FILIPINO legendary Jose "Amang" Parica flashed his old deadly form by winning the 2008 Joss Northeast 9-ball tour stop at the Comet Billiards in Parsippany, New Jersey.
The West Covina-based Parica, acknowledged as the leader of the Filipino invasion in the US Pool circuit in the mid 80's defeated American Adam Kielar, 9-3, in their rematch in the finals enroute to the coveted plum plus $1,500 champion's purse in this 45 player field double elimination format.
Kielar, on the other hand settled runner-up place and cash worth $1,100. Parica, earlier brought down American Mike Zuglan, 9-6, for the hot-seat match and earned ticket to the race-to-9 finals while Kielar needed to beat Zuglan, 9-5, to arrange a titular showdown with Parica.
contributed by MARLON BERNARDINO, edited by Jovie Sison
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Sunday, November 2, 2008
TAIWAN SUCCESSFULLY DEFEND ITS GUINNESS GRAND FINALE CROWN
BY: MARLON BERNARDINO
THE Philippines suffered double black eye yesterday when Alex "The Lion" Pagulayan and Dennis "Robocop" Orcollo lost their respective semifinal matches finals in the Guinness 9 Ball Tour 2008 Grand Final being held at the the Mal Taman Anggrek in Bali, Indonesia.
Pagulayan bowed to former double world champion Wu Chia-ching, 6-9, in the first semifinals encounter while Orcollo yielded to Yang Ching-shun that led an all Taiwanese-finals.
Despite the setbacks, Pagulayan and Orcollo, both receive $5,400 for reaching the semi-finals of the six-city tour organized of ESPN STAR Sports.
In the 2007 edition, Taiwanese Chang Jung-lin took the crown and top prize $36,000 after beating Filipino Lee Vann "The Slayer" Corteza in the finals.
Other Filipino saw action were Antonio "Ga-Ga" Gabica and Joven "The Shark" Bustamante who failed to advance in the knock-out stage.
THE Philippines suffered double black eye yesterday when Alex "The Lion" Pagulayan and Dennis "Robocop" Orcollo lost their respective semifinal matches finals in the Guinness 9 Ball Tour 2008 Grand Final being held at the the Mal Taman Anggrek in Bali, Indonesia.
Pagulayan bowed to former double world champion Wu Chia-ching, 6-9, in the first semifinals encounter while Orcollo yielded to Yang Ching-shun that led an all Taiwanese-finals.
Despite the setbacks, Pagulayan and Orcollo, both receive $5,400 for reaching the semi-finals of the six-city tour organized of ESPN STAR Sports.
In the 2007 edition, Taiwanese Chang Jung-lin took the crown and top prize $36,000 after beating Filipino Lee Vann "The Slayer" Corteza in the finals.
Other Filipino saw action were Antonio "Ga-Ga" Gabica and Joven "The Shark" Bustamante who failed to advance in the knock-out stage.
ORCOLLO, PAGULAYAN ENTERS FINAL FOUR IN GUINNESS GRAND FINALE
BY: MARLON BERNARDINO
FILIPINOS Alex "The Lion" Pagulayan and Dennis "Robocop" Orcollo cruised in the semifinals after they finished in the top two of Group A in the preliminary round of the Guinness 9 Ball Tour 2008 Grand Final yesterday at the Mal Taman Anggrek in Bali, Indonesia.
Orcollo, the reigning WPA world number one was still playing defending Grand Final champion Chang Jung Lin of Chinese Taipei as of press time, but his three wins on Friday coupled with Pagulayan's wins over Wang Hung Hsiang of Chinese Taipei and Ryu Seung Woo of Korea yesterday, clinched spots in the last four for the two Filipino aces.
Orcollo, who hails from Bislig, Surigao del Sur who won the previous leg in Guangzhou, China, swept all three of his assignments on Friday. Orcollo native opened his bid with a 9 – 7 triumph of Pagulayan then followed it up with demolishing over Wang, 9 – 8, and Ryu, 9 – 5.
Pagulayan, who ruled the Singapore leg, bounced back from his setback against Orcollo with a relatively easy 9 – 5 victory over Chang late Friday evening. The 2004 World Pool champion barged into the semi-finals after edging Wang, 9 – 8, and routing Ryu, 9 - 2. Chang's two losses to Pagulayan and Orcollo eliminated the defending champion.
Eleven players were divided into two groups and players played in a single round robin format. The top two players from each group advanced to the semi-finals with the final two meeting in the final match tomorrow.
The champion will earn the top prize of US$36,000. Orcollo and Pagulayan are already assured of at least $5,400 for reaching the semi-finals of the six-city tour organized by ESPN STAR Sports.
The Top Ten of the Tour's Order of Merit following the first five legs automatically qualified for the Grand Final. An additional wild card spot was awarded to Ricky Yang as he was the host country's top ranked player.
Meanwhile, a third Filipino, Antonio Gabica, also remained in contention for a semi-final spot after staying unbeaten after three matches over in Group B. Gabica outclassed fellow Filipino Joven Bustamante, 9 – 5, on Friday then beat Malaysia's Ibrahim Bin Amir, 9 – 5, and survived Chinese Taipei's Wu Chia Ching, 9 - 7, yesterday.
The former Asian Games gold medalist needed just one more win in his last two assignments yesterday. He was still playing hometown bet Ricky Yang as of press time and was scheduled to meet Yang Ching Shun of Chinese Taipei yesterday evening.
Bustamante, the fourth Filipino in the group, is virtually eliminated from semi-final contention after dropping two of his three matches. The current WPA world number six fell to Gabica, 5 – 9, but nipped Indonesia's Yang, 9 – 8, Friday. Bustamante then bowed down to Yang Ching Shun, 4 – 9.
Up for grabs in the Grand Final is total prize money of US$72,000, with the winner taking home US$36,000. The Guinness 9 Ball Tour remains the only ranking tour in Asia for players to qualify for the WPA World Pool Championship. The six-city Tour previously had stops in Chinese-Taipei, Penang, Genting Highlands, Singapore, and Guangzhou.
FILIPINOS Alex "The Lion" Pagulayan and Dennis "Robocop" Orcollo cruised in the semifinals after they finished in the top two of Group A in the preliminary round of the Guinness 9 Ball Tour 2008 Grand Final yesterday at the Mal Taman Anggrek in Bali, Indonesia.
Orcollo, the reigning WPA world number one was still playing defending Grand Final champion Chang Jung Lin of Chinese Taipei as of press time, but his three wins on Friday coupled with Pagulayan's wins over Wang Hung Hsiang of Chinese Taipei and Ryu Seung Woo of Korea yesterday, clinched spots in the last four for the two Filipino aces.
Orcollo, who hails from Bislig, Surigao del Sur who won the previous leg in Guangzhou, China, swept all three of his assignments on Friday. Orcollo native opened his bid with a 9 – 7 triumph of Pagulayan then followed it up with demolishing over Wang, 9 – 8, and Ryu, 9 – 5.
Pagulayan, who ruled the Singapore leg, bounced back from his setback against Orcollo with a relatively easy 9 – 5 victory over Chang late Friday evening. The 2004 World Pool champion barged into the semi-finals after edging Wang, 9 – 8, and routing Ryu, 9 - 2. Chang's two losses to Pagulayan and Orcollo eliminated the defending champion.
Eleven players were divided into two groups and players played in a single round robin format. The top two players from each group advanced to the semi-finals with the final two meeting in the final match tomorrow.
The champion will earn the top prize of US$36,000. Orcollo and Pagulayan are already assured of at least $5,400 for reaching the semi-finals of the six-city tour organized by ESPN STAR Sports.
The Top Ten of the Tour's Order of Merit following the first five legs automatically qualified for the Grand Final. An additional wild card spot was awarded to Ricky Yang as he was the host country's top ranked player.
Meanwhile, a third Filipino, Antonio Gabica, also remained in contention for a semi-final spot after staying unbeaten after three matches over in Group B. Gabica outclassed fellow Filipino Joven Bustamante, 9 – 5, on Friday then beat Malaysia's Ibrahim Bin Amir, 9 – 5, and survived Chinese Taipei's Wu Chia Ching, 9 - 7, yesterday.
The former Asian Games gold medalist needed just one more win in his last two assignments yesterday. He was still playing hometown bet Ricky Yang as of press time and was scheduled to meet Yang Ching Shun of Chinese Taipei yesterday evening.
Bustamante, the fourth Filipino in the group, is virtually eliminated from semi-final contention after dropping two of his three matches. The current WPA world number six fell to Gabica, 5 – 9, but nipped Indonesia's Yang, 9 – 8, Friday. Bustamante then bowed down to Yang Ching Shun, 4 – 9.
Up for grabs in the Grand Final is total prize money of US$72,000, with the winner taking home US$36,000. The Guinness 9 Ball Tour remains the only ranking tour in Asia for players to qualify for the WPA World Pool Championship. The six-city Tour previously had stops in Chinese-Taipei, Penang, Genting Highlands, Singapore, and Guangzhou.
ALCANO SETTLES FOR SECOND PLACE IN US OPEN 9-BALL
BY: MARLON BERNARDINO
FORMER double world champion (WPA 9-ball and WPA 8-ball) Ronato "Volcano" Alcano yielded to eventual champion Mika "The Iceman" Immonen of Finland, 13-7, in the finals, but still wound up as the best Filipino finisher in the just concluded 33rd Annual US Open 9-Ball Championship being held at the Chesapeake Convention Center in Chesapeake, Virginia, USA, over the weekend.
Alcano, who also settled runner-up place in the last year's edition receive 2nd place prize of $20,000 for his effort.
Immonen, meanwhile took the crown and the $40,000 that goes with it after trouncing Alcano in this $250,000 total pot prize tournament which lured by 238 players from around the world.
The 36-year-old Calamba native Alcano, who failed to duplicates Efren "Bata" Reyes (1994) and Alex "The Lion" Pagulayan (2005) title feat, earlier brought downed Immonen, 11-6, during their hot-seat match in the winner's brackets to advance in the championships' round.
With the loss, Immonen relegated to the one-loss side and beat another Filipino entry Warren "Warrior" Kiamco, 11-9, to forge a rematch with Alcano. Before losing to Immonen, the 36-year-old Pasil, Cebu native Kiamco, playing under the banner of Jonathan Sy's Negros Billiard Stable ousted lone American survivor Johnny "The Scorpion" Archer, 11-4.
Kiamco pocketed third place worth of $10,000 while Archer didn't go empty-handed with fourth prize of $8,000.
Other Filipinos who saw action were former world no.1 Francisco "Django" Bustamante, Japan based Ramil "Bebeng" Gallego, Jose "Amang" Parica, Lee Vann "The Slayer" Corteza, Rodolfo "Boy Samson" Luat, Leonardo "The Rattle Snake" Andam, Joven Alba, Edwin Montal and Danny Petralba.
The Filipinos' performance was a big letdown as they dominated the 2005 edition, with Pagulayan emerging as champion, Parica and Bustamante settled 2nd to 3rd placers, respectively. The weeklong-event is the longest running 9-ball event in the United States.
FORMER double world champion (WPA 9-ball and WPA 8-ball) Ronato "Volcano" Alcano yielded to eventual champion Mika "The Iceman" Immonen of Finland, 13-7, in the finals, but still wound up as the best Filipino finisher in the just concluded 33rd Annual US Open 9-Ball Championship being held at the Chesapeake Convention Center in Chesapeake, Virginia, USA, over the weekend.
Alcano, who also settled runner-up place in the last year's edition receive 2nd place prize of $20,000 for his effort.
Immonen, meanwhile took the crown and the $40,000 that goes with it after trouncing Alcano in this $250,000 total pot prize tournament which lured by 238 players from around the world.
The 36-year-old Calamba native Alcano, who failed to duplicates Efren "Bata" Reyes (1994) and Alex "The Lion" Pagulayan (2005) title feat, earlier brought downed Immonen, 11-6, during their hot-seat match in the winner's brackets to advance in the championships' round.
With the loss, Immonen relegated to the one-loss side and beat another Filipino entry Warren "Warrior" Kiamco, 11-9, to forge a rematch with Alcano. Before losing to Immonen, the 36-year-old Pasil, Cebu native Kiamco, playing under the banner of Jonathan Sy's Negros Billiard Stable ousted lone American survivor Johnny "The Scorpion" Archer, 11-4.
Kiamco pocketed third place worth of $10,000 while Archer didn't go empty-handed with fourth prize of $8,000.
Other Filipinos who saw action were former world no.1 Francisco "Django" Bustamante, Japan based Ramil "Bebeng" Gallego, Jose "Amang" Parica, Lee Vann "The Slayer" Corteza, Rodolfo "Boy Samson" Luat, Leonardo "The Rattle Snake" Andam, Joven Alba, Edwin Montal and Danny Petralba.
The Filipinos' performance was a big letdown as they dominated the 2005 edition, with Pagulayan emerging as champion, Parica and Bustamante settled 2nd to 3rd placers, respectively. The weeklong-event is the longest running 9-ball event in the United States.
KIAMCO, ALCANO GAIN US OPEN SEMIFINALS
BY: MARLON BERNARDINO
VETERAN Internationalists Warren "Warrior" Kiamco and Ronato "Volcano" Alcano came up with yet another scintillating performance to kept Philippine Flag high in the on-going 33rd US Open 9-ball championships yesterday being held at the Chesapeake Convention Center in Chesapeake, Virginia, USA.
The pride of Bugsy Promotion Alcano, who is aiming to surpass his last year's runner-up place finish beat American Rodney "Rocket" Morris, 11-7, to post his seventh straight wins and move into the final four against former World 9-ball champion Mika "The Iceman" Immonen of Finland, who brought downed another host bet Johnny "The Scorpion" Archer, 11-7.
Alcano and Immonen, both undefeated in this double-elimination format which offers $40,000 to the champion in this $250,000 total pot prize event.
The Cebuano native Kiamco, playing under the banner of Jonathan Sy's Negros Billiard Stable, on the other hand ousted Morris, 11-10, to extend his winning run in the loser's side with eight straight wins to face Archer in another semifinals pair.
After losing to Immonen in the winner's brackets, Archer eliminated compatriot Corey "The Prince" Deuel, 11-8, to meet Kiamco, the 2008 Villar-Alabang leg champion.
Negros Billiard Stable (NBS) head coach Christopher "Toper" Palses lauded the impressive performance of Alcano and Kiamco."Sana manalo sila sa kani-kanilang final four matches para all Filipino-finals." He added.
On the road's to the final four, Kiamco bested Josh Lewis ,11 – 9, reigning World 9-ball champion Daryl Peach of Great Britain, 11 – 3, fellow NBS stablemate Lee Vann "The Slayer" Corteza, 11 – 10, Morris ,11 – 10, Robb Saez ,11 – 8, Scott Rabon ,11 – 7, Nick Varner ,11 – 10, Imran Majid ,11 – 8, Adam Smith ,11 – 5, Tony Chohan 11 – 3, and Morris, 11-10.
