The entire city of Mandaluyong will have its own special favorite when the Mandaluyong Mayor's Cup of the Philippine Pool Tour opens on Tuesday, May 6, at the Kaban ng Hiyas Auditorium.
Although there are other top Filipino players in the stellar cast of the international tournament, the city's heart belongs to Marlon Manalo, a hometown pool hero.
Presented by San Miguel Beer, the Mandaluyong Cup has drawn top international entries, including former world champions Thorsten Hohmann of Germany and Johnny Archer of the US, Japanese No. 1 Satoshi Kawabata, and Gerry Watson of Canada.
Nicknamed "Marvelous" by sports media, Manalo has been making waves in international billiards since the start of the 21st century when he took first place in the 2000 Asian Snooker Championship. He is that rare player who excels in both pool and snooker.
From there he took off like a meteor. In 2005, he won the Reno Open and the Texas Hold 'Em Billiards in the US, and then reached the semifinals of the 2005 World Pool Championship in Kaoshiung, Taiwan. In 2006, he placed second in the IPT North America 8-Ball Championship, losing a heartbreaker to Hohmann. Last year, he placed second in the 2nd BSCP National Pool Championship.
Mandaluyong City has lately become a major center for both national and international sports, thanks to the dynamic leadership of Mayor Benhur Abalos. The city was host last April 3-6 to the highly successful Philippine Open of the Asian Golf Tour. It will be hosting a national tennis tournament side by side with the Mandaluyong Mayor's Cup.
Other top Filipino players in the PPT inaugural are: reigning Philippine 9-Ball Open champion Antonio "Gaga" Gabica, Manny Pacquiao International and Pool Showdown champion Jeffrey "Bata" de Luna, Leonardo "Rattlesnake" Andam, Elvis Calasang, Leonardo Didal, and Rising Stars Champion Edgar Acaba and Armando "Agila" Cagol.
Registration in the Mandaluyong is still ongoing at Raya Sports office in Makati, and the Star Billiards Center in Quezon City. Deadline for entry is Monday noon, May 5.
contributed by MARLON BERNARDINO, edited by jovie sison
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