Manalo Conference

The Manalo Conference[1] (Japanese: アローラリーグ・マナーロ大会 Alola League Manalo Conference), also referred to as the Alola Pokémon League (Japanese: アローラポケモンリーグ Alola Pokémon League), is the Alola League general championship competition founded by Professor Kukui. It is intended to be a replacement for an old, abandoned part of the island challenge ritual in which trial-goers battled at the peak of Mount Lanakila.

The setting for the competition
The logo of the competition

It was officially unveiled in The Dealer of Destruction! during a press conference held on Aether Paradise. The tournament is held at the recently completed Manalo Stadium, and is sponsored in part by the four island kahunas of Alola and Lusamine, the president of the Aether Foundation.

Unlike previous League tournaments, in which Trainers were required to collect a given number of Gym Badges in order to sign up, the Manalo Conference has no entry requirements, meaning that any willing Trainer is allowed to enter.

The tournament began in Battle Royal 151! and concluded in Enter the Champion!, with the award ceremony being interrupted by the appearance of three Guzzlord. The winner was declared as the first Champion of Alola. Originally, the winner was meant to battle the Masked Royal in an exhibition match afterwards, but when the Masked Royal's true identity was exposed to the public, Professor Kukui became the Champion's opponent in the exhibition match instead. The exhibition match started in Exhibition Unmasked! and concluded in From Z to Shining Z!, bringing the Manalo Conference to an end.

Competition

Opening ceremonies

Before the competition starts, a party is held where contestants can interact with one another. Professor Kukui welcomes the participants and shows a video of Masked Royal explaining how the preliminary round works.

Rounds

Preliminaries

All of the participating Trainers compete in a Battle Royal. Only the last 16 whose Pokémon remain standing at the end advance to the next round. The battles are refereed by the four island kahunas of AlolaHala, Olivia, Nanu, and Hapu.

 
The 16 contestants in the first round

Round of 16

The first round consists of one-on-one Single Battles. The 16 Trainers are randomly matched up by a computer. The winners advance to the quarterfinals. Each of the island kahunas referees two consecutive battles.

Quarterfinals

The quarterfinals consist of one-on-one Single Battles. The eight Trainers are randomly matched up by a computer. The winners advance to the semifinals. Each of the island kahunas referees one of the battles.

Semifinals

The semifinals consist of two-on-two Single Battles. The four Trainers are randomly matched up by a computer. The winners advance to the finals. A random island kahuna is selected before each battle to referee it.

 
The scoreboard used during the Exhibition Match

Finals

The finals consist of a three-on-three Single Battle refereed by Professor Kukui. The winner will be declared the winner of the Manalo Conference and is allowed to have an exhibition battle with the Masked Royal.

Exhibition Match

The exhibition battle consists of a Full Battle between the newly crowned Champion and Professor Kukui (originally planned to be a one-on-one with Kukui appearing as the Masked Royal), refereed by Hala. The result of the battle has no bearing on the winner's status.

Known contestants

 
Ash, the winner, with the Manalo Championship Trophy
Trainer Place
Ash Winner
Gladion Runner-Up
Guzma Top 4
Kiawe Top 4
Lana Top 8
Sophocles Top 8
Hau Top 8
"Jamesio" Top 8
Lillie Top 16
Acerola Top 16
"Jessina" Top 16
Mina Top 16
Mallow Top 16
Samson Top 16
Ilima Top 16
Faba Top 16
Kahili Top 151
Oluolu Top 151
Master fisherman Top 151
DJ Leo Top 151
Plumeria Top 151
Tupp Top 151
Zipp Top 151
Rapp Top 151
Mad Magmar Top 151
Mr. Electric Top 151
Pikala Top 151
Hiroki Top 151

Bracket

First round   Quarterfinals   Semifinals   Final
   Ash    
   Faba          Ash    
   Hau        Hau    
   Samson            Ash     
   Ilima            Guzma     
   Guzma          Guzma  
   Mallow        Lana    
   Lana            Ash    
   Kiawe            Gladion    
   Acerola          Kiawe    
   Sophocles        Sophocles    
   Mina            Kiawe   
   Lillie            Gladion     
   Gladion          Gladion  
   "Jessina"        "Jamesio"    
   "Jamesio"    



