For Marlon Manalo, winning the 3rd Billiards and Snooker Congress of the Philippines (BSCP) National Pool Championships gave confidence to him as he eyes a more ambitious dream to win a world championships crown in next month inauguration of WPA World Ten Ball Championship.
Dubbed as "Marvelous" in the world of pool, the Mandaluyong ace campaigner bested 2006 Doha Asian Games 9-ball gold medalist Antonio "Ga-Ga" Gabica, 11-5, in the finals on Sunday to add the 3rd BSCP National Pool Championships to his growing list of achievements.
Jeffrey "The Bull" De Luna, the 2007 Manny Pacquiao International 9-Ball Champion, meanwhile turned back fast-rising Elmer "Buddy" Kalaquian, 9-3, to settle for third. Monette Oryan on the other hand, trounced Floriza Andal, 9-6, in the finals to emerge 2008 Women's National Pool Champion.
"Winning a national championship is a very big accomplishment and achievement, and I'm very happy for this win," Manalo told to this writer in an interview yesterday.
"I hope to continue my winning ways in the inauguration of WPA World Ten Ball Championships next month here in Manila," added the Jose Rizal University (JRU) BS Economics graduate Manalo, who lost twice in a world championship.
It shall be recalled that the 2000 Asian Snooker Titlist nearly won his first world title at the 2004 WPA World Eight-Ball Championship in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates, but lost to his compatriot and pool maestro Efren "Bata" Reyes, by a score of 11-8 in the finals.
His second attempt was the 2005 WPA World Nine-Ball Championship in Kaohsiung, Taiwan where he lost to eventual champion and local bet Wu Chia-ching, in the semifinal round.
Manalo, a multiple Southeast Asian Games medalist start making waves in the US Pool Circuit in 2005 by winning the prestigious Reno 9-Ball Open, New Jersey Straight Pool Open and more importantly the Hold'em Billiards Championship where he earned the large US $100,000 winner-take-all purse.
In 2006, Manalo pocketed US$99,000 after settling for 2nd place after losing to IPT International 8-Ball ruler Thorsten "The Hitman" Hohmann of Germany who won the mammoth US$350,000 first prize.
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