Marlon Manalo beaten by Leonardo Didal in Qualifier
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.