Exhibition Match

Trainer Pokémon Result
Ash          Win
Professor
Kukui
      * Loss

Trivia

  • This is the only Pokémon League Conference where:
  • The Manalo Conference is the League Conference where Ash has placed the highest, ranking as the winner. This surpasses his preceding runner-up position in the Lumiose Conference.
  • This tournament has 27 named contestants, more than any other Pokémon League Conference.
  • The Manalo Conference having a total of 151 competitors could be a reference to the original 151 Pokémon of Generation I.
  • The fake names and disguises Jessie and James use while participating in the tournament are based on Sina and Dexio's names and designs from the Alola-based Generation VII games.
  • This is the longest Pokémon League Conference to date, lasting 16 episodes (11 if the post-finals episodes aren't counted).
  • The exhibition match against Professor Kukui is a reference to the Champion battle from Pokémon Sun and Moon, where Professor Kukui serves as the player's final opponent at the Pokémon League. Also, Tapu Koko's participation in the battle could be a reference to the battle against it in the same games.
  • This is the final League Conference to date where Ash participates in.

In other languages

Language Title
  Dutch Manalo Conference
  French Ligue d'Alola
  German Alola-Liga
  Hebrew וועידת מנלאו V’eedat Manalo
  Italian Lega Pokémon di Alola
  Polish Konferencji Manalo
Portuguese   Brazil Conferência de Manalo
  Portugal Manalo Conference
  Spanish Liga Pokémon de Alola
  Swedish Manalo-konferensen
  Turkish Manalo Konferansı

See also

References


  The Pokémon League  
Participation
TrainerBattleGym Leaders
GymsBadgesReferee
Championship matches
Elite FourOrange League
Champion League
Pokémon League Conferences
IndigoSilverEver GrandeLily of the Valley
VertressLumioseManalo
Regional Pokémon Leagues
IndigoOrange*JohtoHoennSinnoh
UnovaKalosAlolaGalarPaldea
Areas of jurisdiction
Pokémon League Reception GateHall of Fame
Palace of VictoryCerulean Cave
Others
Pokémon AssociationPIA
World Coronation Series
(Masters Eight Tournament)


Anime-exclusive Pokémon competitions
Multiregional Grand FestivalPokémon Baccer World CupPokémon League ConferencePokéRingerWallace Cup
World Coronation Series (Masters Eight Tournament)
Kanto Aura Guardian FestivalBeach Beauty and Pokémon Costume ContestBig P Pokémon RaceIndigo Plateau Conference
Kanto Grand FestivalMagikarp High Jump CompetitionP1 Grand PrixPokémon Grand Eating ContestPokémon Orienteering
Queen of the Princess Festival
Johto Extreme Pokémon RaceFire and Rescue Grand PrixGrass TournamentMareep FestivalPokémon Balloon Race
Pokémon Beauty ContestRock and Tumble One-on-One Tauros CompetitionRunning of the Tauros
Seaking Catching CompetitionSilver ConferenceSumo ConferenceSunflora FestivalTour de Alto MareWhirl Cup
Hoenn Battle Frontier Flute CupCrossgate PokéRingerEver Grande ConferenceFriendship FestivalHoenn Grand Festival
Marine Athletic RaceTrick House Contest
Sinnoh Croagunk FestivalFestival Battle ChallengeHearthome City Tag Battle CompetitionHearthome Collection
Lily of the Valley ConferencePokémon Dress-Up ContestPokémon Iceberg RacePokémon Ping Pong Tournament
Pokémon Summer AcademyPokémon TriathlonSinnoh Grand FestivalSinnoh Pokémon HustleSquallville PokéRinger
Unova Club BattleClubsplosionEindoak Harvest FestivalPokémon Performance CompetitionPokémon World Tournament Junior Cup
Pokéstar Studios Film CompetitionSubway Bosses' Stamp RallyVertress ConferenceWishing Bell Festival
Decolore Marine Cup TournamentPokémon Sumo TournamentScalchop King Competition
Kalos Lumiose ConferencePoké Puff ContestPokémon ShowcasePokémon Sky RelayPokémon Summer Camp
Alola Alola Bread FestivalCharjabug raceManalo Conference‎‎Pokémon Catch Adventure RacePokémon Pancake Race
Pokémon Ping-Pong tournamentPokémon Sled Jump GamesVikavolt race
Galar All-Alcremie Decoration Challenge
Unknown Pigton Town Tag BattlePokémon Catch Race


  This article is part of Project Anime, a Bulbapedia project that covers all aspects of the Pokémon anime.