Banares Continues His Winning Form; Gabica, Manalo Prevail in Mayor’s Cup Event

REIGNING Philippine Junior Champion Jericho Banares continuedhis winning form by demolishing Chien-Te Chung of Taiwan, 9-5 to rack up his third straight victory in as many rounds and join seven others in the winner's brackets of the on-going $30,000 Mandaluyong Mayor's Cup being held at the Kaban Hiyas Building in Mandaluyong City.

Joining Banares in the winner's side are compatriots Marlon Manalo, Antonio Gabica, Kuwait house pro Mario Tolentino, Allan Soliman, two Japanese standouts – Keniji Taguchi and Tomoo Takano and former world 9-ball champion Thorsten "The Hitman" Hohmann of Germany.

Manalo and Gabica, both members of the Philippine Billiards Development Foundation blasted Gerald Carbonera and Courtney Symons of England, in a similar 9-4, victory, to remain on course at this $10,000 top prize event which is presented by San Migul Beer and offers a slot for this year's World Ten Ball Championships slated on September.

In other matches, Tolentino trounced Bernard Flores, 9-5, Soliman shocked 2006 Doha Asian Games 8-ball gold medalist Satoshi Kawabata of Japan, 9-5, Taguchi stopped the giant ways of Alex Nobleza, Takano nipped Raymond Faraon, 9-5, and Hohmann sent Gerry Watson of Canada to the one-loss side 9-4.

Meanwhile, Jeffrey De Luna and Elvis Calasang suffered their second losses to Leonardo "Dodong Dadiangas" Andam, 9-6, and Luis Saberdo, 9-7, and were eliminated from the event.

In the loser's brackets, ex-world 9-ball titlist Johnny "The Scorpion" Archer of the United States, former president of Philippine Cue Artists Association Edgar "Malabon" Acaba Sr., Leonardo Didal, James Al Ortega and Yong Bak Wang of Japan won their respective matches to stay in contention in this double elimination format.

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.