Alcano, meanwhile nipped Mike Brown 11 – 7, Matt Clatterbuck 11 – 4, Mitch Ellerman 11 – 10, Tyler Edey 11 – 8, Corteza 11 – 9, Francisco "Django" Bustamante 11 – 6, and Morris 11 – 7.
The much anticipated final four showdown between Alcano and Immonen and Kiamco opposite with Archer with the top two survival will slug it out for this year's over-all championships' trophy.
Alcano and Kiamco, both member of the star-studded Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines (BMPAP) are looking to duplicate's Efren "Bata" Reyes (1994) and Alex "The Lion" Pagulayan (2005) title-feat.
VETERAN Internationalists Warren "Warrior" Kiamco and Ronato "Volcano" Alcano came up with yet another scintillating performance to kept Philippine Flag high in the on-going 33rd US Open 9-ball championships yesterday being held at the Chesapeake Convention Center in Chesapeake, Virginia, USA.
The pride of Bugsy Promotion Alcano, who is aiming to surpass his last year's runner-up place finish beat American Rodney "Rocket" Morris, 11-7, to post his seventh straight wins and move into the final four against former World 9-ball champion Mika "The Iceman" Immonen of Finland, who brought downed another host bet Johnny "The Scorpion" Archer, 11-7.
Alcano and Immonen, both undefeated in this double-elimination format which offers $40,000 to the champion in this $250,000 total pot prize event.
The Cebuano native Kiamco, playing under the banner of Jonathan Sy's Negros Billiard Stable, on the other hand ousted Morris, 11-10, to extend his winning run in the loser's side with eight straight wins to face Archer in another semifinals pair.
After losing to Immonen in the winner's brackets, Archer eliminated compatriot Corey "The Prince" Deuel, 11-8, to meet Kiamco, the 2008 Villar-Alabang leg champion.
Negros Billiard Stable (NBS) head coach Christopher "Toper" Palses lauded the impressive performance of Alcano and Kiamco."Sana manalo sila sa kani-kanilang final four matches para all Filipino-finals." He added.
On the road's to the final four, Kiamco bested Josh Lewis ,11 – 9, reigning World 9-ball champion Daryl Peach of Great Britain, 11 – 3, fellow NBS stablemate Lee Vann "The Slayer" Corteza, 11 – 10, Morris ,11 – 10, Robb Saez ,11 – 8, Scott Rabon ,11 – 7, Nick Varner ,11 – 10, Imran Majid ,11 – 8, Adam Smith ,11 – 5, Tony Chohan 11 – 3, and Morris, 11-10.
Alcano, meanwhile nipped Mike Brown 11 – 7, Matt Clatterbuck 11 – 4, Mitch Ellerman 11 – 10, Tyler Edey 11 – 8, Corteza 11 – 9, Francisco "Django" Bustamante 11 – 6, and Morris 11 – 7.
The much anticipated final four showdown between Alcano and Immonen and Kiamco opposite with Archer with the top two survival will slug it out for this year's over-all championships' trophy.
Alcano and Kiamco, both member of the star-studded Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines (BMPAP) are looking to duplicate's Efren "Bata" Reyes (1994) and Alex "The Lion" Pagulayan (2005) title-feat.
PARICA BEATS DEFENDING CHAMP VAN BOENING; BUSTAMANTE, ALCANO CONTINUE WINNING RUN IN US OPEN 9-BALL
BY: MARLON BERNARDINO
A day after beating reigning World Ten-Ball Champion Darren "Dynamite" Appleton of Great Britain,11-6, Filipino Francisco "Django" Bustamante continued his winning run after crushing Oscar Dominguez of Mexico, 11-1, to score his fifth straight wins in the on-going 33rd US Open 9-Ball at the Chesapeake Conference Center in Chesapeake, Virginia, yesterday.
However, the sad news is that Bustamante will face last year's runner-up Ronato "Volcano" Alcano, an 11-9 win over compatriot and ex-national champion Lee Vann "The Slayer" Corteza.
Sharing the limelight is Jose "Amang" Parica, who edged defending champion Shane "The South Dakota Kid" Van Boening of the United States, 11-10.
The West Covina-based Parica, acknowledge leader of the Filipino invasion in the US pool circuit in mid 80's, will square off with former World Pool Champion Mika "The Iceman" Immonen of Finland, who brought downed American Shawn Putnam, 11-1.
Also in the winning column were reigning World 9-ball Champion Daryl Peach of Great Britain, former world 9-ball champions Johnny "The Scorpion" Archer of the United States and Thorsten "The Hitman" Hohmann of Germany.
Peach waylaid UK's Raj Hundal, 11-8, Archer stuns Brandon Shuff, 11-5, and Hohmann nipped Finnish Petri Makkonen, 11-2.
American Rodney "Rocket" Morris, who teaming up to Van Boening to win the over-all championships' trophy in the recent World Cup of Pool also remain unbeaten in this $250,000 total pot prize event with the champion getting the lion share of $40,000. He beat Adam Smith, 11-4. In the sixth round, Archer goes up against Peach, Morris opposite Hohmann.
In the loser's side, Cebuano ace Warren "Warrior" Kiamco ousted Indian Imran Majid, 11-8, to remain in contention.
However other Filipino suffered their second loses to kiss goodbye in the longest running 9-ball tournament in the United States.
Japan based Ramil "Bebeng" Gallego bowed to American Larry Nevel, 11-8, Rodolfo "Boy Samson" Luat yielded to American Dan Louie, 11-10, Danny Petralba lost to American Dustin Morris, 11-8, OFW Joven Alba was booted out by American Tim Hall, 11-6 and Fil-Canadian Edwin Montal lost to American Mike Davis, 11-7.
A day after beating reigning World Ten-Ball Champion Darren "Dynamite" Appleton of Great Britain,11-6, Filipino Francisco "Django" Bustamante continued his winning run after crushing Oscar Dominguez of Mexico, 11-1, to score his fifth straight wins in the on-going 33rd US Open 9-Ball at the Chesapeake Conference Center in Chesapeake, Virginia, yesterday.
However, the sad news is that Bustamante will face last year's runner-up Ronato "Volcano" Alcano, an 11-9 win over compatriot and ex-national champion Lee Vann "The Slayer" Corteza.
Sharing the limelight is Jose "Amang" Parica, who edged defending champion Shane "The South Dakota Kid" Van Boening of the United States, 11-10.
The West Covina-based Parica, acknowledge leader of the Filipino invasion in the US pool circuit in mid 80's, will square off with former World Pool Champion Mika "The Iceman" Immonen of Finland, who brought downed American Shawn Putnam, 11-1.
Also in the winning column were reigning World 9-ball Champion Daryl Peach of Great Britain, former world 9-ball champions Johnny "The Scorpion" Archer of the United States and Thorsten "The Hitman" Hohmann of Germany.
Peach waylaid UK's Raj Hundal, 11-8, Archer stuns Brandon Shuff, 11-5, and Hohmann nipped Finnish Petri Makkonen, 11-2.
American Rodney "Rocket" Morris, who teaming up to Van Boening to win the over-all championships' trophy in the recent World Cup of Pool also remain unbeaten in this $250,000 total pot prize event with the champion getting the lion share of $40,000. He beat Adam Smith, 11-4. In the sixth round, Archer goes up against Peach, Morris opposite Hohmann.
In the loser's side, Cebuano ace Warren "Warrior" Kiamco ousted Indian Imran Majid, 11-8, to remain in contention.
However other Filipino suffered their second loses to kiss goodbye in the longest running 9-ball tournament in the United States.
Japan based Ramil "Bebeng" Gallego bowed to American Larry Nevel, 11-8, Rodolfo "Boy Samson" Luat yielded to American Dan Louie, 11-10, Danny Petralba lost to American Dustin Morris, 11-8, OFW Joven Alba was booted out by American Tim Hall, 11-6 and Fil-Canadian Edwin Montal lost to American Mike Davis, 11-7.
DJANGO, THREE OTHER REMAINS UNBEATEN IN US OPEN 9-BALL
Francisco "Django" Bustamante turned back reigning world ten-ball champion Darren "Dynamite" Appleton of Great Britain, 11-6, to joined three other Filipino in the winning column in the fourth round of 33rd US Open 9-ball yesterday at the Chesapeake Convention Center in Chesapeake, Virginia, USA.
Bustamante, the former world no.1 will face Mexican Oscar Dominguez in the next round. Dominguez beat Josh Lewis, 11-10.
Last year's runner-up Ronato "Volcano" Alcano, ex-national champion Lee Vann "The Slayer" Corteza and Jose "Amang" Parica also kept the Philippine flag high after trouncing their respective rivals.
Alcano beat Canadian Tyley Edey, 11-8, while Corteza crushed American Shannon Daulton, 11-9, and Parica nipped Swedish Marcus Chamat, 11-9. However, Alcano and Corteza will clash each other in the fifth round while Parica will go up against defending champion and American Shane "The South Dakota Kid" van boening, winner over compatriot Charlie "The Korean Dragon" Williams, 11-6.
The $250,000 total pot prize event is applying a double elimination format with the champion getting the lion share of $40,000.
MARLON BERNARDINO
Bustamante, the former world no.1 will face Mexican Oscar Dominguez in the next round. Dominguez beat Josh Lewis, 11-10.
Last year's runner-up Ronato "Volcano" Alcano, ex-national champion Lee Vann "The Slayer" Corteza and Jose "Amang" Parica also kept the Philippine flag high after trouncing their respective rivals.
Alcano beat Canadian Tyley Edey, 11-8, while Corteza crushed American Shannon Daulton, 11-9, and Parica nipped Swedish Marcus Chamat, 11-9. However, Alcano and Corteza will clash each other in the fifth round while Parica will go up against defending champion and American Shane "The South Dakota Kid" van boening, winner over compatriot Charlie "The Korean Dragon" Williams, 11-6.
The $250,000 total pot prize event is applying a double elimination format with the champion getting the lion share of $40,000.
MARLON BERNARDINO
LIMEN TO PLAY IN ASIA 10-BALL CHAMPIONSHIPS
TWO MONTHS after taking Davao billiards scene by storm, Jech Limen is now lined up for his second international tournament dubbed as 5th Annual Asia 10-Ball Championships to be held on November 10 to 14 at the Hamilton Hotel in Seoul, Korea.
The Pasig City based Limen, who hails from Davao City topped the 2008 Mati 9-Ball Open Tournament in Mati, Davao. Limen made his name big in international competitions after beating former double world champion (WPA 9-ball and WPA 8-ball) Wu Chia-ching of Chinese-Taipei during the 2007 Negros Oriental International 9-Ball Championships was held in Dumaguete City enable him to finish in the top 12.
"Hindi ko po sasayangin ang binigay na pagkakataon ni Sir Jo (Jonathan Sy), kaya gagawin ko ang aking best sa Asian 10-Ball Championships na maging maganda ang performance natin," said Limen, also the 2004 Davao 9-Ball Open Champion and 2007 Winner Take-All third placer in Bowling Inn, Taft Avenue, Manila.
Sportsman/ Businessman Jonathan Sy, president of the rising Negros Billiard Stable and co-founder of the Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines (BMPAP) yesterday said that Limen received an invitation from Dragon Promotions, promoter of 5th Annual Asia 10-Ball Championships and obtain his visa last Thursday.
""While fate and destiny seems to be on our side the Korean Consul approved the visas of Jech (Limen)"said Sy, also the manager of former national champion Lee Vann "The Slayer" Corteza, Villar Cup Alabang leg champion Warren "Warrior" Kiamco, Japan based Ramil "Bebeng" Gallego and 2008 Dubai Champion Ricky "Bai" Zerna.
"We (NBS) hope Jech (Limen) will perform well in the Asia 10-Ball Championships," added Sy, also the organizer in the forthcoming Villiards: International Invitational 9-Ball Open on November 12 in Bacolod City.
NBS head coach Christopher "Toper" Palses commented: "Hinog na si Jech (Limen) sa malakihang torneo at naniniwala ako na ipakikita niya ang kanyang husay sa Asian 10-Ball Championships."
According to Cindy Lee, president of Dragon Promotions, the 5th Annual Asia 10-Ball Championships offers $10,000 to the champion. The runner-up pockets $5,000 while 3rd and 4th received $2,500.Fifth to 8th placers received $1,250 each while 9th to 16th placers will bring home $600 each.
Top names in the field so far include Mika "The Iceman" Immonen of Finland, who is fresh from winning the 2008 US Open 9-Ball Championships, Thorsten "The Hitman" Hohmann of Germany, Raj Hundal of India, Lee Chenman of Hongkong and Young Hwa Jeong of the host country. The event will be broadcasted on XTM and XPORTS, two of the top channels in South Korea.
contributed by MARLON BERNARDINO.
The Pasig City based Limen, who hails from Davao City topped the 2008 Mati 9-Ball Open Tournament in Mati, Davao. Limen made his name big in international competitions after beating former double world champion (WPA 9-ball and WPA 8-ball) Wu Chia-ching of Chinese-Taipei during the 2007 Negros Oriental International 9-Ball Championships was held in Dumaguete City enable him to finish in the top 12.
"Hindi ko po sasayangin ang binigay na pagkakataon ni Sir Jo (Jonathan Sy), kaya gagawin ko ang aking best sa Asian 10-Ball Championships na maging maganda ang performance natin," said Limen, also the 2004 Davao 9-Ball Open Champion and 2007 Winner Take-All third placer in Bowling Inn, Taft Avenue, Manila.
Sportsman/ Businessman Jonathan Sy, president of the rising Negros Billiard Stable and co-founder of the Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines (BMPAP) yesterday said that Limen received an invitation from Dragon Promotions, promoter of 5th Annual Asia 10-Ball Championships and obtain his visa last Thursday.
""While fate and destiny seems to be on our side the Korean Consul approved the visas of Jech (Limen)"said Sy, also the manager of former national champion Lee Vann "The Slayer" Corteza, Villar Cup Alabang leg champion Warren "Warrior" Kiamco, Japan based Ramil "Bebeng" Gallego and 2008 Dubai Champion Ricky "Bai" Zerna.
"We (NBS) hope Jech (Limen) will perform well in the Asia 10-Ball Championships," added Sy, also the organizer in the forthcoming Villiards: International Invitational 9-Ball Open on November 12 in Bacolod City.
NBS head coach Christopher "Toper" Palses commented: "Hinog na si Jech (Limen) sa malakihang torneo at naniniwala ako na ipakikita niya ang kanyang husay sa Asian 10-Ball Championships."
According to Cindy Lee, president of Dragon Promotions, the 5th Annual Asia 10-Ball Championships offers $10,000 to the champion. The runner-up pockets $5,000 while 3rd and 4th received $2,500.Fifth to 8th placers received $1,250 each while 9th to 16th placers will bring home $600 each.
