Center.

Raya Sports and Billiards and Snooker Congress of the Philippines (BSCP) president Yen Makabenta said former Asian snooker champion Marlon Manalo and 2006 Doha Asian Games gold medalist Antonio Gabica will lead the country’s campaign against reigning World 9-Ball champion Daryl Peach of Great Britain, former titlists Ralf Souquet and Thomas Engert of Germany, Chinese-Taipei’s Wu Chia-Ching and Americans Johnny Archer and Shane Van Boening.

Jeffrey de Luna, Elvis Calasang, Elmer Kalaquian, Jerico Banares and Mario Tolentino will also carry the Philippine colors in the tournament.

The tournament will have 128 players divided into 16 groups in the winner's-break elimination format. The top four from each group will advance into the 64-man knockout stage.

A winner-take-all match for third place will be played on October 5 while the title match between the top two cue artists begins at 5pm.

Philippine Vice President Noli De Castro will be the tournament’s guest of honor during the opening ceremony on September 29 at the PICC.

Manalo, six others head RP’s World 10-Ball bid

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Reigning World 9-Ball champion Daryl Peach of Great Britain, Ralf Souquet and Thomas Engert of Germany, Chinese-Taipei’s Wu Chia-ching and Americans Johnny Archer and Shane Van Boening are the favorites when the Philippines hosts the first World 10-Ball Championships at the Philippine International Convention Center starting Sept. 29.

Around 40 countries representing 128 of the world’s best pool players are vying for the total $400,000 purse at stake, $100,000 of which goes to the champion.

A seven-man contingent will banner the local side, led by former Asian snooker champion Marlon Manalo, Doha Asian Games gold medalist Antonio Gabica, Jeffrey de Luna, Elvis Calasang, Elmer Kalaquian, Jerico Banares and Mario Tolentino.

Tournament format will have the players grouped into 16 seeing action in the winner’s break elimination.

The top four from each group will advance into the 64-man knockout stage.

A winner-take-all match for third place will be played during the final day, preceding the championship game that begins 5 p.m.

“This is going to be the biggest international billiards tournament in the country since, I believe, the World 9-Ball Championship has been postponed for next year,” said Raya Sports president Yen Makabenta of the tournament that ends on Oct. 5.

Makabenta, also the chair of the Billiards and Snooker Congress of the Philippines, appeared at yesterday’s PSA Forum at the Shakey’s UN Avenue branch.

A five-day qualifying meet is slated on Sept. 23-27 at the Star Billiards Center to complete the cast of players seeing action in the main tournament.

“It would be good if everybody would take part,” said Makabenta in the forum supported by Shakey’s, Accel, Brickroad gym and Aspen spa and MedCentral Medical Clinic.

Despite the absence of some of the country’s pool pride, Makabenta said the 10-ball “leaves little room for luck.”

Manalo-Gabica-Led Filipino Team Set For World Ten-Ball

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Reigning national champion Marlon Manalo and Antonio Gabica will lead the Philippine contingent at the tough inauguration of World Ten-Ball Championship (WTBC) on September 29 at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City.

Fondly called "Marvelous" in the pool arena, the pride of Mandaluyong City, is aiming to continue his winning streak after winning the 2008 BSCP National Pool Championships at the Star Billiards Center.

"I hope to perform well in the inauguration of World Ten-Ball after winning the National Pool Championship at the Star Billiards Center recently," said Manalo. "But what ever happens, I wish a Filipino can win the championships in World Ten-Ball," he added.

The pride of Lapu-Lapu City, Gabica, beat former world champions Efren "Bata" Reyes and Ronato "Volcano" Alcano, in the semis and finals respectively to bag the 2007 Solar-RP 9-ball open crown. Gabica added, "It's a tough field, we will try our very best to win for flag and country".

Other notable Filipino bets competing in the World Ten-Ball are 2007 Manny Pacquiao international 9-ball open ruler Jeffrey "The Bull" De Luna, fast-rising Elvis Calasang, Elmer "Buddy" Kalaquian, Mario "Aklan" Tolentino and reigning RP junior champion Jericho Banares.

Expect more Filipinos to qualify for the tournament proper, which offers a total prize fund of $400,000 with the champion getting the lion's share of $100,000 in this prestigious event. The event is organized by Raya Sports in close cooperation with The Billiards and Snooker Congress of the Philippines, Star Biliards Center and Philippines Billiards Foundation and backed up by The Department of Tourism, Alaxan FR, Sofitel Hotels and Resorts, Brunswick, Predator and Simonis cloth.

There will be 12 spots up for grabs in the WTBC qualifiers, scheduled on September 23 to 27 at the Star Billiards Center. The winner of each of the 10 qualifiers gets a spot. The two players with most points among the non-winners get the 11th to 12th spots.

