MARLON MANALO EYES 2ND GOLD IN THAI SEAG TODAY
FRESH from winning the country's first gold for the RP Billiards and Snooker team, Marlon Manalo, looking to continue his impressive performance when the Men's 6 Singles Snooker event gets going today, Monday at the Sima Thani Hall in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand.
The 31-year-old Mandaluyong ace will face Yong Kein Foot of Malaysia in the Pre Quarter-final Men's 6 snooker single events. Another Filipino entry Rodolfo Lordan Jr. will test the mettle of Un Nooh Thepchaiya of Thailand.
Late Saturday, Manalo teamed up with 2006 Doha Asian Games 9-ball gold medalist Antonio "Ga-Ga" Gabica to beat the Singaporean pair Khen Kwang Chan and Lian Han Toh, 11-6, in the finals of 9-ball pool doubles event.
"We (Gabica) are glad and thankful that we able to contribute a gold and give glory to our country," said Manalo dubbed as Marvelous in the pool world in a text message yesterday morning to this writer. He also acknowledged the support of Mandaluyong Mayor Benhur Abalos.
Malaysia led by Fil-Malaysian Ibrahim Bin Amir took the bronze medal by crushing Vietnam, 11-6.
In the Semi-final round Philippines routed Malaysia, 11-6, to arrange a titular showdown with Singapore who upset Vietnam, 11-7. Philippines earlier beat Laos, 11-7, in the quarter-final round.
In the Finals, the Singaporean had a rousing start after winning two of the first three racks but committed a foul in the fifth frame allowing the Filipinos to brake away from a 2-2 tie.
In the Men's 8-ball pool competition, 2006 World Pool Champion Ronato Alcano opened his campaign against Tepwin Arrunath of Thailand in the pre-quarters while Dennis Orcollo failed to make the trip because of a viral infection contacted a couple of weeks before the Games back. Orcollo was the original tandem of Gabica in the 9-ball pool doubles.
In the Men's English Single Billiards, Benjie Guevarra played with Nay Thwaoo Nay of Myanmar while Reynaldo Grandea takes on Suriya Minalavong of Laos, both pre-quarters match today.
In the distaff side, Rubilen Amit and Mary Ann Basas will also see action in the women's 8-ball pool competition. The 24-year-old Amit won the 8-ball pool in the 2005 Manila SEAG edition.
Amit, the reigning Amway World Women' runner-up will face the winner of the match between Poppy Puspita Neviyanti of Thailand and Thi Ngoc Huyen Huyhn of Vietnam in the quarter-final round after getting a bye. Basas, who hails from Davao City takes on Molrudee Vujanic of Thailand.
Report from MARLON BERNARDINO
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