Top names in the field so far include Mika "The Iceman" Immonen of Finland, who is fresh from winning the 2008 US Open 9-Ball Championships, Thorsten "The Hitman" Hohmann of Germany, Raj Hundal of India, Lee Chenman of Hongkong and Young Hwa Jeong of the host country. The event will be broadcasted on XTM and XPORTS, two of the top channels in South Korea.
contributed by MARLON BERNARDINO.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
DJANGO TRIPS APPLETON IN US OPEN 9-BALL
3 other Filpinos strike
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 01:19:00 10/24/2008
MANILA, Philippines—Francisco “Django” Bustamante humbled England’s newly crowned World 10-Ball champion Darren Appleton, 11-6, Thursday to lead three other Filipinos in the winners’ bracket of the 33rd Annual US Open 9-Ball Championship at the Chesapeake Convention Center in Chesapeake, Virginia.
With four straight victories in as many rounds like Bustamante, the 2007 US Pro Tour champion, are two-time world titlist Ronnie Alcano, Lee Vann Corteza and United States-based Jose “Amang” Parica.
The victory shoved the 44-year-old Bustamante into a fifth-round encounter with unheralded Oscar Dominguez, boosting the Filipino’s title chances in the $250,000 event topped by fellow Puyat Sports stalwarts Efren “Bata” Reyes in 1994 and Alex Pagulayan in 2005.
Also boosting their bid for the $40,000 top purse were Alcano, who bested Canadian Tyler Edey, 11-8, and Corteza, who pipped American Shannon Daulton, 11-9.
Either Alcano of the star-studded Bugsy Promotions or Corteza, star of the Negros Billiards Stable, however, is certain to slide to the one-loss side as they are paired in the fifth round.
Parica, still a force to reckon with at 62, downed Marcus Chamat of Sweden, 11-9. The leader of the Filipino players’ invasion of the US Tour in the 1980s forged a showdown with defending champion Shane Van Boening, who beat compatriot Charlie Williams, 11-6.
Other Filipinos still in contention from the losers’ bracket at presstime were Warren Kiamco, Rodolfo Luat and Ramil Gallego. They, however, need to hurdle every rival to stay alive.
Also unscathed entering the fifth round are former world champions Mika Immonen, Thorsten Hohmann and Johnny Archer, Rodney Morris, Adam Smith, Shawn Putnam, Brandon Shuff, Raj Hundal and Petri Makkonen.
Lifted without permission from Phil. Daily Inquirer (www.inquirer.net)
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 01:19:00 10/24/2008
MANILA, Philippines—Francisco “Django” Bustamante humbled England’s newly crowned World 10-Ball champion Darren Appleton, 11-6, Thursday to lead three other Filipinos in the winners’ bracket of the 33rd Annual US Open 9-Ball Championship at the Chesapeake Convention Center in Chesapeake, Virginia.
With four straight victories in as many rounds like Bustamante, the 2007 US Pro Tour champion, are two-time world titlist Ronnie Alcano, Lee Vann Corteza and United States-based Jose “Amang” Parica.
The victory shoved the 44-year-old Bustamante into a fifth-round encounter with unheralded Oscar Dominguez, boosting the Filipino’s title chances in the $250,000 event topped by fellow Puyat Sports stalwarts Efren “Bata” Reyes in 1994 and Alex Pagulayan in 2005.
Also boosting their bid for the $40,000 top purse were Alcano, who bested Canadian Tyler Edey, 11-8, and Corteza, who pipped American Shannon Daulton, 11-9.
Either Alcano of the star-studded Bugsy Promotions or Corteza, star of the Negros Billiards Stable, however, is certain to slide to the one-loss side as they are paired in the fifth round.
Parica, still a force to reckon with at 62, downed Marcus Chamat of Sweden, 11-9. The leader of the Filipino players’ invasion of the US Tour in the 1980s forged a showdown with defending champion Shane Van Boening, who beat compatriot Charlie Williams, 11-6.
Other Filipinos still in contention from the losers’ bracket at presstime were Warren Kiamco, Rodolfo Luat and Ramil Gallego. They, however, need to hurdle every rival to stay alive.
Also unscathed entering the fifth round are former world champions Mika Immonen, Thorsten Hohmann and Johnny Archer, Rodney Morris, Adam Smith, Shawn Putnam, Brandon Shuff, Raj Hundal and Petri Makkonen.
Lifted without permission from Phil. Daily Inquirer (www.inquirer.net)
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
ALCANO, BUSTAMANTE LEAD R.P. SURGE IN U.S. 9-BALL
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 02:34:00 10/22/2008
MANILA, Philippines—Former double world champion Ronnie Alcano and Former world No. 1Francisco “Django” Bustamante hurdled separate rivals Monday and towed five other Filipinos into the third round of the 33rd US Open 9-Ball Championship at the Chesapeake Convention Center in Chesapeake, Virginia.
Also keeping the Philippine bid rolling in the prestigious $250,000 event are veteran internationalist Rodolfo Luat, four-time Southeast Asian Games gold medalist Warren Kiamco, Lee Vann Corteza, Ramil Gallego and United States-based Jose “Amang” Parica.
Determined to better his runner-up finish in last year’s edition, Alcano, stalwart of Bugsy Promotions, routed American Matt Clatterbuck, 11-4, while Bustamante of Puyat Sports subdued Keith Brinton, 11-8.
Kiamco trounced Jason Klatt, 11-5, while Luat dumped Don Polo, 11-2, for their second straight victories in the tournament that attracted 238 players from around the world.
Corteza, who drew a first-round bye, opened his campaign with an 11-5 blasting of Abdullah El-Yousef, while fellow Negros Billiards Stable standout Gallego followed up his 11-3 conquest of Sam Monday in the opening round by nipping former champion Gabe Owen, 11-9.
Save for Parica, who also drew a first-round bye before thwarting Aki Heiskanen, 11-9, all Filipino winners are members of the Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines.
The tournament, which dangles $40,000 for the champion, was won in 1999 by Efren “Bata” Reyes and in 2005 by Alex Pagulayan.
Not as fortunate were Leonardo Andam and Joven Alba. Andam bowed to Finn Markus Juva, 11-8, while Alba yielded to Englishman Chris Melling, in the first round.
Andam and Alba dropped to the losers’ bracket, where they need to sweep their remaining games to stay in contention.
Other big guns who barged into the third stage of the winners’ side are reigning world 9-ball titlist Darryl Peach of England, former world champion Mika Immonen of Finland, four-time US Open champion Earl Strickland, world No. 2 Niels Feijen of the Netherlands and Charlie Williams of the United States.
Peach downed Nasser Al-Musaible, 11-7; Immonen blanked Greg McAndrew 11-0; Strickland, beat Tariq Al-mulla, 11-5; Feijen drubbed Josh Ulrich, 11-4; and Williams thumped Elias Patrikas of Greece, 11-1.
Lifted without permission from the Philippines Daily Inquirer
Sunday, October 19, 2008
ANNOUNCEMENT BY: STAR BILLIARDS CENTER
STAR BILLIARDS CENTER, located at No.46 Joy Street, Grace Village in Quezon City, Philippines, wishes to promote billiards in our country. As such, Star Billiards Center, equipped with 22 Brunswick tables, with world class facility is now offering to top 1,000 corporations and associations FREE use of their Billiards Center for company tournaments and offers the following services:
1) FREE shuttle service of two 26-seater coaster
2) FREE play of 22 Brunswick tables
3) FREE drinks (water, softdrinks, coffee and tea)
4) FREE "NILI" 10-layer China quality cuetip, same quality Moori Japan and FREE installation of tip
5) FREE use of BROADBAND with top of the line WI-FI connection (equipped with booster for full signal). You can chat, talk and see your friend to any point in the world thru "YAHOO!MESSENGER" and "SKYPE".
6) FREE use of our 4 units HP Laptop
7) FREE ball polishing service for Aramith ball only, using 4 USA highspeed ball polishing machines (cleans 16 balls at a time in 10 minutes)
8) FREE cue stick name engraving for Predator Cues to identify your own cue stick
9) FREE Johnson's baby powder
10) FREE waterproof sandpaper (rough or smooth)
11) FREE MOORI chalk
12) FREE parking lot with guard
13) FREE charging of cellphones. All brands like Nokia, Samsung, Sony Ericson and Motorola
14) FREE use of "karaoke" with top of the line system.
15) FREE long distance call to U.S.A. and Canada through "Magic Jack" System
STAR BILLIARDS CENTER (02) 364-6041/ (0917) 888-8888
contributed by MARLON BERNARDINO
1) FREE shuttle service of two 26-seater coaster
2) FREE play of 22 Brunswick tables
3) FREE drinks (water, softdrinks, coffee and tea)
4) FREE "NILI" 10-layer China quality cuetip, same quality Moori Japan and FREE installation of tip
5) FREE use of BROADBAND with top of the line WI-FI connection (equipped with booster for full signal). You can chat, talk and see your friend to any point in the world thru "YAHOO!MESSENGER" and "SKYPE".
6) FREE use of our 4 units HP Laptop
7) FREE ball polishing service for Aramith ball only, using 4 USA highspeed ball polishing machines (cleans 16 balls at a time in 10 minutes)
8) FREE cue stick name engraving for Predator Cues to identify your own cue stick
9) FREE Johnson's baby powder
10) FREE waterproof sandpaper (rough or smooth)
11) FREE MOORI chalk
12) FREE parking lot with guard
13) FREE charging of cellphones. All brands like Nokia, Samsung, Sony Ericson and Motorola
14) FREE use of "karaoke" with top of the line system.
15) FREE long distance call to U.S.A. and Canada through "Magic Jack" System
STAR BILLIARDS CENTER (02) 364-6041/ (0917) 888-8888
contributed by MARLON BERNARDINO
WEEKLY 9-BALL TOURNAMENT SET ON OCTOBER 25
THE first-ever weekly 9-ball tournament gets first rack on October 25 at the E-Lanes Bowling and Billiards Center in E-Square Building, Ortigas Avenue in Greenhills, San Juan.
According to tournament director Ramon "Maestro Monching" Mistica, the Every Saturday 9-ball tournament is open to all country' cue artists with the champion getting the lion share of P1,000 plus trophy. Second place pockets P500 plus trophy while 3rd and 4th will bring home P250 each.
For inquiries, call or text Mr. Monching Mistica at mobile no. (0919) 558-7634 for complete details.
Meanwhile, all is set the staging of second leg of Billiards Stars Search gets underway on November 5 to 9 at the famous Star Billiards Center in Grace Village, Quezon City.
Defending champion Elvis Calasang lead the cast along with reigning national champion Marlon Manalo, Antonio Gabica, Jeffrey de Luna, Mario Tolentino, Victor Arpilleda, Edgar Acaba, Leonardo Didal and reigning RP Junior champion Jerico Banares in Division A.
The four (A, B, C and D) divisional event organized by Billiards and Snooker Congress of the Philippines in close cooperation with Raya Sports, Philippines Billiards Foundation and Star Billiards Center.
The game is a Ten Ball WPA rules using the winner's break format. Entry fee is P400. Prizes cash, trophies and in kind are up for grabs.. Register now at Star Billiards Center, tel.no. 364-6041, 0917-888-8888, Rizal Memorial Center, tel.0928-744-1740, or Raya Sports, tel.895-2021.
contributed by MARLON BERNARDINO
According to tournament director Ramon "Maestro Monching" Mistica, the Every Saturday 9-ball tournament is open to all country' cue artists with the champion getting the lion share of P1,000 plus trophy. Second place pockets P500 plus trophy while 3rd and 4th will bring home P250 each.
For inquiries, call or text Mr. Monching Mistica at mobile no. (0919) 558-7634 for complete details.
Meanwhile, all is set the staging of second leg of Billiards Stars Search gets underway on November 5 to 9 at the famous Star Billiards Center in Grace Village, Quezon City.
Defending champion Elvis Calasang lead the cast along with reigning national champion Marlon Manalo, Antonio Gabica, Jeffrey de Luna, Mario Tolentino, Victor Arpilleda, Edgar Acaba, Leonardo Didal and reigning RP Junior champion Jerico Banares in Division A.
The four (A, B, C and D) divisional event organized by Billiards and Snooker Congress of the Philippines in close cooperation with Raya Sports, Philippines Billiards Foundation and Star Billiards Center.
The game is a Ten Ball WPA rules using the winner's break format. Entry fee is P400. Prizes cash, trophies and in kind are up for grabs.. Register now at Star Billiards Center, tel.no. 364-6041, 0917-888-8888, Rizal Memorial Center, tel.0928-744-1740, or Raya Sports, tel.895-2021.
contributed by MARLON BERNARDINO
NICE BRACKETS FOR THE FILIPINOS IN US OPEN 9-BALL OPEN
The eleven (11) Filipino campaigners in the US Open 9-Ball don't have to eliminate each other at the start last night of 33rd Annual U.S. Open 9-Ball Championship at the Chesapeake Conference Center in Chesapeake, Virginia.
With this, Filipinos have a better chance to bring home the over-all championship trophy.
Jose "Amang" Parica, acknowledged the leader of the Filipino invasion in the US in mid 80's landed in Winner's Side 1 and took a bye to advance in the next round. Compatriot Rodolfo "Boy Samson" Luat, who is aiming to surpass his runner-up finish two years ago will go up against Louis Ulrich.
Japan based Ramil "Bebeng" Gallego, Leonardo "The Rattle Snake" Andam, Joven Alba and Danny Petralba were Grouped in Winner's Side 2.
Gallego will face Sam Monday, Andam takes on Marcus Juva, Petralba opposite Raj Hundal and Alba will meet Chris Melling.
Edwin Montal is lone Filipino in Winner's Side 3 and will square off with Petri Makkonen.
Former World No.1 Francisco "Django" Bustamante, Warren "Warrior" Kiamco and Lee Vann "The Slayer" Corteza took a bye in their opening matches in Winner's Side 4.
Ronato "Volcano" Alcano, who was a runner-up to American Shane "The South Dakota Kid" van Boening last year, is hoping to become the third Filipino to win the prestigious event after Pool Maestro Efren "Bata" Reyes (1994) and Alex "The Lion" Pagulayan (2005), will face versus Mike Brown in the opener.
236 players from all over the world for the guaranteed total prize of $250,000, including the champion purse of $40,000 seeing in action in this longest running 9-ball tournament in the United States.
contributed by MARLON BERNARDINO
With this, Filipinos have a better chance to bring home the over-all championship trophy.
Jose "Amang" Parica, acknowledged the leader of the Filipino invasion in the US in mid 80's landed in Winner's Side 1 and took a bye to advance in the next round. Compatriot Rodolfo "Boy Samson" Luat, who is aiming to surpass his runner-up finish two years ago will go up against Louis Ulrich.
Japan based Ramil "Bebeng" Gallego, Leonardo "The Rattle Snake" Andam, Joven Alba and Danny Petralba were Grouped in Winner's Side 2.
Gallego will face Sam Monday, Andam takes on Marcus Juva, Petralba opposite Raj Hundal and Alba will meet Chris Melling.