Meanwhile, past and present world champions Daryl Peach of England, Chia-Ching Wu of Chinese-Taipei, Johnny "The Scorpion" Archer of the United States, Mika "The Iceman" Immonen of Finland, Ralf "Kaiser" Souquet, Thorsten "The Hitman" Hohmann and Oliver "The Machine" of Germany will lead the foreign bets.

Not to be outdone, are the US's brightest hope Shane "The South Dakota Kid" Van Boening, Niels "The Terminator" Feijen and Nick Van Den Berg of the Netherlands, Marcus "Napoleon" Chamat of Sweden, Vilmos Foldes of Hungrary, Konstantine Stepanov of Russia, Tony "Tornado" Drago of Malta, Radoslaw Babica of Poland, Sandor Tot of Serbia and Montenegro, Fabio Petroni of Italy, David Alcaide of Spain and world's female No.1 Jasmin Ouschan of Austria.

Other formidable cast of foreign participants who are competing that includes 2007 Guinness 9-ball tour grand champion Jung-Lin Chang, Pin-Yi Ko and Ching-Shun Yang of Chinese-Taipei, Raj Hundal and Dharminder Lilly of India and Satoshi Kawabata of Japan, and Fil-Canadian Edwin Montal, among others.

Manalo wins National Pool championship

Monday, September 8, 2008

Manila, Philippines – Marlon Manalo defeated Antonio Gabica 11-5 to win the National Pool championship Sunday night in Quezon City.

Manalo, a snooker-pool veteran, racked up six straight victories to break a 5-5 score to clinch the championship against the Asian Games champion in the tournament backed by the Billiards and Snookers Congress of the Philippines.

Jeff de Luna placed third after he beat Elmer Kalaquian 9-3.

Also, Monette Oryan beat Floriza Andal 9-6 to win the women’s title.

Manalo, Gabica, de Luna and Kalaquian will represent the Philippines in the weeklong World Pool Association-World 10-ball Championship that will unfurl September 29 at the Philippine International Convention Center.

Meanwhile, Daryl Peach will not be defending his World 9-ball Pool Championship. Instead the Englishman will play in the World 10-ball tournament, a BSCP statement has stated.

Peach, who beat Roberto Gomez in the WPC finals last year, will lead a bumper crop of foreign players which include straight-ball champion Niels Feijen of the Netherlands, former WPC finalist Ralf Souquet of Germany and former world champion Johnny Archer of the US.

Marlon Manalo Eyeing World Ten Ball Crown After Winning National Pool

For Marlon Manalo, winning the 3rd Billiards and Snooker Congress of the Philippines (BSCP) National Pool Championships gave confidence to him as he eyes a more ambitious dream to win a world championships crown in next month inauguration of WPA World Ten Ball Championship.

Dubbed as "Marvelous" in the world of pool, the Mandaluyong ace campaigner bested 2006 Doha Asian Games 9-ball gold medalist Antonio "Ga-Ga" Gabica, 11-5, in the finals on Sunday to add the 3rd BSCP National Pool Championships to his growing list of achievements.

Jeffrey "The Bull" De Luna, the 2007 Manny Pacquiao International 9-Ball Champion, meanwhile turned back fast-rising Elmer "Buddy" Kalaquian, 9-3, to settle for third. Monette Oryan on the other hand, trounced Floriza Andal, 9-6, in the finals to emerge 2008 Women's National Pool Champion.

"Winning a national championship is a very big accomplishment and achievement, and I'm very happy for this win," Manalo told to this writer in an interview yesterday.

"I hope to continue my winning ways in the inauguration of WPA World Ten Ball Championships next month here in Manila," added the Jose Rizal University (JRU) BS Economics graduate Manalo, who lost twice in a world championship.

It shall be recalled that the 2000 Asian Snooker Titlist nearly won his first world title at the 2004 WPA World Eight-Ball Championship in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates, but lost to his compatriot and pool maestro Efren "Bata" Reyes, by a score of 11-8 in the finals.

His second attempt was the 2005 WPA World Nine-Ball Championship in Kaohsiung, Taiwan where he lost to eventual champion and local bet Wu Chia-ching, in the semifinal round.

Manalo, a multiple Southeast Asian Games medalist start making waves in the US Pool Circuit in 2005 by winning the prestigious Reno 9-Ball Open, New Jersey Straight Pool Open and more importantly the Hold'em Billiards Championship where he earned the large US $100,000 winner-take-all purse.

In 2006, Manalo pocketed US$99,000 after settling for 2nd place after losing to IPT International 8-Ball ruler Thorsten "The Hitman" Hohmann of Germany who won the mammoth US$350,000 first prize.