GABICA, MANALO OFF TO HOT START IN QATAR 9-BALL; DEFENDING CHAMP ORCOLLO FALTERS

MANILA, Philippines—Marlon “Marvelous” Manalo and Antonio “Ga-Ga” Gabica dumped their respective foes at yesterday’s start of the 2009 Qatar International 9-ball Pool Championship at the Qatar Billiards and Snooker Federation in Doha, Qatar.

Gabica of Lapu-Lapu City, nipped compatriot Elvis Calasang, 9-2, while the Mandaluyong City native outlasted Jeong Young Hwa of Korea, 9-3.

Francisco Felicilda downed countryman and defending champion Dennis Orcollo, 9-7, to register biggest upset in this $40,000 top prize tournament, employing the double knock-out system.

Also winning his match was 2008 World Ten Ball Championships semi-finalist Demosthenes Pulpul, playing under the banner of Cebuano Paul Monera Magadan of Magi Group who crushed Kenny Kwik of Hongkong, 9-0, Joven Alba, who trounced Mariusz Skoneczny of Poland, 9-1, Raymund Faraon, who bested Fabio Petroni, 9-6, and Venancio Tanio, who dealt Serge Das of Belgium, 9-3.

Orcollo, the 2006 World Pool Leaque champion, still has a chance to advance in the money round through the loser’s bracket of the draw. Three other players from Philippines who were seen in action the yesterday were not so lucky.

Naoyuki Ooi of Japan waylaid Joyme Vicente. 9-4, Imran Majid of Great Britain edged Valerino Pajuay, 9-8, and Kuo Po Cheng of Chinese-Taipei beat beat Jeffrey De Luna, 9-7.

Others who won yesterday that include World 9-ball ruler Daryl Peach of Great Britain, who hammered Ali Al Obaidly of Qatar, 9-6, World 8-ball kingpin Ralf Souquet of Germany, who brought downed Mohammed El Assal of Egypt, 9-2, Philippine Pool Championships ruler Ricky Yang of Indonesia, who nipped Abdulla M. Al Amodi of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, 9-2, Vilmos Foldes of Hungrary, who upended Mostefaeui of UAE, 9-2, Radoslaw Babica of Poland, who outwitted Abdulatef Fawal of Qatar, 9-5, Shane Van Boening of the United States, who walloped Khalid Sibaitah of UAE, 9-2, and World Junior Titlist Ko Pin-yi of Chinese-Taipei, winner over Farhad Shahverdi of Iran, 9-8.

BY: MARLON BERNARDINO.