De Luna enters round-of-16; 3 Pinoys bow out

MANILA, Philippines - Jeffrey de Luna is the last Filipino standing in the China Open.

The power-breaking Pinoy cue artist sustained his run in the winners’ bracket as he notched his third win, including a second straight victory over Poland’s Mateusz Sniegocki, 11-5, Saturday in Shanghai.

He will next face Aka Kariyama of Japan in the round-of-16 of this tournament, the second ranking pool event of the World Pool-Billiard Association for 2009.

But De Luna, who finished runner-up to Indonesia’s Ricky Yang in the first WPA ranking tour event – the Philippine Open Pool Championship – was the only bright spot for the Filipinos.

His three other compatriots – former Asian snooker champion Marlon Manalo and former Asian Games gold medalist Gaga Gabica as well as Demosthenes Pulpul got the early boot.

Kariyama was responsible in showing Gabica the exit door Friday night following a tense 11-9 triumph.

Gabica, the 2006 Asian Games gold medalist, became the second casualty after Pulpul.

Also crashing out of the tournament was Manalo, who was ousted by Fu Che Wei in a hill-hill encounter, 10-11.

This left De Luna the lone hope of the country. He joins other notable players such as former US Open champion Shane Van Boening, Neils Feijen, Karl Boyes of Great Britain and Kazuo Furuta of Japan in the round-of-16 which was ongoing at press time.