Edwin Montal is lone Filipino in Winner's Side 3 and will square off with Petri Makkonen.
Former World No.1 Francisco "Django" Bustamante, Warren "Warrior" Kiamco and Lee Vann "The Slayer" Corteza took a bye in their opening matches in Winner's Side 4.
Ronato "Volcano" Alcano, who was a runner-up to American Shane "The South Dakota Kid" van Boening last year, is hoping to become the third Filipino to win the prestigious event after Pool Maestro Efren "Bata" Reyes (1994) and Alex "The Lion" Pagulayan (2005), will face versus Mike Brown in the opener.
236 players from all over the world for the guaranteed total prize of $250,000, including the champion purse of $40,000 seeing in action in this longest running 9-ball tournament in the United States.
contributed by MARLON BERNARDINO
BUSTAMANTE, ALCANO, CORTEZA HEADS RP CUE ARTISTS IN US OPEN 9-BALL
FILIPINOS Francisco "Django" Bustamante, Ronato "Volcano" Alcano and Lee Vann "The Slayer" Corteza spearheads the Philippine campaign at the start today of the 33rd Annual U.S. Open 9-Ball Championship at the Chesapeake Conference Center in Chesapeake, Virginia.
Joining them in the longest running 9-ball event in the United States are countrymen Jose "Amang" Parica, Marlon "Marvelous" Manalo, Ramil "Bebeng" Gallego, Warren "Warrior" Kiamco, Rodolfo "Boy Samson" Luat, Santos "The Saint" Sambajon and Joven Alba in mixing up with the field of close to 300 players from all over the world for the guaranteed total prize of $250,000, including the champion purse of $40,000.
Alcano, who was a runner-up to American Shane "The South Dakota Kid" van Boening last year, is hoping to become the third Filipino to win the prestigious event after Pool Maestro Efren "Bata" Reyes (1994) and Alex "The Lion" Pagulayan (2005).
Luat, on the other hand settled for second place to American John Schmidt in the 2006 edition.
Aside from defending champion van Boening, four current world champions from Europe are also competing in the US Open 9-ball. They are Daryl Peach (2007 WPA World Nine-Ball Champion) and Darren "Dynamite" Appleton (2008 WPA World Ten-Ball Champion) of Great Britain, Ralf "Kaiser" Souquet (2008 WPA World Eight-Ball Champion) of Germany and Niels "The Terminator" Feijen (2008 WPA World Straight Pool-14.1 Champion) of the Netherlands.
contributed by MARLON BERNARDINO
Joining them in the longest running 9-ball event in the United States are countrymen Jose "Amang" Parica, Marlon "Marvelous" Manalo, Ramil "Bebeng" Gallego, Warren "Warrior" Kiamco, Rodolfo "Boy Samson" Luat, Santos "The Saint" Sambajon and Joven Alba in mixing up with the field of close to 300 players from all over the world for the guaranteed total prize of $250,000, including the champion purse of $40,000.
Alcano, who was a runner-up to American Shane "The South Dakota Kid" van Boening last year, is hoping to become the third Filipino to win the prestigious event after Pool Maestro Efren "Bata" Reyes (1994) and Alex "The Lion" Pagulayan (2005).
Luat, on the other hand settled for second place to American John Schmidt in the 2006 edition.
Aside from defending champion van Boening, four current world champions from Europe are also competing in the US Open 9-ball. They are Daryl Peach (2007 WPA World Nine-Ball Champion) and Darren "Dynamite" Appleton (2008 WPA World Ten-Ball Champion) of Great Britain, Ralf "Kaiser" Souquet (2008 WPA World Eight-Ball Champion) of Germany and Niels "The Terminator" Feijen (2008 WPA World Straight Pool-14.1 Champion) of the Netherlands.
contributed by MARLON BERNARDINO
Monday, October 6, 2008
APPLETON BEATS WU, TOPS WORLD TEN BALL
DARREN Appleton of Great Britain beat former two-time world champion (WPA 9-ball and WPA 8-ball) Wu Chia-ching of Chinese-Taipei, 13-11, in convincing fashion to win the inauguraL WPA World Ten Ball Championship at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City, last October 5, 2008.
Appleton led the match most of the way surprising many as Wu was a big favorite in this $400,000 total pot prize event.
Appleton raced from a 3-0 to 6-1 to 10-5 commanding lead. Appleton pocketed the $100,000 top purse, while Wu earned $40,000.
Actually by winning the World Ten Ball event, Appleton established the European domination of major pool events where compatriot Daryl Peach of Great Britain won the 2007 WPA World 9-Ball Championship, Ralf Souquet of Germany ruled the 2008 WPA World 8-Ball, and Niels Feijen of the Netherlands took the WPA World Straight Pool/ 14.1 Championship
"PLONG-PLONG" PULPUL COULDN'T BELIEVE IT
AT the conclusion of the inaugural World Ten Ball Championship, a new billiard sensation has risen. Demosthenes "Plong-Plong" Pulpul couldn't believe what happened in a span of two weeks.
"Hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala sa s'werte ko," he said following his fourth place finish in the World Ten Ball Championship. He certainly wished for a better ending, but Pulpul is one contented soul right now.
The 23-year-old from Cagayan De Oro City turned from zero to hero in a span of two weeks.
After topping one of the qualifying rounds, Pulpul proceeded to become the best Filipino finisher in the biggest pool tournament in the world this year. He earned $15,000 (roughly P700,000) for his effort.
Part of his prize would be used for the baptism of his newly-born daughter Kishalyn. "Excited na akong makita ang pamilya ko, lalo na ang bagong baby namin," Pulpul said.
Kishalyn was born on September 24. Two days later, Pulpul earned his place in the main draw of WTBC. "Lucky charm ko 'yung baby namin. Mas naging inspirado ako na maglaro ng mabuti dahil lumalaki na ang pamilya ko."
Pulpul had a chance to get a bigger paycheck, but folded down the stretch against Niels Feijen of the Netherlands. Unlike his semifinal loss to Wu Chia-ching, Pulpul got his game going early against Feijen.
He raced to a 5-3 lead and was at the table going for a three-rack cushion. But an unforced error on the rack let Feijen back on the table and start a four-rack run.
Feijen himself believes Pulpul has a great future ahead of him.
The reigning straight pool champion noted that Pulpul's shotmaking ability "is at-par with the best of them."
"He just needs more exposure in big tournaments," Feijen said. Pulpul won his first six matches in the tournament. He beat Mohd Ali Al Bin of Qatar, 9-2, and Taiwanese ace Yang Ching-shun, 9-8, in group play.
On his way to the semifinals, Pulpul edged top ranked lady player Jasmin Ouschan of Austria, 9-8, toppled Kazuo Furuta of Japan, 9-4, repeated over Yang, 9-8, and rallied past Liu Haitao of China, 11-8.
FEIJEN BEATS PULPUL SETTLES FOR THIRD
NEILS "The Terminator" Feijen of the Netherlands settled for a third place-finish in the just concluded World Ten Ball Championship at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City, on Sunday.
Despite playing for a consolation prize, Feijen, the 2008 World Straight Pool winner broke the hearts of local fans by trouncing the last Filipino Demosthenes "Plong-Plong" Pulpul, in the battle for third place to bag the $25,000 third prize money in this $400,000 total pot prize event organize by Raya Sports.
Pulpul, fondly called "Plong-Plong" in the local pool circuit didn't go home empty-handed as he received $15,000 as his prize for fourth place.
"Magaling talaga si Niels (Feijen)," said Pulpul in a post-game interview yesterday. It shall be recalled that Pulpul also bowed to two-time world champions (WPA World 9-ball and WPA World 8-ball) Wu Chia-ching of Taiwan, 8-11, in the first semifinal match. Darren Appleton of Great Britain beat Feijen, 11-9, in the second semifinal match on Saturday. Wu and Appleton will shot it out for the World Ten Ball Championship - which offers a top prize of $100,000. The runner-up will pocket $40,000.
On the road to the final four, Pulpul needed to go through a tough qualification tournament at the famous Star Billiards Center to make it to the main draw of this 128 player's field. In the group play, Pulpul crushed Mohd Ali Al Bin of Qatar (9-2) and Yang Ching-shun of Taiwan (9-8) then bested world no.1 female player Jasmin Ouschan of Austria (9-8) in the round-of-64, then subdued Kazuo Furuta of Japan (9-4) in the round-of-32, and Yang (9-8) in the round-of-16, and Liu Haitao of China,11-8, in the Round-of-8.
Other noted Filipino pool sharks who also saw action were Marlon Manalo, Antonio Gabica, Jeffrey de Luna, Elvis Calasang, Mario Tolentino, Victor Arpilleda, Jericho Banares, Leonardo Didal, Edgar Acaba, Arnel Bautista, Florencio Banar and Elmer Kalaquian. Top PNP player Alex Nobleza, meanwhile is a referee in this world championship event.
contributed by MARLON BERNARDINO
Appleton led the match most of the way surprising many as Wu was a big favorite in this $400,000 total pot prize event.
Appleton raced from a 3-0 to 6-1 to 10-5 commanding lead. Appleton pocketed the $100,000 top purse, while Wu earned $40,000.
Actually by winning the World Ten Ball event, Appleton established the European domination of major pool events where compatriot Daryl Peach of Great Britain won the 2007 WPA World 9-Ball Championship, Ralf Souquet of Germany ruled the 2008 WPA World 8-Ball, and Niels Feijen of the Netherlands took the WPA World Straight Pool/ 14.1 Championship
"PLONG-PLONG" PULPUL COULDN'T BELIEVE IT
AT the conclusion of the inaugural World Ten Ball Championship, a new billiard sensation has risen. Demosthenes "Plong-Plong" Pulpul couldn't believe what happened in a span of two weeks.
"Hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala sa s'werte ko," he said following his fourth place finish in the World Ten Ball Championship. He certainly wished for a better ending, but Pulpul is one contented soul right now.
The 23-year-old from Cagayan De Oro City turned from zero to hero in a span of two weeks.
After topping one of the qualifying rounds, Pulpul proceeded to become the best Filipino finisher in the biggest pool tournament in the world this year. He earned $15,000 (roughly P700,000) for his effort.
Part of his prize would be used for the baptism of his newly-born daughter Kishalyn. "Excited na akong makita ang pamilya ko, lalo na ang bagong baby namin," Pulpul said.
Kishalyn was born on September 24. Two days later, Pulpul earned his place in the main draw of WTBC. "Lucky charm ko 'yung baby namin. Mas naging inspirado ako na maglaro ng mabuti dahil lumalaki na ang pamilya ko."
Pulpul had a chance to get a bigger paycheck, but folded down the stretch against Niels Feijen of the Netherlands. Unlike his semifinal loss to Wu Chia-ching, Pulpul got his game going early against Feijen.
He raced to a 5-3 lead and was at the table going for a three-rack cushion. But an unforced error on the rack let Feijen back on the table and start a four-rack run.
Feijen himself believes Pulpul has a great future ahead of him.
The reigning straight pool champion noted that Pulpul's shotmaking ability "is at-par with the best of them."
"He just needs more exposure in big tournaments," Feijen said. Pulpul won his first six matches in the tournament. He beat Mohd Ali Al Bin of Qatar, 9-2, and Taiwanese ace Yang Ching-shun, 9-8, in group play.
On his way to the semifinals, Pulpul edged top ranked lady player Jasmin Ouschan of Austria, 9-8, toppled Kazuo Furuta of Japan, 9-4, repeated over Yang, 9-8, and rallied past Liu Haitao of China, 11-8.
FEIJEN BEATS PULPUL SETTLES FOR THIRD
NEILS "The Terminator" Feijen of the Netherlands settled for a third place-finish in the just concluded World Ten Ball Championship at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City, on Sunday.
Despite playing for a consolation prize, Feijen, the 2008 World Straight Pool winner broke the hearts of local fans by trouncing the last Filipino Demosthenes "Plong-Plong" Pulpul, in the battle for third place to bag the $25,000 third prize money in this $400,000 total pot prize event organize by Raya Sports.
Pulpul, fondly called "Plong-Plong" in the local pool circuit didn't go home empty-handed as he received $15,000 as his prize for fourth place.
"Magaling talaga si Niels (Feijen)," said Pulpul in a post-game interview yesterday. It shall be recalled that Pulpul also bowed to two-time world champions (WPA World 9-ball and WPA World 8-ball) Wu Chia-ching of Taiwan, 8-11, in the first semifinal match. Darren Appleton of Great Britain beat Feijen, 11-9, in the second semifinal match on Saturday. Wu and Appleton will shot it out for the World Ten Ball Championship - which offers a top prize of $100,000. The runner-up will pocket $40,000.
On the road to the final four, Pulpul needed to go through a tough qualification tournament at the famous Star Billiards Center to make it to the main draw of this 128 player's field. In the group play, Pulpul crushed Mohd Ali Al Bin of Qatar (9-2) and Yang Ching-shun of Taiwan (9-8) then bested world no.1 female player Jasmin Ouschan of Austria (9-8) in the round-of-64, then subdued Kazuo Furuta of Japan (9-4) in the round-of-32, and Yang (9-8) in the round-of-16, and Liu Haitao of China,11-8, in the Round-of-8.
Other noted Filipino pool sharks who also saw action were Marlon Manalo, Antonio Gabica, Jeffrey de Luna, Elvis Calasang, Mario Tolentino, Victor Arpilleda, Jericho Banares, Leonardo Didal, Edgar Acaba, Arnel Bautista, Florencio Banar and Elmer Kalaquian. Top PNP player Alex Nobleza, meanwhile is a referee in this world championship event.
contributed by MARLON BERNARDINO
Monday, September 29, 2008
MARLON MANALO WINS OPENER IN WTBC
FILIPINO MARLON MANALO got off to a bright start by beating Tee Chee-soon of Brunei, 9-6, at the start of the World Ten Ball Championship Monday at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City.
The reigning national champion bucked a slow start to beat Tee Chee-soon of Brunei, 9-6, and move within a win of clinching a spot in the knockout round. He will next face Fabio Petroni of Italy, a fomer world trickshot champion, who defeated Huidji See of the Netherlands, 9-7.
After winning the lag, Manalo proceeded to run out the opening frame. But a miss on the blue two allowed Tee to level the count. There were three deadlocks after eight racks, but there was no stopping Manalo when he started to pull away midway in the match. "Nahirapan lang ako mag-adjust sa lamesa. Masyado kasing mabilis ang tapete," said Manalo. Manalo clustered three racks to post a 7-4 lead and never looked back.
The fast surface kept him from running out consecutive racks, but the three-rack cushion proved enough for Manalo to pull through. "Alam ko naman na nahihirapan din sa bilis ng lamesa ang kalaban ko kaya hindi ako nag-worry masyado."
Elmer Kalaquian and Victor Arpilleda joined Manalo in the winner's bracket after posting convincing victories against separate rivals. Kalaquian toppled Matjaz Erculj of Slovenia, 9-3, while Arpilleda downed Wang Ko-pin of Chinese Taipei, 9-6.
