Marlon Manalo

Marlon Manalo on the heels of the successful staging of the 2nd World Ten Ball Championship in Manila last November, Filipino pool players and fans will be treated to a big Christmas offering this December when the Billiards and Snooker Congress of the Philippines (BSCP) stages the 4th Philippine National Championships at the Star Billiards Center on December 20 to 22.

As the country continues to enjoy the conquest of Puerto Rico Pacquiao welterweight Miguel Cotto, the heavyweights in the world gather at the pool at the World Trade Center in Manila on 25-30 November at the World Cup competing ball ten (WTBC). “What we have here is the biggest event in the sport,” said Yen Makabenta, president of Raya Sports Organization and President of the Billiards and Snooker Congress of the Philippines (BSCP). WTBC the pool is the only event this year with the title of the World Cup in question.

It is also the largest in terms of participation, not counting players in qualifying tournaments and abroad. The event is also generous with a prize of 262,000 dollars, said the top 64 players. The fact that Filipinos have a real opportunity to go all the way WTBC made even more special for the country. “All of our Top Guns are in competition,” said Makabenta.

Teresa good chance we have another world champion Filipino. “But Makabenta is also the first to admit that the hard way in people ahead of the pack, and said the best players in the world to come. Two world champion Ronnie Alcano and evaluate artist Cue Marlon Manalo a great pool cue player, Dennis Orcollo great pool cue player, Antonio “Gaga” states Dave Lee Vann Corteza and Jeffrey “Jeff Bata” Luna great pool cue player, to lead the charge against the defending champion Darren Appleton Visitors Countries on the cause of England.

Even in the area are the usual suspects Ralf Souquet great pool cue player and Thorsten Hohmann great pool cue player of Germany, Johnny Archer great pool cue player and Shane Van Boening great pool cue player of the United States to escape Wu Chia-ching great pool cue player and Yang Ching-Taiwan great pool cue player, Mika Immonen great pool cue player of Finland and Sweden’s Marcus Chamat great pool cue player.

Pool players Leonardo Didal and Elvis Calasang have gained important wins qualify for the Predator International 10-ball Tour in Anadia, Portugal.

Predator 10-Ball tournament being held in Portugal, to commence on September 10-12, is a qualification event for the World Ten Ball Championships November 25-30 in Manila.
Didal triumphed over Jeffrey de Luna, 11-8, Marlon Manalo, 11-8, and Jerico Bañares, 11-9, in the Eight Players’ Field Invitational held last Friday.

Calasang, meantime, scored victories over Demosthenes Pulpul, 11-3, Bañares and de Luna, 11-7.

It was Calasang who clinched the first berth in the Portugal 10-Ball tilt.

“I’m so very happy because I made it to the tournament proper of Predator Portugal 10-ball event,” Calasang said.

Meanwhile, Antonio Gabica and Mario Tolentino also participated in the invitational.

ELVIS Calasang and Leonardo Didal secured slots in the draw for the Predator International 10-ball Tour on Sept. 10 to 12 in Anadia, Portugal after a topping a qualification tournament on Monday.

The 39-year-old Calasang, swept the winners brackets by beating 2008 Manila World Ten Ball Championships semi-finalist Demosthenes Pulpul, 11-3, 2008 Reno World Junior 9-Ball Championships silver medalist Jerico Banares and 2007 Manny Pacquiao International 9-Ball Champion Jeffrey de Luna, 11-7 to earn the first spot in the Portugal 10-ball event.

The Portugal event is a qualifying meet for this year’s World Ten Ball Championships from Nov. 25 to 30 at the World Trade Center in Pasay City.

“I’m so very happy because I made it to the tournament proper of the Predator Portugal 10-ball event,” said Calasang.

The 44-year-old Didal, the 2009 Kaohsiung World Games 9-ball quarterfinalist, on the other hand, snared the last slot on Saturday by beating de luna, 11-8.

Didal’s other wins were against Japan World Games snooker silver medalist Marlon Manalo, 11-8, and Banares, 11-9.

Banares, last year’s RP Junior champion, meanwhile eliminated 2006 Doha Asian Games 9-ball gold medalist Antonio “Ga-Ga” Gabica, 11-8.

Philippine Open finalist Jeffrey De Luna and Demosthenes Pulpul have secured spots in the top 10 of the World Pool-Billiard Association rankings.

Strong finishes by De Luna, a runner-up to Ricky Yang in the Philippine Open, in the China Open and Qatar Open earned him seventh place in the world rankings. Pulpul, who is a semifinalist in the World Ten Ball Championship last year, is in eighth.

The latest WPA rankings also drew significant changes with reigning World Ten Ball Champion Darren Appleton of Great Britain overtaking erstwhile No.1 player Ralf Souquet of Germany.

Appleton snatched the top spot from the double world champion Souquet following the former’s third-place finish in the Qatar Open, which was won by Finland’s Mika Immonen.

Appleton garnered a total of 1,873 points after three ranking tournaments this year. He finished seventh in the Philippine Open then placed 17th in the China Open. Souquet has 1,765 points after only finishing 17th in Qatar.

Immonen jumped to No.3 in the world.

After skipping the first WPA tour, the Philippine Open, the former world champion finished 33rd in the China Open, but bounced back to rule the Qatar Open. He now has a total of 1,644 points.

Completing the Top 10 are Neils Feijen of the Netherlands (fourth), Shane Van Boening of the United States (fifth), Marcus Chamat of Sweden (sixth), Daryl Peach of Great Britain (seventh) and Thorsten Hohmann of Germany (10th).

Two more Filipino players are on the Top 25 list – former Asian Snooker champion Marlon Manalo and Asian Games gold medalist Antonio “Gaga” Gabica.

Manalo, who struggled in the WPA’s first three ranking events this year, is at 21st while Gabica, who finished fourth in Qatar, is ranked No.23.

Congratulations to Filipino pool player Marlon Manalo, aka The Marvelous, for winning the 3^rd International Pool Tour (IPT) 8-Ball Challenge Match! Marlon Manalo beat Rodney Morris, aka The Rocket, with a 15-10 score!

The Marvelous One made an impressive rally at 5-7 with four straight racks to realize the lead at 9-7! And from then on, it was Manalo all the way for the $5,000 cash prize. There was no doubt in eveyone’s mind – panalong-panalo talaga si Marlon Manalo! And I kid you not! Mabuhay ka, kabayan!

(from AnitoKid)