Manalo loses to Chinese in Asian 9-ball

Marlon Manalo of the Philippines fell short in his bid to advance to the semis when he lost to China’s Li He-Wen, 9-7, yesterday in the second leg of the 2006 San Miguel Asian 9-Ball Tour at the Bang Na Hall in Bangkok.

Manalo, a 30-year-old cue artist from Mandaluyong, engaged his Chinese opponent in a close match early on. But he committed a very crucial mistake in the 10th rack, leading to his defeat.

Down 4-5, the Filipino lost the chance to equalize when he scratched the cue ball on the side pocket while trying to sink the No. 7. With ball in hand, Li easily sank the No. 9 for a 6-4 lead.

Li, who bowed to Efren "Bata" Reyes in the finals of the Tour’s opening leg in Ho Chi Minh City last month, sailed to an 8-4 lead, then held off a late charge by Manalo to advance.

Li will face the winner between reigning Tour champion Yang Ching Shun of Chinese Taipei and Au Chi Wai of Hong Kong.

"It would have been a close match. But the error on the 10th rack did me in," said Manalo who settled for $1,750 or roughly P93,000.

Only two Filipinos remain in the hunt . Reyes was scheduled to meet Chao Fong Pang of Chinese Taipei late last night, while Ramil Gallego will take on World Pool champion Wu Chia Ching, also of Taipei.

The top 10 finishers in the Tour earn automatic slots to the World Pool Championship scheduled in Manila in November. The San Miguel Tour offers $10,000 to the winner and $5,000 to the runner-up.