Reigning national junior champion Jericho Banares failed to keep the momentum going for the Filipinos, losing to Steve Moore of the United States, 4-9.
Falling by the wayside were Elvis Calasang and Florencio Banar. Calasang fell to Naoyuki Oi of Japan, 8-9, while Banar bowed to Bruno Muratore of Italy, 5-9.
Meanwhile, last year's World Pool Championship winner Darryl Peach of England downed Hong Kong's Sit Shun-ching, 9-4.
contributed by MARLON BERNARDINO
The reigning national champion bucked a slow start to beat Tee Chee-soon of Brunei, 9-6, and move within a win of clinching a spot in the knockout round. He will next face Fabio Petroni of Italy, a fomer world trickshot champion, who defeated Huidji See of the Netherlands, 9-7.
After winning the lag, Manalo proceeded to run out the opening frame. But a miss on the blue two allowed Tee to level the count. There were three deadlocks after eight racks, but there was no stopping Manalo when he started to pull away midway in the match. "Nahirapan lang ako mag-adjust sa lamesa. Masyado kasing mabilis ang tapete," said Manalo. Manalo clustered three racks to post a 7-4 lead and never looked back.
The fast surface kept him from running out consecutive racks, but the three-rack cushion proved enough for Manalo to pull through. "Alam ko naman na nahihirapan din sa bilis ng lamesa ang kalaban ko kaya hindi ako nag-worry masyado."
Elmer Kalaquian and Victor Arpilleda joined Manalo in the winner's bracket after posting convincing victories against separate rivals. Kalaquian toppled Matjaz Erculj of Slovenia, 9-3, while Arpilleda downed Wang Ko-pin of Chinese Taipei, 9-6.
Reigning national junior champion Jericho Banares failed to keep the momentum going for the Filipinos, losing to Steve Moore of the United States, 4-9.
Falling by the wayside were Elvis Calasang and Florencio Banar. Calasang fell to Naoyuki Oi of Japan, 8-9, while Banar bowed to Bruno Muratore of Italy, 5-9.
Meanwhile, last year's World Pool Championship winner Darryl Peach of England downed Hong Kong's Sit Shun-ching, 9-4.
contributed by MARLON BERNARDINO
WORLD TEN BALL BEGINS
A TOTAL of 128 players from 43 countries will vie for the prestigious honor of becoming the first-ever world champion in Ten Ball discipline.
The biggest sports event in the country - the inauguraL World Pool Association (WPA) World Ten Ball Championships (WTBC) fires off today, Monday September 29, 9:30 am where no less than Vice President Noli de Castro will do the ceremonial break at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City.
Up for grab are a total pot prize of $400,000 where the champion gets the lion's share of $100,000.
Leading the participants are 47 players from Europe. With all three WPA world champions seeing in action in the WTBC, the Europeans loom as the heavy favorite in the Raya Sports organized tournament in close cooperation with the Billiards and Snooker Congress of the Philippines, Philippine Billiards Foundation and Star Billards Center.
The three reigning world champions spearheading the European invasion are World 8-ball champion Ralf Souquet of Germany, World 9-ball champion Daryl Peach of Great Britain and World straight pool champion Neils Feijen of the Netherlands.
Souquet won the World 8-Ball Championship in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates last
April after beating Filipino Ronato Alcano in the finals. Regarded as one of the most experienced among the 128 competing players in the main draw, the German ace considers the race as a free-for-all battle.
"Ten Ball is a lot different from nine ball and the luck factor has lessened," said
Souquet. "This makes the game more exciting."
Other notable European players include former World 9-ball titlist Thorsten Hohmann and Oliver Ortmann of Germany and Mika Immonen of Finland.
Not to be outdone the Americans headed by Shane Van Boening and Johnny Archer while Chinese-Taipei led by Wu Chia-ching, Yang Ching-shun, Ko Pin-yi and Chang Jung-lin.
Marlon Manalo, the reigning national open champion will carry the good fight for the Filipino pool sharks along with countryman Antonio Gabica, Jeffrey de Luna, Elvis Calasang, Elmer Kalaquian, Jericho Banares, Edgar Acaba, Arnel Bautista, Demosthenes Pulpul, Victor Arpilleda and Leonardo Didal.
"It's anybodies ball game," said the 31-year-old Barangay Talumpong, Mandaluyong City ace Manalo during the luncheon meeting yesterday at the Sofitel Plaza Hotel in Pasay City. "I will do my very best for flag and country," added Manalo, who beat 2006 Doha Asian Games 9-ball gold medalist Antonio "Ga-Ga" Gabica, 11-5, in the finals to rule the 3rd BSCP National Pool Championships this year.
According to Yen Makabenta, head of the organizing Raya Sports group, the 128 players entered in the main draw will be divided into 16 groups of eight. They will compete under a double elimination format. Four players will advance from each group going to the Last 64. From the last 64 to the Finals the competition turns to a single elimination format. The player who wins a match advances to the next round, and the loser is knocked out of the tournament.
contributed by MARLON BERNARDINO
The biggest sports event in the country - the inauguraL World Pool Association (WPA) World Ten Ball Championships (WTBC) fires off today, Monday September 29, 9:30 am where no less than Vice President Noli de Castro will do the ceremonial break at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City.
Up for grab are a total pot prize of $400,000 where the champion gets the lion's share of $100,000.
Leading the participants are 47 players from Europe. With all three WPA world champions seeing in action in the WTBC, the Europeans loom as the heavy favorite in the Raya Sports organized tournament in close cooperation with the Billiards and Snooker Congress of the Philippines, Philippine Billiards Foundation and Star Billards Center.
The three reigning world champions spearheading the European invasion are World 8-ball champion Ralf Souquet of Germany, World 9-ball champion Daryl Peach of Great Britain and World straight pool champion Neils Feijen of the Netherlands.
Souquet won the World 8-Ball Championship in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates last
April after beating Filipino Ronato Alcano in the finals. Regarded as one of the most experienced among the 128 competing players in the main draw, the German ace considers the race as a free-for-all battle.
"Ten Ball is a lot different from nine ball and the luck factor has lessened," said
Souquet. "This makes the game more exciting."
Other notable European players include former World 9-ball titlist Thorsten Hohmann and Oliver Ortmann of Germany and Mika Immonen of Finland.
Not to be outdone the Americans headed by Shane Van Boening and Johnny Archer while Chinese-Taipei led by Wu Chia-ching, Yang Ching-shun, Ko Pin-yi and Chang Jung-lin.
Marlon Manalo, the reigning national open champion will carry the good fight for the Filipino pool sharks along with countryman Antonio Gabica, Jeffrey de Luna, Elvis Calasang, Elmer Kalaquian, Jericho Banares, Edgar Acaba, Arnel Bautista, Demosthenes Pulpul, Victor Arpilleda and Leonardo Didal.
"It's anybodies ball game," said the 31-year-old Barangay Talumpong, Mandaluyong City ace Manalo during the luncheon meeting yesterday at the Sofitel Plaza Hotel in Pasay City. "I will do my very best for flag and country," added Manalo, who beat 2006 Doha Asian Games 9-ball gold medalist Antonio "Ga-Ga" Gabica, 11-5, in the finals to rule the 3rd BSCP National Pool Championships this year.
According to Yen Makabenta, head of the organizing Raya Sports group, the 128 players entered in the main draw will be divided into 16 groups of eight. They will compete under a double elimination format. Four players will advance from each group going to the Last 64. From the last 64 to the Finals the competition turns to a single elimination format. The player who wins a match advances to the next round, and the loser is knocked out of the tournament.
contributed by MARLON BERNARDINO
Sunday, August 3, 2008
FIVE CHAMPIONS TO VIE IN WORLD TEN BALL
TWO reigning world champions, two winners in qualifying events, and the European number one women's player are the first to secure guaranteed spots in the inaugural WPA World Ten Ball Championship scheduled on September 29 to October 5 at the Philippine International Convention Center in Manila.
The five are Jasmin Ouschan of Austria, Ralf Soquet of Germany, Daryl Peach of England, Wu Chai-Ching of Chinese Taipei, and Antonio Gabica of the Philippines.
Ouschan secured her spot by virtue of her ranking as the top women's player in Europe and a direct invitation from the WPA. She is widely regarded as the top women's straight pool player in the world. She placed fifth in the 2006 World Straight Pool Championship featuring both men and women players.
Playing in the inaugural WTBC fulfills a major personal goal. She says: "My goal is to be one of the best players in the world and also to try to challenge the best male players in the world."
She will have much to challenge in the male players who have already secured spots in the WTBC.
Soquet earned his spot as the reigning WPA World 8-Ball Champion, which he won in Fujairah, UAE, last April. He has been a consistent top-five player in the world for the past five years.
Peach got his spot as the reigning WPA World 9-Ball Champion. He won the 2007 title in Manila last November.
Wu and Gabica are the first two winners of the WTBC qualifying events held under the Philippine Pool Tour.
Wu, a double world champion for 8-ball and 9-ball in 2005, won the Puerto Princesa Mayor's Cup of the PPT last June 17-22 in Puerto Princesa City.
Gabica, the reigning Philippine Open champion and Asian Games gold medalist, won the Mandaluyong Mayor's Cup of the PPT last May 6-11 in Mandaluyong City.
Meanwhile, the qualifying of players for the WTBC under the WPA allocation system is currently ongoing. The majority of spots go to the continental associations. The rest are allocated for qualifying events and wild cards. Players interested in joining the WTBC are enjoined to contact their continental and national associations for information about how they can secure spots in the championship.
The Distribution of spots are as follows:
APBU - Asia 30
BCA - North America 14
EPBF - Europe 40
OPBA - Oceania 4
South America 4
AAPA - Africa 2
Spots for Women Players 7
WPA World Champions 3
Spots for Qualifying Events 14
Spots for Tour Events 4
Wild Cards 6
Total 128
contributed by MARLON BERNARDINO
The five are Jasmin Ouschan of Austria, Ralf Soquet of Germany, Daryl Peach of England, Wu Chai-Ching of Chinese Taipei, and Antonio Gabica of the Philippines.
Ouschan secured her spot by virtue of her ranking as the top women's player in Europe and a direct invitation from the WPA. She is widely regarded as the top women's straight pool player in the world. She placed fifth in the 2006 World Straight Pool Championship featuring both men and women players.
Playing in the inaugural WTBC fulfills a major personal goal. She says: "My goal is to be one of the best players in the world and also to try to challenge the best male players in the world."
She will have much to challenge in the male players who have already secured spots in the WTBC.
Soquet earned his spot as the reigning WPA World 8-Ball Champion, which he won in Fujairah, UAE, last April. He has been a consistent top-five player in the world for the past five years.
Peach got his spot as the reigning WPA World 9-Ball Champion. He won the 2007 title in Manila last November.
Wu and Gabica are the first two winners of the WTBC qualifying events held under the Philippine Pool Tour.
Wu, a double world champion for 8-ball and 9-ball in 2005, won the Puerto Princesa Mayor's Cup of the PPT last June 17-22 in Puerto Princesa City.
Gabica, the reigning Philippine Open champion and Asian Games gold medalist, won the Mandaluyong Mayor's Cup of the PPT last May 6-11 in Mandaluyong City.
Meanwhile, the qualifying of players for the WTBC under the WPA allocation system is currently ongoing. The majority of spots go to the continental associations. The rest are allocated for qualifying events and wild cards. Players interested in joining the WTBC are enjoined to contact their continental and national associations for information about how they can secure spots in the championship.
The Distribution of spots are as follows:
APBU - Asia 30
BCA - North America 14
EPBF - Europe 40
OPBA - Oceania 4
South America 4
AAPA - Africa 2
Spots for Women Players 7
WPA World Champions 3
Spots for Qualifying Events 14
Spots for Tour Events 4
Wild Cards 6
Total 128
contributed by MARLON BERNARDINO
"BEBENG" GALLEGO EYES REPEAT IN VILLAR CUP BUT WILL FIRST PLAY IN JAPAN CUP
JAPAN based Ramil "Bebeng" Gallego tries to make two in a row when the first Senate President Manny Villar Cup goes to Davao City on August 21 to 23 at the Gaisano Mall.
The 41-year-old stalwart of rising Negros Billiards Stable of businessman Jonathan Sy defeated former world no.1 Francisco "Django" Bustamante in the semis, 10-9, then subdued La Union bet Carlo "Cool" Biado, 11-7, in the finals to rule the third leg of the Villar Cup over the weekend at the Event Center of SM City Marilao.
"Sana maidepensa ko ang aking titulo sa Davao leg bg Villar Cup, alam kong mahirap pero gagawin ko ang aking best," said the five-times Japan Champion, who also the 2006 SMB Asian 9-ball tour titlist.
"Bilang paghahanda ay pupunta ako sa Miyerkoles (today) sa Japan para sa isang exhibition match bago babalik ako sa August 18 para sa Villar Cup sa Davao City," said Gallego in an exclusive interview with this writer during the birthday celebration of the daughter of his NBS stablemate Warren "Warrior" Kiamco last Monday at the Kiamco's residential home in Commonwealth, Quezon City, interestingly coincide the State of the Nation (SONA) of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
The first two leg of Villar Cup are dominated by Kiamco (Alabang leg) and Gandy "Yang-Yang" Valle (Cebu leg).
NBS head coach Christopher "Toper" Palses said "Malaki ang paniniwala ko na malaki ang chance na mag world champion si Bebeng (Ramil Gallego) dahil nakita ko sa kanya ang dedikasyon sa larong bilyar,"
Gallego, who is fresh from winning the 14-1 Championships in Japan before the Marialo Leg of Villar Cup also schedule to compete in the longest-running and prestigious US Open 9-Ball Championship along with Kiamco, national champion Lee Vann "The Slayer" Corteza and newest hottest sensation Ricky "Bai" Zerna, top player of the NBS squad to be held on October 19 to 25 at the Chesapeake, Virginia in the United States.
" Target ko talaga ang US Open, gusto kong mapaganda ang performance ko sa taong ito kaya malaking tulong ang paglalaro natin sa Japan Circuit at sa Villar Cup," last word of Gallego, who needed an 11 in a row from the loser's brackets enable him to finish at 5th place in the last year's edition of US 9-ball Open.
contributed by MARLON BERNARDINO
The 41-year-old stalwart of rising Negros Billiards Stable of businessman Jonathan Sy defeated former world no.1 Francisco "Django" Bustamante in the semis, 10-9, then subdued La Union bet Carlo "Cool" Biado, 11-7, in the finals to rule the third leg of the Villar Cup over the weekend at the Event Center of SM City Marilao.
"Sana maidepensa ko ang aking titulo sa Davao leg bg Villar Cup, alam kong mahirap pero gagawin ko ang aking best," said the five-times Japan Champion, who also the 2006 SMB Asian 9-ball tour titlist.
