BATA, DJANGO, ALEX, 7 OTHERS CONTINUE WINNING WAYS IN US OPEN 9-BALL
THE Filipino flag continues to fly high in the 32nd US Open 9-Ball Championship at the Chesapeake Conference Center in Chesapeake , Virginia. Efren "Bata" Reyes survived a scare and pulled off a cliffhanger victory. Francisco "Django" Bustamante powered his way through. And Alex "The Lion" Pagulayan was, perfect.
With the country's trio of former US Open champions picking up their second straight win, the rest of the gang followed suit and booked a seat in the third round of the winner's bracket.
Reyes edged upstart Marc Vidal, 11-10. Bustamante flexed just enough muscle to down Richie Orem, 11-5 as Pagulayan blanked Frank Alvarez, 11-0.
Jose "Amang" Parica, Ronnie Alcano, Dennis Orcollo, Lee Vann Corteza, Rodolfo Luat, Warren Kiamco and Edwin Montal also marched into the next round with respective wins.
Parica toppled Abdullah El Yousef, 11-5, Alcano toyed with Paddy McLaughlin, 11-3, Orcollo subdued Michael Dechaine, 11-5, Corteza downed Jason Klatt, 11-9, Luat beat Ivaylo Petrov, 11-8, Kiamco thrashed Daniel Madden, 11-4 and Montal blasted Charlie Williams, 11-2.
Ramil Gallego, who dropped his opening round match to Markus Juva of Finland, is playing against Huidje See of the Netherlands at press time.
The annual tournament, which gathered 211 of the best players in the world, offers $50,000 to the champion and $25,000 to the runner-up.
MANALO FACES YOUNGER OPPONENT IN POOL SHOWDOWN
NEWLY crowned King-of-the-Table Marlon "Marvelous" Manalo defends his title against 2006 Sydney World Junior quarter finalist Renemar "Revo" David in Pool Showdown match of the week on Saturday at the Rizal Memorial Billiards Center.
The soft stroking Manalo trounced the power break of two-time king-of the table champion Jeffrey "The Bull" De Luna 11-5 in last week's match of the week episode aired live in ABC-5.
The 31 yr. old Manalo, a resident of Mandaluyong City will face 18 yr. Old challenger David in the pool table after the latter top the ring game last Monday over strong contenders comprising 2006 Asian Games gold and silver medallist Antonio "Gaga" Gabica, Gandy Valle, Ricky Zerna and Benjie Guevarra.
Manalo has a total earnings of $1,800 while David got $800.00 in the ring game and will try to level Manalo's prize money if he win as "Hari ng Mesa" of the week wherein he has the right to name the game to be played.
Pool Showdown is a joint production of Raya Sports and ABC-5. It is broadcast every Tuesday and Saturday at 8:00 to 10-30 in the evening.
Meanwhile, David is ready to improve his quarterfinal finish in the 2007 WPA World Junior 9-ball Championships which will set on November 26 to 30 in Willengen, Germany.
Mark Aristotle Mendoza topped the first BSCP Magnolia Philippine Junior championship held September 23 at Rizal Memorial Billiards Center will join David to compete in the said biggest event for junior billiards player.
Mendoza received the top prize of P50, 000 including a slot in the WPA world junior while David is seeded for his fourth place finish last year.
GABICA CAN GO ALL THE WAY IN WPC - MARIANO
THERE are only two preeminent Filipino 9-ball players in Perry Mariano's book: Francisco "Django" Bustamante and his ward, Antonio "Gaga" Gabica.
"Yan si Django at Gaga forte talaga ang 9-ball. Palagay ko kapag nasa porma sila, walang makakatalo sa dalawa," said Mariano, the manager of Bugsy Promotions whose stable includes defending world pool champion Ronnie "The Volcano" and Gabica, among others.
Mariano disclosed that Gabica, who won a gold and silver medal in the 2006 Doha Asian Games, is dead serious in making it to the 2007 World Pool Championship and join the ranks of the billiards elite.
He said that the 35-year-old pride of Lapu-Lapu City is back in rigorous training for the WPC qualifiers organized by Raya Sports beginning Oct. 27 at the Star Billiards Center in Grace Village, Quezon City.
"Naggi-gym siya sa umaga pagkatapos sa hapon naman may 70 racks of practice sa pool table," Mariano said.
What's more, he added, Gabica seems to peaking at just about the right time.
In September, the diminutive cue artist with the mighty break captured the SMB 9-Ball Open, knocking out Billiards Hall of Famer Efren "Bata" Reyes in the semifinals before foiling stablemate Alcano in the finals for the title.
And just last Wednesday, Gabica topped the First SMC Billiards and Snooker Congress of the Philippines 9-Ball Ranking Tournament, besting a crack field of 87 players that included the likes of Marlon Manalo and Dennis Orcullo.
But first things first, and Gabica is setting his sights at one of the 10 WPC slots up for grabs in the qualifiers.
Definitely it won't be easy for the rising Filipino billiards star, considering that the vaunted Taiwanese contingent alone is fielding 44 entries to the competitions.
Given Gabica's dedication and focus, Mariano is confident his player will be among those in the running when the billiards festival opens on Nov. 3 at the Araneta Coliseum.
And who knows? Mariano said, at the end of the day, the Philippine might just have its fourth and newest World 9-Ball champion.
(Reports from MARLON BERNARDINO)
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