VETERAN campaigner and 1991 Manila Southeast Asian Games five-gold medalist Leonardo "Dodong Dadiangas" Andam failed to sink the 9 ball in the final rack losing a 9-8 decision to Jorge "Totoy" Dacer in what the biggest upset in the opening round yesterday of the $30,000 Mandaluyong Mayor's Cup 10-ball championship at the Kaban ng Hiyas Building in Mandaluyong City.
"I was just lucky he missed the 9 ball in the final rack, " said Dacer, whos next assignment is reigning Philippine Junior Champion Jericho Banares, winner over fellow teener Jordan Legaspi, 9-7.
Former World 9-Ball Champion Johnny "The Scorpion" Archer of the United States trounced Cebu ace Marvin Tapia, 9-1, to meet Mario "Aklan" Tolentino in the next round, who blanked Jestoni Magadia, 9-0.
"I know Johnny (Archer) is tough to beat but I will give him a good fight," said Tolentino, a habitué of Sebastian Chua's Star Billiards Center.
Other cue artists who won their respective opening assignments yesterday in this $10,000 top prize event are snooker specialist Michael Mengorio, Leonardo Didal, and Taiwan's Chieh-Te Chung.
Mengorio shocked Edgardo Sibuco, 9-3, Didal hammered Edgard Acaba Jr., 9-3, and Chung beat Florencio Banar, 9-3.
After this stop in Mandaluyong, the Tour will travel to Puerto Princesa in Palawan next month before going to Cebu, Davao, Olongapo and then to Pasay for the final leg, which would sandwich the world tilt in September.
File photo courtesy of Rick Schmitz