"Bilang paghahanda ay pupunta ako sa Miyerkoles (today) sa Japan para sa isang exhibition match bago babalik ako sa August 18 para sa Villar Cup sa Davao City," said Gallego in an exclusive interview with this writer during the birthday celebration of the daughter of his NBS stablemate Warren "Warrior" Kiamco last Monday at the Kiamco's residential home in Commonwealth, Quezon City, interestingly coincide the State of the Nation (SONA) of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
The first two leg of Villar Cup are dominated by Kiamco (Alabang leg) and Gandy "Yang-Yang" Valle (Cebu leg).
NBS head coach Christopher "Toper" Palses said "Malaki ang paniniwala ko na malaki ang chance na mag world champion si Bebeng (Ramil Gallego) dahil nakita ko sa kanya ang dedikasyon sa larong bilyar,"
Gallego, who is fresh from winning the 14-1 Championships in Japan before the Marialo Leg of Villar Cup also schedule to compete in the longest-running and prestigious US Open 9-Ball Championship along with Kiamco, national champion Lee Vann "The Slayer" Corteza and newest hottest sensation Ricky "Bai" Zerna, top player of the NBS squad to be held on October 19 to 25 at the Chesapeake, Virginia in the United States.
" Target ko talaga ang US Open, gusto kong mapaganda ang performance ko sa taong ito kaya malaking tulong ang paglalaro natin sa Japan Circuit at sa Villar Cup," last word of Gallego, who needed an 11 in a row from the loser's brackets enable him to finish at 5th place in the last year's edition of US 9-ball Open.
contributed by MARLON BERNARDINO
JOSE PARICA REGAINS HIS OLD DEADLY FORM, TOPS STRAIGHT POOL CHAMPIONSHIPS
JOSE "AMANG" PARICA regained his old deadly form beating Mexican Oscar Dominguez, 125-117, in the finals to rule the just concluded 14.1 Straight Pool Championships at the famous Hard Times Billiards in California, United States recently.
The West Covina based Parica, acknowledge the leader of the Filipino invasion in the US Pool circuit in the mid 80's pocketed the top prize of $1,200 for dominating the 45 players field. Dominguez, on the other hand settled runner-up purse of $525 for his effort. Another Filipino entry Danny Petralba landed at 12th place finish.
According to AZ billiards.com, the match went back and forth with safety battles and come from behind runs. At one point Parica had the lead in the 14 rack with a score of 111-67 when, all of a sudden, Parica with a 37 ball run to bring the score to 111-104. In the 17th rack Dominguez was not able to spread the rack and was forced to play safe. Safety battles were exchanged as well as fouls (intentional and unintentional). Eventually, Parica was able to squeak by with the win 125-117.
contributed by MARLON BERNARDINO.
The West Covina based Parica, acknowledge the leader of the Filipino invasion in the US Pool circuit in the mid 80's pocketed the top prize of $1,200 for dominating the 45 players field. Dominguez, on the other hand settled runner-up purse of $525 for his effort. Another Filipino entry Danny Petralba landed at 12th place finish.
According to AZ billiards.com, the match went back and forth with safety battles and come from behind runs. At one point Parica had the lead in the 14 rack with a score of 111-67 when, all of a sudden, Parica with a 37 ball run to bring the score to 111-104. In the 17th rack Dominguez was not able to spread the rack and was forced to play safe. Safety battles were exchanged as well as fouls (intentional and unintentional). Eventually, Parica was able to squeak by with the win 125-117.
contributed by MARLON BERNARDINO.
PAGULAYAN BEATS ORCOLLO, THE LION ROAR'S IN GUINNESS 9-BALL
ALEX PAGULAYAN sealed last night his status as Number 1 in Philippine pool with a masterful 11-6 victory over compatriot World No.1 Dennis "Robocop" Orcollo in the finals of Guinness 9 Ball Tour 2008 at the Velocity@Novena Square in Singapore.
With the victory, became the first to be officially proclaimed as Filipino Guinness 9-ball pool champion under the title sponsor of Guinness, an Irish stout beer, who replace former title sponsor San Miguel Beer. He adds the title to a long list that now includes the 2004 World Pool Championship, the 2005 US Open Championship, three gold medals in the December 2005 SEA Games, 2006 BSCP National Pool Championship and the 2008 PartyPoker.net World Pool Masters. He also took home a cool $15,000 (P675,000) in prize.
"At last" commented the 30-year-old Pagulayan, one of the top players of Aristeo "Putch" Puyat, acknowledged Philippine Billiards God Father.
Orcollo, who is fresh from winning the first Qatar World 9-Ball this month settle runner-up prize of $6,000 (270,000).
The Bislig, Surigao del Sur ace nipped Yang Ching Shun of Chinese Taipei, 9 – 8, in a scintillating semi-final match yesterday to set up an all-Filipino clash in the finals with Pagulayan, who won earlier over Wu Chia Ching of Chinese Taipei, 9 – 6.
The last time a Filipino won a title on the Tour, formerly SMB Asian 9-ball tour organized by ESPN STAR Sports was in 2006 when Efren "Bata" Reyes beat Ricky Yang in Jakarta, Indonesia. This also marks the first time since Lee Van Corteza defeated Francisco "Django" Bustamante in Manila in 2004 that two Filipinos will battle for the crown.
The Chinese Taipei players previously dominated the Tour as the swept all six legs last year and the first three legs this year.
Up for grabs in the Singapore leg is a total prize purse of US$50,000 as well as points to qualify for the Tour's Grand Final in Jakarta, which will feature the Top Ten players in the overall Order of Merit. The winners of each leg will get to earn US$15,000 while the Grand Final Champion will pocket US$36,000. In addition, the Tour's Top 10 players will also automatically qualify for pool's most prestigious event, the 2008 WPA World Pool Championships later his year. The Guinness 9-Ball Tour remains the only ranking tour in Asia for players to qualify for the WPA World Pool Championship.
Following stops in Chinese-Taipei, Penang, Genting Highlands and Singapore, the six-city Tour will have its penultimate leg in Guangzhou in September before heading to Jakarta for the Grand Finals in October.
contributed by MARLON BERNARDINO
With the victory, became the first to be officially proclaimed as Filipino Guinness 9-ball pool champion under the title sponsor of Guinness, an Irish stout beer, who replace former title sponsor San Miguel Beer. He adds the title to a long list that now includes the 2004 World Pool Championship, the 2005 US Open Championship, three gold medals in the December 2005 SEA Games, 2006 BSCP National Pool Championship and the 2008 PartyPoker.net World Pool Masters. He also took home a cool $15,000 (P675,000) in prize.
"At last" commented the 30-year-old Pagulayan, one of the top players of Aristeo "Putch" Puyat, acknowledged Philippine Billiards God Father.
Orcollo, who is fresh from winning the first Qatar World 9-Ball this month settle runner-up prize of $6,000 (270,000).
The Bislig, Surigao del Sur ace nipped Yang Ching Shun of Chinese Taipei, 9 – 8, in a scintillating semi-final match yesterday to set up an all-Filipino clash in the finals with Pagulayan, who won earlier over Wu Chia Ching of Chinese Taipei, 9 – 6.
The last time a Filipino won a title on the Tour, formerly SMB Asian 9-ball tour organized by ESPN STAR Sports was in 2006 when Efren "Bata" Reyes beat Ricky Yang in Jakarta, Indonesia. This also marks the first time since Lee Van Corteza defeated Francisco "Django" Bustamante in Manila in 2004 that two Filipinos will battle for the crown.
The Chinese Taipei players previously dominated the Tour as the swept all six legs last year and the first three legs this year.
Up for grabs in the Singapore leg is a total prize purse of US$50,000 as well as points to qualify for the Tour's Grand Final in Jakarta, which will feature the Top Ten players in the overall Order of Merit. The winners of each leg will get to earn US$15,000 while the Grand Final Champion will pocket US$36,000. In addition, the Tour's Top 10 players will also automatically qualify for pool's most prestigious event, the 2008 WPA World Pool Championships later his year. The Guinness 9-Ball Tour remains the only ranking tour in Asia for players to qualify for the WPA World Pool Championship.
Following stops in Chinese-Taipei, Penang, Genting Highlands and Singapore, the six-city Tour will have its penultimate leg in Guangzhou in September before heading to Jakarta for the Grand Finals in October.
contributed by MARLON BERNARDINO
CORTEZA SHOOT MONEY RICH $1M 9-BALL SHOOT-OUT
REIGNING National Pool Champion Lee Vann Corteza will lead the assault of a strong Philippine contingent as the money rich Milliondollar9ballshootout gets underway on August 6-10 at Valley Forge Convention Center in Pennsylvania, United States.
Fondly called "The Slayer" in the pool arena, the 29-year-old pride of Davao City is eyeing his biggest win in his entire billiard career when he mix it up against world's best in this $1 M total purse where the champion getting the lion share of $150,000.
"I hope to perform well in this event," said Negros Billiard Stable (NBS) top player Corteza, also the 2006 All Japan Champion titlist enroute $20,000, his biggest pay check so far.
Other notable Filipino bets competing here are former world champions Efren "Bata" Reyes and Alex "The Lion" Pagulayan, Francisco "Django" Bustamante, Mandaluyong bet Marlon "Marvelous" Manalo and Macalelon, Quezon province native Santos "The Saint" Sambajon.
Host country will parade the likes of another world 9-ball titlist Johnny "The Scorpion" Archer and US Open 9-ball winner Shane "The South Dakota Kid" Van Boening, among others.
contributed by MARLON BERNARDINO
Fondly called "The Slayer" in the pool arena, the 29-year-old pride of Davao City is eyeing his biggest win in his entire billiard career when he mix it up against world's best in this $1 M total purse where the champion getting the lion share of $150,000.
"I hope to perform well in this event," said Negros Billiard Stable (NBS) top player Corteza, also the 2006 All Japan Champion titlist enroute $20,000, his biggest pay check so far.
Other notable Filipino bets competing here are former world champions Efren "Bata" Reyes and Alex "The Lion" Pagulayan, Francisco "Django" Bustamante, Mandaluyong bet Marlon "Marvelous" Manalo and Macalelon, Quezon province native Santos "The Saint" Sambajon.
Host country will parade the likes of another world 9-ball titlist Johnny "The Scorpion" Archer and US Open 9-ball winner Shane "The South Dakota Kid" Van Boening, among others.
contributed by MARLON BERNARDINO
LINING, ESQUILLO, FIVE OTHERS IN JAPAN 9-BALL
FILIPINO pool wizards Antonio "Nikoy" Lining and Roel Esquillo along five others cue artists will see action in some series of tournament in Japan starting next week.
The duo (Lining and Esquillo) will play in the 2008 Japan Big Bang Cup 9-Ball Tournament in Tokyo on July 27 along with veteran internationalists Eduardo "Tisoy" Saracho, Crisencio "Ato" Baliton, Miguel Jojo Bermudez, Arnold Ignacio and Rolando Campana.
Lining, the pride of Pinamalayan, Oriental Mindoro is the 2007 14.1 championships kingpin while the Japan-based Esquillo, who made it to the quarterfinals in this year's Japan Open which was dominated by compatriots World No.1 Dennis "Robocop" Orcollo and Ronato "Volcano" Alcano, respectively.
contributed by MARLON BERNARDINO.
The duo (Lining and Esquillo) will play in the 2008 Japan Big Bang Cup 9-Ball Tournament in Tokyo on July 27 along with veteran internationalists Eduardo "Tisoy" Saracho, Crisencio "Ato" Baliton, Miguel Jojo Bermudez, Arnold Ignacio and Rolando Campana.
Lining, the pride of Pinamalayan, Oriental Mindoro is the 2007 14.1 championships kingpin while the Japan-based Esquillo, who made it to the quarterfinals in this year's Japan Open which was dominated by compatriots World No.1 Dennis "Robocop" Orcollo and Ronato "Volcano" Alcano, respectively.
contributed by MARLON BERNARDINO.
WORLD NO. 1 ORCOLLO AIMS TO END TAIWAN'S GUINNESS STREAK
DENNIS ORCOLLO seeks to continue his hot streak as the reigning world No.1 mixes it up with 23 other top Asian cue artists in the fourth leg of the six-city tour of the Guinness 9-Ball Tour that kicks off on July 25 to 27 at the Velocity@Novena Square in Singapore.
Fresh from winning the inaugural World 9 Ball Open in Qatar this month, Orcollo, playing under the banner of Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines (BMPAP), will be joined in the five-man Philippine squad by world number six Joven "The Shark" Bustamante, Genting leg runner-up Antonio "Ga-Ga" Gabica, Philippine Junior Pool champion Jericho Bañares and 2004 World Pool Champion Alex "The Lion" Pagulayan. The Filipinos last claimed victory in 2006.
"I feel great about joining the Guinness 9 Ball Tour again and being ranked world number one definitely added to my self confidence. At the same time, it gives me pressure because I know that people are watching, and I have to live up to my being world number one," said Orcollo, fondly called Robocop in the pool world.
"All the participants in the Guinness 9 Ball Tour are good and the players from Chinese-Taipei obviously dominate this tour, but wherever I go I do my best and focus on winning. I want to bring honour to my country, so it will be a challenge to defeat the players from Chinese-Taipei this leg," added the petite Orcollo, how hails from Bislig, Surigao del Sur who also topped the First San Miguel Beer-Quezon City 9-Ball Championship and the Japan 9-Ball Open last March.
Orcollo previously joined the second leg in Penang, Malaysia, but was ousted in the group stage by Taiwanese rival Yang Ching-Shun who also beat him in the their one-one-one encounter last year's Yang-Orcollo in Gateway Mall in the event organized by ESPN STAR Sports.
Defending Grand Finals champion Chang Jung-Lin of Chinese-Taipei is still the man to beat as he conquered the 2008 Tour's first three legs in Chinese-Taipei, Penang and Genting Highlands
The seemingly unbeatable Chang now holds the Tour record for most consecutive legs won with four titles, including last year's Finals. Chang, who surpassed the legendary Efren Reyes' record, spearheads the dominant Chinese-Taipei contingent, which comprises of 2007 Singapore leg winner Yang Ching-Shun, 2008 Penang leg runner-up Wang Hung-Hsiang and 2005 WPA World Pool Champion Wu Chia-Ching.
Players from host Singapore, Malaysia, Korea, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, India and Indonesia are also expected to get a crack at the title and earn valuable ranking points. The 24 participants will be assigned to eight groups following the draw that will be conducted on July 24 at Velocity.
At stake in the Singapore leg is a total prize purse of US$50,000 as well as points to qualify for the Tour's Grand Final in Jakarta, which will feature the Top Ten players in the overall Order of Merit. The winners of each leg will get to earn US$15,000 while the Grand Final Champion will pocket US$36,000.
