MARK MENDOZA RULE KYOTO 9-BALL OPEN; POCKETS WORTH P200,000

FORMER Philippine Junior champion Mark Aristotle Manalo-Mendoza scored a long-awaited victory when he crushed Japan’s Kato, 5-1, in the finals of the tough Kyoto 9-Ball Open in Kyoto, Japan, late Sunday.

The 20-year-old from Hulo, Mandaluyong City, prodigy of sportsman/ mayor Benhur Abalos Jr., won the top prize equivalent to about P200,000.

It was a fifth straight title of Mendoza, the 2007 inaugural RP junior of pool titlist in his more or less two month campaign in the “Land of Rising Sun”.

Fondly called “Big Mc” in the local pool, Mendoza race to a 4-0 commanding lead and never looked back in the race-ot-5, winner’s breaks finals of this annual 9-ball competition which attracted more than 120 cue artists.

“Maganda ‘yung latag ng bola at pumabor sa akin” said Mendoza, the 2007 Germany World Junior last 16 and 2007 Korea Open quarter-finalists in a long distance call interview yesterday. “5-0 nga po dapat kasi tumapyok ang bola sa 8-ball kaya naka iskor pa yung hapon ng isang rack sa 5^th frame,” he added.

Proud Parents Ferdinand and Marilou Manalo-Mendoza had something to say to their child, “ Narito lamang kami sa tabi ng aming anak at full support kami sa pangarap niyang mag world champion someday.”

Veteran internationalists Ramon “Maestro Monching” Mistica said to his student “Malaki ‘yung future ni Mark kailangan lamang talaga na mabigyan ng break y’ung bata at tamang suporta,”

Roel Esquillo made it to the round-of-16 while Ramil “Bebeng” Gallego reach the round-of-32.

2008 Kyoto 9-ball Open titlist Dondon Razalan of Calauag, Quezon and Elmer Haya failed to advance in the money round.

Mendoza and the rest of the Filipino pool wizards are schedule to compete in the Hokkaido Open slated on March 18 then followed the prestigious Japan Open on March 21 in Tokyo.

BY: MARLON BERNARDINO