Marlon Manalo "The Marvelous Captain" Set to Make Comeback, Eyes Qatar World 9-ball crown

 

by Marlon Bernardino

Veteran campaigner Marlon Manalo has all the opportunities to be the world’s best. 

But for now, he is determined to follow the foot-step of Filipino World Champions in the likes of Efren "Bata" Reyes (WPA World 9-ball and 8-ball champion), Ronato "Volcano" Alcano (WPA World 9-ball and 8-ball champion), Francisco "Django" Bustamante (WPA World 9-ball champion), Alex "The Lion" Pagulayan (WPA World 9-ball champion), Dennis "Robocop" Orcollo (WPA World 8-ball champion) and Rubilen "Bingkay" Amit (WPA Women's World 10-ball champion).

He will make his return to the pool world after a long hiatus when he competes in this year’s World 9-Ball Championship beginning September 2 in Doha, Qatar.

"The World 9-ball tournament in Qatar will be a good test for me that's why I prepared well for it," said Manalo, who is also known in pool circuit as "The Marvelous Captain."

“I still believe I can become a world champion,” added Manalo, a many-time winner in the US Pool Circuit and runner-up to Reyes in 2004 World 8-Ball Championship.

"If we're lucky enough in the World Pool Championship in United Arab Emirates and Kaoshiung, Taiwan, I'd win at least one title for us," added the Jose Rizal University (JRU) AB Economics graduate.

"I will pour all that I know in Qatar," said Manalo, who settled for a silver medal in the snooker event by placing second to Bjorn Haneveer of Belgium in the 2001 Akita, Japan World Games.

The affable cue artist and chairman of Barangay Malamig in Mandaluyong City captivated the billiard circuit by clustering victories against noted pool sharks Yang Ching-shun of Taiwan and countrymen Efren “Bata” Reyes and Francisco “Django” Bustamante in the knockout stage of the World Pool Championship in 2004.

The following year, the 2000 Asian Snooker Champion and 2008 National Champion Manalo went all the way to the semifinals of the same event before bowing to eventual champion Wu Chia-ching (Wu Jia-qing).

Although he’s been away from big competition the past few years, Manalo kept himself in shape by practicing daily in his own pool hall in Talumpung, Mandaluyong and famous Star Billiards Center in Grace Village, Quezon City, hosted by long-time sports patron Sebastian "Baste" Chua.

He is set to fly to Doha, Qatar on Saturday. 

At this point,  the  Brgy.  Malamig chairman from Mandaluyong City's quest for honor and glory received a needed shot in the arm from his long-time benefactors Mayor Benhur Abalos Jr.,  Rep.  Neptali "Boyet" Gonzales II and Solar Sports head Ronald Tieng.

The 2013 World 9-Ball Championship sponsored by Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) and co-sponsors by Simonis (cloth), organized by Qatar Billiards & Snooker Federation (QBSF) and sanctioned by World Pool-Billiard Association (WPA) and Asian Pocket Billiard Union (APBU).

Bustamante & Kiamco to Represent Philippines at the World 14.1 Tournament in New York City

New York, New York -  It's heating up! America's #1 ranked player Shane Van Boening will chase his first straight pool title next week at the Olhausen 73rd World Tournament of 14.1. Filipino World Champion and legend Francisco Bustamante returns for his second visit to the world's oldest tournament. Dragon Promotions and Dr. Michael Fedak will bring another globally star studded field at this year's 73rd Olhausen World Tournamenthosted by Steinway Billiards in New York on August 19th-24th,2013.  

Though the World Tournament has been revived since 2006, Van Boening has not accepted his invite previously until now.

Van Boening has won a myriad of titles including the US Open 9-Ball, the International 10-Ball Championship, as well as many 8-Ball and Derby City One Pocket titles. But he is missing Straight Pool, the father of all other games. I asked him about his favorite games in order. "If I had to choose my favorite game, it would be barbox 8-Ball. There's no luck. 10-Ball, 9-Ball...you have to be lucky after the break to get a good shot on the 1-Ball. One Pocket is a good game." How about straight pool ? Shane shrugs his shoulders , "I'll try it."

One time he met Willie Mosconi with his grandfather. "Mosconi tells Shane, you can be the best in the world. And even implied better than him if he practiced", said Gary. "But I don't think Shane could beat Willie in his prime. Not yet. It was different games they both play, but Mosconi was pretty amazing. But I'd love to see Shane play 14.1. I think he could win that, too."

