Marlon Manalo (born November 27, 1975), also known by the nickname "Marvelous Captain", is a former Filipino professional pool player. He currently serves as barangay chairman of Barangay Malamig, Mandaluyong.[1] He also became the press relation officer of the League of Barangays of the Philippines and ABC president.[2]

Marlon Manalo
Personal information
Nickname"Marvelous Captain"
Born (1975-11-27) November 27, 1975 (age 48)
Mandaluyong, Philippines
Occupation(s)Professional pool player, politician
Medal record
Representing  Philippines
Men's Nine-Ball
Southeast Asian Games
Gold medal – first place 1991 Manila Team
Silver medal – second place 1993 Singapore Singles
Bronze medal – third place 1993 Singapore Team
Gold medal – first place 1995 Chiang Mai Doubles
Gold medal – first place 2007 Nakhon Ratchasima Doubles
Men's Rotation
Southeast Asian Games
Gold medal – first place 1991 Manila Team
Silver medal – second place 1993 Singapore Team
Men's English Billiards
Southeast Asian Games
Bronze medal – third place 2001 Kuala Lumpur Team
Men's Snooker
World Games
Silver medal – second place 2001 Akita Singles
Southeast Asian Games
Bronze medal – third place 1991 Manila Singles
Gold medal – first place 1993 Singapore Team
Silver medal – second place 1995 Chiang Mai Singles
Silver medal – second place 1995 Chiang Mai Doubles
Bronze medal – third place 1997 Jakarta Team
Bronze medal – third place 1999 Bandar Seri Begawan Singles
Bronze medal – third place 1999 Bandar Seri Begawan Team
Silver medal – second place 2001 Kuala Lumpur Doubles
Silver medal – second place 2001 Kuala Lumpur Team
Silver medal – second place 2003 Ho Chi Minh City Singles
Bronze medal – third place 2003 Ho Chi Minh City Team

Career edit

Originally a snooker player, Manalo has represented the Philippines a number of times in the Asian Games and Southeast Asian Games. In the 2001 World Games, Manalo won the silver medal in the snooker event, placing second to Bjorn Haneveer of Belgium.[3]

His professional debut in pool was the Tirador Nine-ball Tournament in Manila in 2003. He reached the final, but eventually lost to Warren Kiamco. Weeks later, he competed in the Tirador Ten-ball Tournament. Again, he made it to the final, but lost to Ramil Gallego. The first pool tournament he won in the Philippines was the Corporate Billiards League, a tournament where a team of three players plays against another three. All the players were local but Marcus Chamat, a pool specialist from Sweden, was in contention.

Predominantly a snooker player in a country with just four tables, Manalo is nicknamed "Marvelous." He defeated Yang Ching-shun, Francisco Bustamante and Efren Reyes in successive matches at the 2004 WPC before losing in the last eight to Marcus Chamat.[4]

Manalo nearly won his first world title at the 2004 WPA World Eight-ball Championship, but lost to his compatriot, Efren Reyes.[5]

Manalo won a number of tournaments in the United States in 2005, including the short-lived Texas Hold'em Billiards Championship where he earned the $100,000 winner-take-all purse, and the 2005 New Jersey Straight Pool Open.[6] In 2006, he could have been one of the first Philippine players, along with Dennis Orcollo, to compete in the World Straight Pool Championship but withdrew to compete in another tournament in Bangkok, Thailand. That same year, he made it to the final of the IPT North American Eight-ball Open Championship. He was defeated, however, by Thorsten Hohmann who won the $350,000 first prize. Manalo received $99,000.

After he was runner-up in the 2007 Philippine National Championships to Lee Van Corteza,[7] Manalo won the title against Antonio Gabica a year later.[8]

Achievements edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Marlon 'Marvelous Captain' Manalo to compete in US Open 9-Ball in Las Vegas". BusinessWorld. February 13, 2019. Retrieved October 21, 2023.
  2. ^ "Biado Awarded Philippine Athlete of the Year Award". AzBilliards.com. March 2018.
  3. ^ "Sports 123: Snooker: Men: World Games". Sports 123. Archived from the original on 2008-05-16. Retrieved 2008-08-07.
  4. ^ "Archived copy". www.billiardster.com. Archived from the original on 25 August 2006. Retrieved 11 January 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  5. ^ "Efren Wins!". AzBilliards.com. October 1, 2004. Archived from the original on June 13, 2011. Retrieved 2008-09-12.
  6. ^ "Marlon Manalo Wins 2005 New Jersey Straight Pool Championships", AZBilliards.com, 2005; accessed February 11, 2007
  7. ^ "Corteza cops title; Rañola tops ladies". AzBilliards.com. April 1, 2007. Archived from the original on June 13, 2011. Retrieved 2008-09-12.
  8. ^ "Marlon Manalo Eyeing World Ten Ball Crown After Winning National Pool". AzBilliards.com. September 8, 2008. Retrieved 2008-09-08.

External links edit