INQUIRER Sports

FILIPINO billiards masters Efren “Bata” Reyes and Marlon “Marvelous” Manalo will banner the country’s campaign in the 34th Annual US Open 9-Ball Championship which gets underway today, Sunday, October 18 at the Chesapeake Conference Center in Chesapeake, Virginia.

Reyes who just won the Galveston World Classic One Pocket title last month in Texas and Manalo who captured the Tri State 9-ball title in New York, will be joined by other topnotch Filipino billiard aces Ronnie “Calamba” Alcano (Galveston World Classic 8-Ball champion), Warren “Warrior” Kiamco (Galveston 10-Ball runner-up), Francisco “Django” Bustamante, former world champion Alex “The Lion” Pagulayan, Dennis “Robocop” Orcollo and Jose “Amang” Parica.

Also vying for the 2009 US Open title are Roberto “Pinoy Superman” Gomez, Ramil “Bebeng” Gallego, Ramon “Maestro Monching” Mistica, Santos “The Saint” Sambajon and Al Lapena.The US Open is widely considered the longest running and most prestigious 9-ball event in the world. The field is limited to 256 players with an entry fee of $600.00. The tournament champion will receive $100,000. /Correspondent MARLON BERNARDINO