PINOYS IN JAPAN 9-BALL CHAMPIONSHIPS

BATA, DJANGO VOWS TO BOUNCE BACK IN ALL JAPAN 9-BALL

THE COUNTRY'S most popular cue artist Efren "Bata" Reyes and Francisco "Django" Bustamante promised to come back strong in the 2007 All Japan Championships which start today , Nov.21-25 at Hotel New Archaic HallOct 3-96 Showa-dori, Amagasaki-shi, Hyogo, Japan.

The winner in the event takes on JPY2,000,000 2nd : JPY1,000,000 3rd-4th : JPY500,000, 5th-8 th : JPY250,000 9th-16th : JPY125,000 17th-32nd : JPY60,000

The duo, top players of Puyat Sports failed to advance in the cross-over semi-final round in the recently concluded Negros Oriental International 9-Ball Championships at the Dumaguete Convention Centerin Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental last Saturday which was dominated by fellow Puyat Sports ace Alex "The Lion" Pagulayan.

The 28-year-old Pagulayan outplayed compatriot Ramil "Bebeng" Gallego, 13-9, in an All Filipino finals to capture the title plus $20,000 top prize in the event presented by San Miguel Corporation and supported by businessman Julio Sy Jr. and Negros Oriental 1 st district rep. Josie Limkaichiong.

Reyes, 53, will face D. Enami of Japan while Bustamante, 43, takes on T. Noda of Japan.

According to Reyes, this is the third time in his professional billiard career that he has only won a few tournaments.

"Y'ung arthritis ko umaatake eh, kaya minamalas tayo sa taong ito, beside bihira na din tayo sumali sa ibang bansa lalu na sa Amerika kasi magastos at mataas 'yung tax," said Reyes, whose other slump was in 1997 to 1998.

"Pero sana maganda ang performance natin sa All Japan para maganda naman ang pasko natin, sa taong ito 'yung Derby City Classic lamang sa Kentucky tayo na nalo ng maganda. Sa World Cup of Pool semi-finalist lamang kami ni Django," added Reyes, who took the Master of the Table award in the Derby City Classic this year in Lousville, Kentucky.

Reyes, a hall of famer in Billiards Congress of America (BCA) won the biggest cash prize ever in history of pool winning last year's International Pool Championships World 8-Ball in Reno, Nevada which offers $500,000 top prize. Reyes only received half of his prize but is confident that before the end of this year he will receive the other half of the cash prize.

Defending All Japan Champion Lee Vann Corteza opens his title retention bid against T. Haraguchi.

Gallego, on the other hand, a five-time Japan winner will test the mettle of Au Chi-wai of Hongkong.

Warren Kiamco, current US Bar Table 9-Ball Champion and 8-Ball Champion will meet qualifiers S8 according to official website.

The triumvirate (Corteza, Gallego and Kiamco) are playing under the banner of Negros Billiard Stable (NBS).

Other notable cue masters that include Mika Immonen of Finland, Ralf Souquet of Germany, Chang Keng kwang of Singapore, Wu Chia-ching, Yang Ching-shun, Chang-Jung-lin, Lo Li-wen and Lui Hui-chan of Taiwan.

Satoshi Kawabata, who beat Filipino Antonio Gabica in the 2006 Doha Asian Games 8-ball final will be the front-liner of the host country



KABAYAN WORLD 9-BALL CHALLENGE: ONE MORE TIME

THE world-class actions in the San Miguel Corporation Kabayan World 9-Ball Challenge: Philippines vs. Rest of the World left the people of Oriental Mindoro gasping for air and wanting more.

"Two days are not enough," said Board Member Butch Soller. "Our kababayans want more actions."

The Team Philippines put an anti-climactic ending in the $30,000 tournament with a massive final day rout on its way to a 31-19 victory at the Filipiniana Hotel in Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro.

There were a number of firsts in the event supported by the San Miguel Corporation, PAGCOR, PCSO, ACCEL, DZSR Sports Radio, Manila Times and Business Mirror.

It was the first time that a province hosted an international team competition in billiards and the first time a match-point system with a possibility of draw is used in a pool tournament here in the country.

It was also the first nationally televised sporting event in Oriental Mindoro. The airing is set on Nov. 27-29 on Solar Sports.

" This is arguably the biggest event in this island," said Oriental Mindoro governor Arnan Panaligan. "We' ve just seen the best set of players to ever play here."

Panaligan admitted he was thrilled to do the ceremonial break alongside double world champion Ronnie Alcano.

With the event ' s smashing success, the organizers are planning to stage bigger and better international competitions in the province.

" Given more time and more help from the national government, Oriental Mindoro could become a major sports hub in the country," said Rep. Alfonso "Boy" Umali of the provinces second congressional district.

Vice-President Noli " Kabayan" De Castro vowed to help his fellow Mindorenos achieve their goal of promoting the province through sports.

" I' ll do my best to make a better and productive Oriental Mindoro," he said when the Team Philippines paid him a visit.

(Reports from MARLON BERNARDINO)