Manalo tows Beer na Beer to CBL semis

The Beer na Beer trio of Marlon Manalo, Al Ortega and Emil de la Paz turned back the Lee Van Corteza-led Imarflex, 7-6, to emerge the first semifinalist of the first ever major billiards league — the Corporate Billiards League (CBL) -- at the Robinson’s Galleria.

Manalo, the current No. 1 RP and Asian snooker player, almost singlehandedly drilled in all the shots as his teammates made the safety shots that doomed their opponents in this initial staging sponsored by Tanduay with the support of Rommel Billiards.

"It was simple strategy. Although halos ako lahat ang tumira, pinahirapan naman ang kalaban ng placing ng mga teammates ko," said Manalo, who caught international attention when he defeated former world champion Mika Immonen in Cardiff, Wales.

"Suwerte rin, na-miss ni Corteza yung jumpshot niya. Kung pumasok yun, kami sana ang tanggal," he added.

With the win, Beer na Beer stays on course for the coveted crown and the P100,000 purse.

The six other quarterfinalists ——Ginebra Kapitan, LBC, Accel, Toby’s, Nikon Electric Fan and Skyflakes — will be vying for the three other seats into the semifinal round.<