Following Singapore, the Tour will have its penultimate leg in Guangzhou in September before heading to Jakarta for the Grand Finals in October.
contributed by MARLON BERNARDINO
Fresh from winning the inaugural World 9 Ball Open in Qatar this month, Orcollo, playing under the banner of Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines (BMPAP), will be joined in the five-man Philippine squad by world number six Joven "The Shark" Bustamante, Genting leg runner-up Antonio "Ga-Ga" Gabica, Philippine Junior Pool champion Jericho Bañares and 2004 World Pool Champion Alex "The Lion" Pagulayan. The Filipinos last claimed victory in 2006.
"I feel great about joining the Guinness 9 Ball Tour again and being ranked world number one definitely added to my self confidence. At the same time, it gives me pressure because I know that people are watching, and I have to live up to my being world number one," said Orcollo, fondly called Robocop in the pool world.
"All the participants in the Guinness 9 Ball Tour are good and the players from Chinese-Taipei obviously dominate this tour, but wherever I go I do my best and focus on winning. I want to bring honour to my country, so it will be a challenge to defeat the players from Chinese-Taipei this leg," added the petite Orcollo, how hails from Bislig, Surigao del Sur who also topped the First San Miguel Beer-Quezon City 9-Ball Championship and the Japan 9-Ball Open last March.
Orcollo previously joined the second leg in Penang, Malaysia, but was ousted in the group stage by Taiwanese rival Yang Ching-Shun who also beat him in the their one-one-one encounter last year's Yang-Orcollo in Gateway Mall in the event organized by ESPN STAR Sports.
Defending Grand Finals champion Chang Jung-Lin of Chinese-Taipei is still the man to beat as he conquered the 2008 Tour's first three legs in Chinese-Taipei, Penang and Genting Highlands
The seemingly unbeatable Chang now holds the Tour record for most consecutive legs won with four titles, including last year's Finals. Chang, who surpassed the legendary Efren Reyes' record, spearheads the dominant Chinese-Taipei contingent, which comprises of 2007 Singapore leg winner Yang Ching-Shun, 2008 Penang leg runner-up Wang Hung-Hsiang and 2005 WPA World Pool Champion Wu Chia-Ching.
Players from host Singapore, Malaysia, Korea, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, India and Indonesia are also expected to get a crack at the title and earn valuable ranking points. The 24 participants will be assigned to eight groups following the draw that will be conducted on July 24 at Velocity.
At stake in the Singapore leg is a total prize purse of US$50,000 as well as points to qualify for the Tour's Grand Final in Jakarta, which will feature the Top Ten players in the overall Order of Merit. The winners of each leg will get to earn US$15,000 while the Grand Final Champion will pocket US$36,000.
Following Singapore, the Tour will have its penultimate leg in Guangzhou in September before heading to Jakarta for the Grand Finals in October.
contributed by MARLON BERNARDINO
Thursday, July 10, 2008
DENNIS ORCOLLO TOPS QATAR WORLD 9-BALL OPEN; POCKETS $40,000
ADD Qatar Open now to the name of Dennis Orcollo.
The Bislig, Surigao native, winner of the 2006 World Pool leaque and 2007 BCA Enjoypool.com, added the inauguration of Qatar World 9-Ball Open to his growing list of tournament achievements when he topped Saturday night at the Qatar Billiards and Snooker Federation in Al Muntazah Road in Doha, Qatar.
The 29-year-old Orcollo, fondly called "Robocop" in the pool world bested veteran European player Niels "The Terminator" Feijen 13-5, in the finals to bag the title and the top purse $40,000. Feijen, on the other hand receive the runner-up prize of $20,000.
Losing semi-finalists reigning World 8-Ball Champion Ralf "Kaiser" Souquet of Germany and current US Open 9-Ball titlist Shane "The South Dakota Kid" Van Boening of the United States, likewise received $ 10,000 each.
This was the second major title of Orcollo, currently No.1 in the world ranking after winning the Japan 9-Ball Open last March, beating Japanese pro player Ryoji Aoki, 9-2, in the finals to bag the title and the two million yen (P835,127) top purse.
On the road to the race-to-13 finals, Orcollo stuns Souquet 11-8, in the final four while Feijen stop the winning run Van Boening, 11-4, in other semi-final pit.
Other Filipino who competed in this $150,000 total pot prize tournament were most Filipino popular cue artists Efren "Bata" Reyes, Francisco "Django" Bustamante, Alex "The Lion" Pagulayan, Ronato "Volcano" Alcano, Lee Vann "The Slayer" Corteza, Warren "Warrior" Kiamco, Ramil "Bebeng" Gallego, Antonio "Ga-Ga" Gabica, Marlon "Marvelous" Manalo, Jeffrey "The Bull" De Luna, Roberto "Pinoy Superman" Gomez, Joven "The Shark" Bustamante and Middle East based Pinoy---Allan "Surigao" Cuartero and Ruben Cuna.
contributed by MARLON BERNARDINO, edited by jovie sison
The Bislig, Surigao native, winner of the 2006 World Pool leaque and 2007 BCA Enjoypool.com, added the inauguration of Qatar World 9-Ball Open to his growing list of tournament achievements when he topped Saturday night at the Qatar Billiards and Snooker Federation in Al Muntazah Road in Doha, Qatar.
The 29-year-old Orcollo, fondly called "Robocop" in the pool world bested veteran European player Niels "The Terminator" Feijen 13-5, in the finals to bag the title and the top purse $40,000. Feijen, on the other hand receive the runner-up prize of $20,000.
Losing semi-finalists reigning World 8-Ball Champion Ralf "Kaiser" Souquet of Germany and current US Open 9-Ball titlist Shane "The South Dakota Kid" Van Boening of the United States, likewise received $ 10,000 each.
This was the second major title of Orcollo, currently No.1 in the world ranking after winning the Japan 9-Ball Open last March, beating Japanese pro player Ryoji Aoki, 9-2, in the finals to bag the title and the two million yen (P835,127) top purse.
On the road to the race-to-13 finals, Orcollo stuns Souquet 11-8, in the final four while Feijen stop the winning run Van Boening, 11-4, in other semi-final pit.
Other Filipino who competed in this $150,000 total pot prize tournament were most Filipino popular cue artists Efren "Bata" Reyes, Francisco "Django" Bustamante, Alex "The Lion" Pagulayan, Ronato "Volcano" Alcano, Lee Vann "The Slayer" Corteza, Warren "Warrior" Kiamco, Ramil "Bebeng" Gallego, Antonio "Ga-Ga" Gabica, Marlon "Marvelous" Manalo, Jeffrey "The Bull" De Luna, Roberto "Pinoy Superman" Gomez, Joven "The Shark" Bustamante and Middle East based Pinoy---Allan "Surigao" Cuartero and Ruben Cuna.
contributed by MARLON BERNARDINO, edited by jovie sison
ORCOLLO LAST FILIPINO STANDING IN QATAR WORLD 9-BALL SEMIS
ALL eyes on World No.1 Dennis "Robocop" Orcollo, the last Filipino standing who posted two consecutive wins to move into the semi-final round of the Qatar Open 9-Ball tournament at the Qatar Billiards and Snooker Federation in Al Muntazah Road in Doha, Qatar.
The Bislig, Surigao del Sur pride Orcollo, on the other hand, the ex-World Pool Leaque ruler stuns compatriots Warren "Warrior" Kiamco, 11-6, and Japan based Ramil "Bebeng" Gallego, 11-9, respectively. Gallego, earlier eliminated Francisco "Django" Bustamante, 11-8, in the round-of-16.
Orcollo next assignment is Ralf "Kaiser" Souquet of Germany, winner over Darren Appleton of Great Britain in the round-of-16 and fellow World 9-ball titlist Alex "The Lion" Pagulayan in a similar 11-9 victory, in the round-of-8.
Pagulayan eliminated countryman 2007 World 9-Ball Finalist Roberto "Pinoy Superman" Gomez, 11-6, in the round-of-16 before bowing to Souquet.
Joining them into the final four also applying race-to-11, alternate break format were reigning US Open 9-Ball kingpin Shane "The South Dakota Kid" Van Boening of the United States and Derby City Classic ruler Neils "The Terminator" Feijen of the Netherlands, who routed their respective opponents. The duo will clash for another semi-final pair.The finals of the $150,000 total pot prize tournament will be using race-to-13.
Van Boening beat Radoslaw Babica of Poland, 11-10, and Thomas "The Lean Machine" Engert of Germany, 11-9, in order while Feijen trounced 2007 WPA World Junior champion Ko Pin-yi of Taiwan, 11-8, and Naoyuki Ooi of Japan, 11-7. Ooi, conqueror of 2007 Manny Pacquiao International 9-Ball champion Jeffrey "The Bull" De Luna, 11-8, in the round-of-16.
The champion here will receive $40,000, the runner-up gets $20,000, the losing semi-finalists will bring home $10,000 each, 5th to 8th placers will receive $5,000 each, 9thto 16th placers will pockets $2,500 each. While the 17th to 32nd placers will not go home empty-handed with $1,200 each.
contributed by MARLON BERNARDINO, edited by jovie sison
The Bislig, Surigao del Sur pride Orcollo, on the other hand, the ex-World Pool Leaque ruler stuns compatriots Warren "Warrior" Kiamco, 11-6, and Japan based Ramil "Bebeng" Gallego, 11-9, respectively. Gallego, earlier eliminated Francisco "Django" Bustamante, 11-8, in the round-of-16.
Orcollo next assignment is Ralf "Kaiser" Souquet of Germany, winner over Darren Appleton of Great Britain in the round-of-16 and fellow World 9-ball titlist Alex "The Lion" Pagulayan in a similar 11-9 victory, in the round-of-8.
Pagulayan eliminated countryman 2007 World 9-Ball Finalist Roberto "Pinoy Superman" Gomez, 11-6, in the round-of-16 before bowing to Souquet.
Joining them into the final four also applying race-to-11, alternate break format were reigning US Open 9-Ball kingpin Shane "The South Dakota Kid" Van Boening of the United States and Derby City Classic ruler Neils "The Terminator" Feijen of the Netherlands, who routed their respective opponents. The duo will clash for another semi-final pair.The finals of the $150,000 total pot prize tournament will be using race-to-13.
Van Boening beat Radoslaw Babica of Poland, 11-10, and Thomas "The Lean Machine" Engert of Germany, 11-9, in order while Feijen trounced 2007 WPA World Junior champion Ko Pin-yi of Taiwan, 11-8, and Naoyuki Ooi of Japan, 11-7. Ooi, conqueror of 2007 Manny Pacquiao International 9-Ball champion Jeffrey "The Bull" De Luna, 11-8, in the round-of-16.
The champion here will receive $40,000, the runner-up gets $20,000, the losing semi-finalists will bring home $10,000 each, 5th to 8th placers will receive $5,000 each, 9thto 16th placers will pockets $2,500 each. While the 17th to 32nd placers will not go home empty-handed with $1,200 each.
contributed by MARLON BERNARDINO, edited by jovie sison
PAGULAYAN, ORCOLLO ADVANCE TO QATAR WORLD 9-BALL SEMIS
FORMER World 9-Ball Champion Alex "The Lion" Pagulayan and World No.1 Dennis "Robocop" Orcollo racked up two consecutive wins to move into the semi-final round of the Qatar Open 9-Ball tournament at the Qatar Billiards and Snooker Federation in Al Muntazah Road in Doha, Qatar.
The Cabagan, Isabela native Pagulayan, the 2005 Manila Southeast Asian Games most bemedalled cue artists defeated countryman 2007 World 9-Ball Finalist Roberto "Pinoy Superman" Gomez, 11-6, in the round-of-16 then subdued fellow World 9-Ball titlist Ralf "Kaiser" Souquet of Germany, 11-9, in the round-of-8.
The Bislig, Surigao del Sur pride Orcollo, on the other hand, the ex-World Pool Leaque ruler stuns compatriots Warren "Warrior" Kiamco, 11-6, and Japan based Ramil "Bebeng" Gallego, 11-9, respectively. Gallego, earlier eliminated Francisco "Django" Bustamante, 11-8, in the round-of-16.
Joining them into the final four also applying race-to-11, alternate break format were reigning US Open 9-Ball kingpin Shane "The South Dakota Kid" Van Boening of the United States and Derby City Classic ruler Neils "The Terminator" Feijen of the Netherlands, who routed their respective opponents. The finals of the $150,000 total pot prize tournament will be using race-to-13.
Van Boening beat Radoslaw Babica of Poland, 11-10, and Thomas "The Lean Machine" Engert of Germany, 11-9, in order while Feijen trounced 2007 WPA World Junior champion Ko Pin-yi of Taiwan, 11-8, and Naoyuki Ooi of Japan, 11-7. Ooi, conqueror of 2007 Manny Pacquiao International 9-Ball champion Jeffrey "The Bull" De Luna, 11-8, in the round-of-16.
The champion here will receive $40,000, the runner-up gets $20,000, the losing semi-finalists will bring home $10,000 each, 5th to 8th placers will receive $5,000 each, 9thto 16th placers will pockets $2,500 each. While the 17th to 32nd placers will not go home empty-handed with $1,200 each.
contributed by MARLON BERNARDINO, edited by jovie sison
The Cabagan, Isabela native Pagulayan, the 2005 Manila Southeast Asian Games most bemedalled cue artists defeated countryman 2007 World 9-Ball Finalist Roberto "Pinoy Superman" Gomez, 11-6, in the round-of-16 then subdued fellow World 9-Ball titlist Ralf "Kaiser" Souquet of Germany, 11-9, in the round-of-8.
The Bislig, Surigao del Sur pride Orcollo, on the other hand, the ex-World Pool Leaque ruler stuns compatriots Warren "Warrior" Kiamco, 11-6, and Japan based Ramil "Bebeng" Gallego, 11-9, respectively. Gallego, earlier eliminated Francisco "Django" Bustamante, 11-8, in the round-of-16.
Joining them into the final four also applying race-to-11, alternate break format were reigning US Open 9-Ball kingpin Shane "The South Dakota Kid" Van Boening of the United States and Derby City Classic ruler Neils "The Terminator" Feijen of the Netherlands, who routed their respective opponents. The finals of the $150,000 total pot prize tournament will be using race-to-13.
Van Boening beat Radoslaw Babica of Poland, 11-10, and Thomas "The Lean Machine" Engert of Germany, 11-9, in order while Feijen trounced 2007 WPA World Junior champion Ko Pin-yi of Taiwan, 11-8, and Naoyuki Ooi of Japan, 11-7. Ooi, conqueror of 2007 Manny Pacquiao International 9-Ball champion Jeffrey "The Bull" De Luna, 11-8, in the round-of-16.
