Mazon joins Phl Open Pool main draw

MANILA, Philippines - Filipino player Jundel Mazon routed Dominic Ting of Malaysia, 9-1, and joined early qualifiers Chang Yu Lung and Fu Che Wei of Taiwan in the main draw of the Philippine Open Pool Championships yesterday at the Star Billiards Center.

Coming off a grueling 7-6 win over crack Chinese competitor Wang Ming, Mazon didn’t show signs of slowing down in the finals. He came out more energetic, dictating the tempo of the match from start to finish.

He raced to a 7-0 lead, before the Malaysian bet got his turn to score in the eighth rack.

But Ting couldn’t get a good break and even missed the easiest shots, including two from the corner.

Mazon wasted no time disposing of his rival after 10 racks.

Chinese Taipei earlier won the first two spots for the main draw.

Chang preserved his best for last and outplayed Joven Bustamante of the Philippines, 9-2, in Qualifier No. 1.

Fu, semifinalist in the 2006 World Pool Championship in Manila, scuttled OFW Mario Tolentino by the same score.

From a 1-1 standoff, Chang, winner of the China Open last year, took eight of the last nine racks. Making up for his dry break in the 11th rack, the Taiwanese bet took advantage of a miscalculated safety shot by Bustamante on ball No.5 and cleaned up the table.

“I’ve been idle for quite some time because I’m busy in the commercial and residential apartment business,” said Bustamante, third placer in the World 8-Ball Championship won by Filipino Ronnie Alcano in 2007.

Despite the lack of preparation for the tournament, Bustamante was able to squeeze his way into the final round by beating Chang’s compatriot, former world pool runner-up Pei Wei Cheng, in the semifinal round.

But against Chang, he failed to bring his A-grade game.

Fully rested after making his way to the semifinal round earlier after easily disposing of Emille Martinez in the semis, Fu used his advantage over the worn down Tolentino, who needed to hurdle Rodrigo Geronimo in a hill-hill match, 7-6, in the semis.

From a slim 3-2 advantage, Fu took the next five racks and pounced on every miscue made by Tolentino.

Tolentino had several chances, the last one when his Taiwanese foe scratched the cue ball off a break in the 11th rack. The Filipino cue artist sank the No. 1 ball, but missed on the No.2 at the corner, enabling Fu to get back quickly and wrap up the match to make it an early double celebration for the victorious Taiwanese bets.    

Some 100 male and female players from all over Asia and the Philippines are scheduled to join in the qualifying stage of the Philippine Open. They will compete for 14 spots (10 male and 4 female) in the main tournament, which will take place April 7-11 at the SM Megamall Megatrade Hall in Mandaluyong.

Eight other men’s qualifiying rounds are scheduled up to today. The women’s qualifiers are scheduled April 4-5, with over 30 players competing for four spots.