MANALO BEATS DJANGO IN PACMAN 9-BALL
By Marlon Bernardino
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 25 Oct 2007
"MARVELOUS" MARLON MANALO brushed aside Francisco "Django" Bustamante, 9-5, and lead the march of players into the third round of the winner's bracket yesterday in the Manny Pacquiao International 9-Ball Open at the Hobbies Mall billiards hall.
After winning the lag, Manalo jumped to a quick 2-0 lead, maintained the cushion, and thwarted the brief charge of Bustamante in the middle game.
Bustamante tied the count after 10 racks, 5-all, but got stuck as Manalo caught fire down the stretch.
"You can't afford to commit too many mistakes against Django. Fortunately I'm quite sharp today," said Manalo, many-time winner in the US pool circuit and perennial gold medal winner in the Southeast Asian Games.
The Mandaluyong ace, one of the members of the Team Philippines that will compete against the best players the world can offer in the Kabayan World 9-Ball Challenge: RP vs. Rest of the World, beat Eric Rodriguez in the opening round Wednesday night.
Manalo, third placer in the World Pool Championship two years ago in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, will next meet Karl Boyles of the United Kingdom.
Bustamante was eventually eliminated in the double elimination tournament, losing to Rodolfo "Boy Samson" Luat.
The famous Puyat Sports stable took a twin slap on the face after Efren "Bata" Reyes also fell by the wayside against little-known Jong-Jong Pangan, 9-8.
Rodrigo Geronimo shared the limelight with a pair of stunning victories against former US Open winner Rodney Morris, 9-2, and former Asian 9-Ball Tour champion Ramil "Bebeng" Gallego, 9-7.
Reigning Philippine Junior champion Mark Mendoza also stayed on the right side of the draw with a pair of 9-7 wins against Jay-Jay Escultor and Monching Mistica.
Marcus Chamat of Sweden, a frequent Manila visitor, beat Darren Appleton, 9-6, for his second win in the P2-Million event sponsored by boxing idol Manny Pacquiao.
In other matches, Patrick Gonzales, top player of Rocketman Enterprises, edged Rene Cruz, 9-8, and Gandy Valle downed Rene Mar "Revo" David, 9-3. The champion here take away P1 million while the runner-up gets P500,000. Meanwhile, everything is set for the 2007 Mindanao Open on November 6 at the Upper Sangan Labangan National Highway Labangan Zamboanga, del Sur on November 6. A total pot prize of P120,000 put up by sportsman Nasser Bandong. Please call or text (0916) 958-9897 for complete details.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Marlon Bernardino.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
"I'M A MAN OF MY WORD": GEORGE LIDDARD COMPLETES MATCHROOM BRENTWOOD HALF MARATHON FOR CHARITY – HOURS AFTER DENNY WIN
Mon, 23 Mar 2026Lester Martinez Wins WBC Interim World Super Middleweight Championship with Unanimous Decision over Immanuwel Aleem
Sun, 22 Mar 2026IBF Pan Pacific champion Vince Paras set to face unbeaten OPBF champion Aoi Yokoyama in Kyrgyzstan
Sun, 22 Mar 2026King James sets NBA all-time record for most games played
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Sun, 22 Mar 2026Loaded boxing schedule
By Joaquin Henson, Sun, 22 Mar 2026WEIGHTS, IMAGES, RUNNING ORDER AND THE LAST WORDS AHEAD OF ADAMES VS. WILLIAMS IN ORLANDO
Sat, 21 Mar 2026COPPER BOX ARENA FIGHT NIGHT: WEIGH-IN RESULTS AND RUNNING ORDER CONFIRMED AS LIDDARD AND DENNY FACE-OFF FOR FINAL TIME
Sat, 21 Mar 2026Weights From ‘Martinez vs. Aleem’ Event from the NOS Event Center in San Bernardino and Broadcast live on ProBoxTV
Sat, 21 Mar 2026Jordan Orozco Training Camp Notes
Sat, 21 Mar 2026Towns vs. Bordin for PAT Belt; De Barbo, Nancholas, Samiei in Supporting Bouts at Brico Santig's Exciting Show in Pattaya Beach, Thailand
By Carlos Costa, Fri, 20 Mar 2026YOENIS TELLEZ TRAINING CAMP QUOTES
Fri, 20 Mar 2026Lebron James ties the most game played in NBA history
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Fri, 20 Mar 2026Pichay supports GM Antonio's Australian chess circuit campaign
By Marlon Bernardino, Fri, 20 Mar 2026LIDDARD-DENNY PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES IN FULL: EVERYTHING THAT WAS SAID AHEAD OF SATURDAY'S COPPER BOX FIGHT NIGHT
Fri, 20 Mar 2026Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaiman: The WBC Continues the Fight for the Good of the Sport
By Mauricio Sulaimán, Fri, 20 Mar 2026