Japan's top pool player to join Mandaluyong Mayor's Cup

MANILA, Philippines - Japan's top player and current Asian Games 8-ball champ Satoshi Kawabata will lead three other Japanese competitors in the Mandaluyong Mayor's Cup, which starts on Tuesday (May 6). The matches will take place in two venues – the Mandaluyong Atrium and Kaban ng Hiyas Auditorium. The other Japanese are Tomoo Takano, Kenji Taguchi, and Mori Manabu, according to a statement released by organizers on Tuesday. Kawabata and Takano played in the 2007 World Pool Championship held in Manila last November. Also competing are Chang Chien-Te of Chinese Taipei, Jan Berille of France, and Gerry Watson of Canada – along with former world champions Thorsten Hohmann of Germany and Johnny Archer of the United States. Hohman and Archer, organizers said, confirmed their attendance by email. Filipino players who have already signed up include Marlon Manalo, a Mandaluyong native with a string of international titles to his name; Antonio Gabica, reigning Philippine Open champion and Asian gold medalist; and Jeffrey de Luna, the winner of the Manny Pacquiao International Pool Championship last November. Making his debut in international competition is Jericho Bañares, the newly crowned 2008 Philippine Junior Pool Champion. Other Filipino cue artists contending for the $30,000 prize in prize money are: Elvis Calasang, Leonardo Andam, Leonardo Didal, Fidel Punzalan, and James Al Ortega. - GMANews.TV