Bustamante came close to the Gold in 2008 when he got to the finals undefeated only to fall to Netherlands Niels Feijen. Though not a student of the game, Francisco's pool skills make him dangerous in any game on the felt. Joining him from his homeland, world class Warren Kiamco will be joining him in his first attempt at the World Tournament of 14.1. Kiamco is a great all around player with high finishes in 8-Ball and one pocket events as well as being the reigning ABP sanctioned Johnny Archer Classic Champion, in which he toppled Van Boening in the finals. Other Asian notables will be Can Wang of China and Eddie Kwok of Korea.

FILIPINO POOL SHARKS VIE FOR ALL JAPAN CHAMPIONSHIP

by Marlon Bernardino

POOL sharks coming from around the world will be vying for prestige and the coveted crown when the 46th All Japan Championship gets underway on November 12-18 at the Hotel New Archaic Hall in Amagasaki-shi, Hyogo, Japan.

As expected Filipino Billiards masters Efren "Bata" Reyes, Francisco "Django" Bustamante, Alex "The Lion" Pagulayan, Dennis "Robocop" Orcollo, Ronato "Volcano" Alcano, Carlo "The Black Tiger" Biado and Lee Vann "The Slayer" Corteza will spearhead the Philippine campaign. 

Other notable cue masters will seeing in action are Ramil "Bebeng" Gallego, Antonio "Nickoy" Lining, Jonas James Reyes, Warren "Warrior" Kiamco, Jundel "Jano" Mazon, Rodrigo "Edgie Marilao" Geronimo, Johann "Bubwit" Chua, Val Pajuay, Roel Esquillo and Jerome Andrino. 

"Mabigat po y'ung All Japan Championship pero tinitiyak namin (Filipino cue artists) na lalaban kami ng husto," said the 28-year-old Jonas James Reyes, who is fresh from winning the monthly Tiger Cup 10-ball tournament at the famous Star  Billiards Center in Grace Village, Quezon City last June.

"Gagawin po namin y'ung aming makakaya para sa bayan, "added the pride of San Mateo/Montalban, Rizal Jonas James Reyes, long-distant relative of Efren "Bata" Reyes, who also got a strong fourth place finish in the 2013 POC-PSC Philippine National Games last May at the Gameball, Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.

The tournament will feature defending champion  Jung-Lin Chang of Taiwan, Kunihiko Takahashi of Japan, Mika Immonen of Finland, Ralf Souquet and Thorsten Hohman of Germany and Johnny Archer of the United States, among others.

Chang, a player from Bugsy International Promotions, cemented his status as world no. 1 after beating countryman Yang Ching-shun of Chinese-Taipei in the finals of the last year's edition. Chang went home with the top prize of $28,600, while Yang settled for $14,300.

RAMON 'MAESTRO MONCHING' MISTICA TOPS CALIFORNIA 9-BALL

by Marlon Bernardino-

US-based Filipino Ramon "Maestro Monching" Mistica continues his winning ways in the California Billiards Tournament. 

Banking on his experience and international exposure, Mistica added the Pallacade 9-Ball Tilt to his growing list of billiards honors by edging American Terry White, 7-6, Saturday night (Sunday, Manila time) in the finals of the Pallacade 9-Ball Championships in San Francisco, California.

The win enabled Mistica, a pool instructor and habitue of Star Billiards Center in Grace Village, Quezon City to captured his fifth straight California title this year including his victories in the Hardtime Billiards in Sacramento and Familly Billiards in San Francisco.

"I was cautious all-throughout because I know Terry is a very tough opponent especially in the final matches, but of course besides experience I had a better luck in the end game after his magnificent performance at the start of the game," the Murphy, Quezon City native Mistica, referring his fifth California title.

Mistica was known to frequently play at the famous AMF Puyat Billiards Hall in Farmers Plaza in Quezon City, and played against many of the most widely-known names of his generation including Efren “Bata” Reyes, Santos Sambajon, and “The Leader of the Filipino Invasion Jose "Amang" Parica., whom he beat in tournament in the mid 90's.

 “The best pool teacher in the Philippines” said Bata Reyes.

His next tournament is the longest running 9-ball tournament in the United States dubbed as US Open 9-ball on October 14 to 19 at the Norfolk Marriott Chesapeake (formerly Holiday Inn) in Chesapeake, Virginia.