Footbelle checks in while rest head home

NAKHON RATCHASIMA – Fil-foreign booter Mallory Dayot travelled half the globe from Canada and arrived here yesterday morning only to find out she has no more match to play in the 24th SEA Games.

The RP lady booters’ fate was still hanging in the balance when Dayot, a fourth year high school student at St. Margaret Deville in Toronto, boarded her non-stop flight for Bangkok.

She was still in flight when the RP XI got the boot with the Vietnamese beating the Laotians by only three goals, 4-1.

Her teammates were already packing their bags for a trip back home when she checked in at the Athletes Village yesterday morning.

The 17-year-old Dayot, a 5-foot-8 defender, couldn’t fly in right away because of her studies in Canada. She played for the team in two tournaments early this year.

“She could have made the difference,” said veteran full back Malou Rubio.

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NAKHON RATCHASIMA – Marlon Manalo has been the most dominant SEA Games snooker player for over a decade now but he doubts if he can keep his reign without the needed practices back home.

“We used to have six snooker tables at Rizal (Memorial Sports Complex). Now, we only have two which are in terrible condition,” rued Manalo. “It’s hard for me to win that event because I wasn’t able to prepare for that.”

Manalo has had his golden moment here teaming up with Antonio Gabica in ruling the 9-ball doubles Saturday night at the Sima Thani Billiards Hall.

The former Asian Snooker champion plays the SEAG six-red snooker singles tomorrow.

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NAKHON RATCHASIMA – Reigning SEA Games women’s billiards double-gold medalist Rubilyn Amit has sown fear here.

Already conceding defeat by his players to Amit, an Indonesian coach said in jest he’s ready to give the Filipina $5,000 to drop her match to the Indons. – Nelson Beltran