The champion here will receive $40,000, the runner-up gets $20,000, the losing semi-finalists will bring home $10,000 each, 5th to 8th placers will receive $5,000 each, 9thto 16th placers will pockets $2,500 each. While the 17th to 32nd placers will not go home empty-handed with $1,200 each.
contributed by MARLON BERNARDINO, edited by jovie sison
PAGULAYAN BEATS ARCHER; BATA, DJANGO POST WINS IN QATAR WORLD 9-BALL OPEN
ALEX "THE LION" PAGULAYAN, is looking forward to another major title this year after beating fellow former WPA World 9-Ball Champion Johnny "The Scorpion" Archer of the United States, 9-2, in Group 2 after the second round to keep the Philippine hopes high in the on-going $150,000 total pot prize Qatar Open 9-Ball tournament at the Qatar Billiards and Snooker Federation in Al Muntazah Road, Doha, Qatar, late Monday.
RP's long-time 1-2 punch Efren "Bata" Reyes and Francisco "Django" Bustamante, who both got bye in the opener also hurdled their respective rivals.
Reyes, the 1999 WPA World 9-Ball Champion and 2004 WPA World 8-Ball title-holder who is aching a to bounce back from the embarrassment he suffered in the first Senate President Manny Villar Cup in Cebu against a virtually unknown Rodrigo Geronimo, 9-1, blasted Abdulatef Alfawal of Qatar, 9-0, in Group 3 while Bustamante, the 2002 WPA World 9-Ball finalist beat Ali Al Obaidaly of Qatar, 9-2, in Group 2.
Equally impressive were 2006 Doha Asian Games 9-ball gold medalist Antonio "Ga-Ga" Gabica who nipped Konstantin Stepanov of Russia, 9-0, in Group 6, 2005 WPA World 9-Ball 3 rd placers Marlon "Marvelous" Manalo who stunned Yousof Al Wadi of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, 9-1, in Group 6, 2006 World Pool leaque titlist Dennis "Robocop" Orcollo who outpointed Subah Habib of Bahrain, 9-1, in Group 1 and reigning WPA World 9-Ball finalist Roberto "Pinoy Superman" Gomez defeated Farshad Shahverdi of Iran, 9-3, in Group 4.
Ronato "Volcano" Alcano, the 2006 WPA World 9-Ball ruler and 2007 WPA World 8-Ball kingpin, meanwhile edges Radoslaw Babica of Poland, 9-8, in Group 1.
There were also upsets…
Gandy Valle, the pride of Davao City who is fresh from winning the first Senate President Manny Villar Cup in Cebu shocked current WPA World 9-Ball ruler Daryl Peach of Great Britain, 9-5, in Group 5, little-known Ruben Cuna nipped Thomas Engert of Germany, 9-8, in Group 3, and Allan "Surigao" Cuarteto crushed Markus Juva of Finland, 9-3 in Group 8.
National Champion Lee Vann Corteza, the native of Davao City also eyeing the top prize $40,000 after demolishing Ricky Yang of Indonesia, 9-5, in Group 7, Warren "Warrior" Kiamco, clobbered Dharminder Lilly of India, 9-7, in Group 5, the Japan-based Ramil Gallego overpowered countryman Joven Bustamante, 9-5, in Group 2, as well Jeffrey "The Bull" De Luna, the 2007 Manny Pacquiao International 9-Ball champion trounced Wang Hung Hsiung of Taiwan, 9-7 in Group 7.
A mixed result was happened to former World Champions---Wu Chia-ching of Taiwan, Mika "The Iceman" Immonen of Finland, Thorsten "The Hitman" Hohmann, Oliver "The Machine" Ortmann and Ralf "Kaiser" Souquet of Germany.
Wu, who is coming from a big win after topping the 2nd leg Philippine Pool Tour of Puerto Princesa Mayor's Cup Ten-ball defeated Ahmed Al Sada of Qatar, 9-4, in Group 4, Immonen subdued Ivika Putnik of Croatia, 9-7, in Group 7, Hohmann beat 2005 WPA World 9-Ball finalist Chang Pei-wei of Taiwan, 9-7 in Group 5, Ortmann bowed to Zaed Dwab of Jordan, 9-5 in Group 4 and Souquet was yielded to Hijikata Hayato of Japan, 9-6, in Group 6.
2007 Guinness 9-ball tour grand champion Chang Jung-lin of Taiwan also made his presence by beating Bashar Hussain of Qatar,9-2, in Group 6, three-time world junior champion Vilmos Foldes of Hungrary hammered Fahad Mohammadi of Qatar, 9-4, in Group 7 , Marcus "Napoleon" Chamat of Sweden conquered 2007 WPA World Junior champion Ko Pin-yi of Taiwan, 9-7, in Group 3, Niels "The Terminator" Feijen of the Netherlands defeated Khaled Almutiri of Kuwait, 9-4, in Group 8, as well unheralded Zhang Shuchun of China who beat ex-world trickshot titlist Fabio Petroni of Italy, 9-6, in Group 8.
Around 96 players will see action in this event. They will be divided into eight groups with 12 players each. They will play in a double elimination, alternate break, race-to-nine format.
contributed by MARLON BERNARDINO, edited by jovie sison
RP's long-time 1-2 punch Efren "Bata" Reyes and Francisco "Django" Bustamante, who both got bye in the opener also hurdled their respective rivals.
Reyes, the 1999 WPA World 9-Ball Champion and 2004 WPA World 8-Ball title-holder who is aching a to bounce back from the embarrassment he suffered in the first Senate President Manny Villar Cup in Cebu against a virtually unknown Rodrigo Geronimo, 9-1, blasted Abdulatef Alfawal of Qatar, 9-0, in Group 3 while Bustamante, the 2002 WPA World 9-Ball finalist beat Ali Al Obaidaly of Qatar, 9-2, in Group 2.
Equally impressive were 2006 Doha Asian Games 9-ball gold medalist Antonio "Ga-Ga" Gabica who nipped Konstantin Stepanov of Russia, 9-0, in Group 6, 2005 WPA World 9-Ball 3 rd placers Marlon "Marvelous" Manalo who stunned Yousof Al Wadi of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, 9-1, in Group 6, 2006 World Pool leaque titlist Dennis "Robocop" Orcollo who outpointed Subah Habib of Bahrain, 9-1, in Group 1 and reigning WPA World 9-Ball finalist Roberto "Pinoy Superman" Gomez defeated Farshad Shahverdi of Iran, 9-3, in Group 4.
Ronato "Volcano" Alcano, the 2006 WPA World 9-Ball ruler and 2007 WPA World 8-Ball kingpin, meanwhile edges Radoslaw Babica of Poland, 9-8, in Group 1.
There were also upsets…
Gandy Valle, the pride of Davao City who is fresh from winning the first Senate President Manny Villar Cup in Cebu shocked current WPA World 9-Ball ruler Daryl Peach of Great Britain, 9-5, in Group 5, little-known Ruben Cuna nipped Thomas Engert of Germany, 9-8, in Group 3, and Allan "Surigao" Cuarteto crushed Markus Juva of Finland, 9-3 in Group 8.
National Champion Lee Vann Corteza, the native of Davao City also eyeing the top prize $40,000 after demolishing Ricky Yang of Indonesia, 9-5, in Group 7, Warren "Warrior" Kiamco, clobbered Dharminder Lilly of India, 9-7, in Group 5, the Japan-based Ramil Gallego overpowered countryman Joven Bustamante, 9-5, in Group 2, as well Jeffrey "The Bull" De Luna, the 2007 Manny Pacquiao International 9-Ball champion trounced Wang Hung Hsiung of Taiwan, 9-7 in Group 7.
A mixed result was happened to former World Champions---Wu Chia-ching of Taiwan, Mika "The Iceman" Immonen of Finland, Thorsten "The Hitman" Hohmann, Oliver "The Machine" Ortmann and Ralf "Kaiser" Souquet of Germany.
Wu, who is coming from a big win after topping the 2nd leg Philippine Pool Tour of Puerto Princesa Mayor's Cup Ten-ball defeated Ahmed Al Sada of Qatar, 9-4, in Group 4, Immonen subdued Ivika Putnik of Croatia, 9-7, in Group 7, Hohmann beat 2005 WPA World 9-Ball finalist Chang Pei-wei of Taiwan, 9-7 in Group 5, Ortmann bowed to Zaed Dwab of Jordan, 9-5 in Group 4 and Souquet was yielded to Hijikata Hayato of Japan, 9-6, in Group 6.
2007 Guinness 9-ball tour grand champion Chang Jung-lin of Taiwan also made his presence by beating Bashar Hussain of Qatar,9-2, in Group 6, three-time world junior champion Vilmos Foldes of Hungrary hammered Fahad Mohammadi of Qatar, 9-4, in Group 7 , Marcus "Napoleon" Chamat of Sweden conquered 2007 WPA World Junior champion Ko Pin-yi of Taiwan, 9-7, in Group 3, Niels "The Terminator" Feijen of the Netherlands defeated Khaled Almutiri of Kuwait, 9-4, in Group 8, as well unheralded Zhang Shuchun of China who beat ex-world trickshot titlist Fabio Petroni of Italy, 9-6, in Group 8.
Around 96 players will see action in this event. They will be divided into eight groups with 12 players each. They will play in a double elimination, alternate break, race-to-nine format.
contributed by MARLON BERNARDINO, edited by jovie sison
PAGULAYAN, ALCANO ADVANCE IN QATAR
FORMER World Champions Alex Pagulayan and Ronato Alcano topped their respective brackets in the qualifying round to advance in the main draw of Qatar Open 9-Ball tournament June 29 to July 5 at the Qatar Billiards and Snooker Federation, Al Muntazah Road in Doha, Qatar.
The Cabagan, Isabela native Pagulayan, the 2004 WPA World 9-Ball Titlist and 2005 US Open beat compatriot and Cebu native Israel "Amay" Rota, 7-4, to rules Group 6.
Alcano, the lanky-cue artists from Calamba, Laguna, who is also the 2006 WPA World 9-Ball Champion and 2007 WPA World World 8-Ball ruler stuns Mohanna OBaidly, 7-1, to dominate Group 5 division.
Actually, expect more Filipinos in the tournament proper today after sweeping all qualifying event on Friday (A qualifying tournament gets going yesterday.
Allan Cuartero bested 2007 WPA World 9-Ball finalist Roberto Gomez, 7-2, in Group 1,
Ruben Cuna stopped the winning ways of snooker specialist Benjie Guevarra, 7-1, in Group 2, Joven Bustamante beat Monaza Belardo, 7-1, in Group 3, Vicente Joyme beat Ibrahim Al Ahmad, 7-1, in Group 4.
Gandy Valle, who hails from Davao City and fresh from winning of Villar Cup Cebu leg last weekends is hoping to make it to the cut today playing in the last qualifying round yesterday. Valle bowed to Ahmad, 7-6, who beat Joyme, nephew of Rolly "Lando" Vicente of Puyat Sports in the finals of Group 4.
Pool maestro Efren "Bata" Reyes, Francisco "Django" Bustamante, World No.1 Dennis "Robocop" Orcollo, Ramil "Bebeng" Gallego, Marlon "Marvelous" Manalo, Jeffrey "The Bull" De Luna, and reigning national champion Lee Vann "The Slayer" Corteza took a bye in the first round.
Billiards and Snooker Congress of the Philippines (BSCP) president Ernesto Fajardo is very optimistic that our Filipino pool wizards will perform well in the said event "We are very confident that our Filipino pool athletes will perform well in the Qatar World 9-Ball Open,"
Meanwhile, Leonardo "Dodong Dadiangas" Andam is expect to beat his first round opponent against local bet Ahmed Al Sada and if he prevails, another former WPA 9-Ball and 8-Ball ruler Wu Chia-ching of Taiwan is waiting in the next round. Warren "Warrior" Kiamco, on the other hand will face Dharminder Lilly of India while Antonio "Ga-Ga" Gabica will square off Qualifier 1.
Around 96 players will see action in this $150,000 total pot prize event that offers $40,000 to the winner. They will be divided into eight groups with 12 players each. They will play in a double elimination, alternate break, race-to-nine format. Four players from each group will qualify – two from the winner's bracket and two from the loser's bracket.A formidable cast of foreign participants from Europe and the United States also in the main draw. Ralf Souquet, Thomas Engert, Oliver Ortmann and Thorsten Hohmann of Germany, Radoslaw Babica of Poland, Konstantin Stepanov of Russia, Niels Fejen of the Netherlands, Fabio Petroni of Italy, Marcus Chamat of Sweden and Johnny Archer and Shane Van Boening of the US are also the favorites in the tournament. Also include reigning WPA World 9-Ball Titlist Daryl Peach of Great Britain.
contributed by MARLON BERNARDINO
The Cabagan, Isabela native Pagulayan, the 2004 WPA World 9-Ball Titlist and 2005 US Open beat compatriot and Cebu native Israel "Amay" Rota, 7-4, to rules Group 6.
Alcano, the lanky-cue artists from Calamba, Laguna, who is also the 2006 WPA World 9-Ball Champion and 2007 WPA World World 8-Ball ruler stuns Mohanna OBaidly, 7-1, to dominate Group 5 division.
Actually, expect more Filipinos in the tournament proper today after sweeping all qualifying event on Friday (A qualifying tournament gets going yesterday.
Allan Cuartero bested 2007 WPA World 9-Ball finalist Roberto Gomez, 7-2, in Group 1,
Ruben Cuna stopped the winning ways of snooker specialist Benjie Guevarra, 7-1, in Group 2, Joven Bustamante beat Monaza Belardo, 7-1, in Group 3, Vicente Joyme beat Ibrahim Al Ahmad, 7-1, in Group 4.
Gandy Valle, who hails from Davao City and fresh from winning of Villar Cup Cebu leg last weekends is hoping to make it to the cut today playing in the last qualifying round yesterday. Valle bowed to Ahmad, 7-6, who beat Joyme, nephew of Rolly "Lando" Vicente of Puyat Sports in the finals of Group 4.
Pool maestro Efren "Bata" Reyes, Francisco "Django" Bustamante, World No.1 Dennis "Robocop" Orcollo, Ramil "Bebeng" Gallego, Marlon "Marvelous" Manalo, Jeffrey "The Bull" De Luna, and reigning national champion Lee Vann "The Slayer" Corteza took a bye in the first round.
Billiards and Snooker Congress of the Philippines (BSCP) president Ernesto Fajardo is very optimistic that our Filipino pool wizards will perform well in the said event "We are very confident that our Filipino pool athletes will perform well in the Qatar World 9-Ball Open,"
Meanwhile, Leonardo "Dodong Dadiangas" Andam is expect to beat his first round opponent against local bet Ahmed Al Sada and if he prevails, another former WPA 9-Ball and 8-Ball ruler Wu Chia-ching of Taiwan is waiting in the next round. Warren "Warrior" Kiamco, on the other hand will face Dharminder Lilly of India while Antonio "Ga-Ga" Gabica will square off Qualifier 1.
Around 96 players will see action in this $150,000 total pot prize event that offers $40,000 to the winner. They will be divided into eight groups with 12 players each. They will play in a double elimination, alternate break, race-to-nine format. Four players from each group will qualify – two from the winner's bracket and two from the loser's bracket.A formidable cast of foreign participants from Europe and the United States also in the main draw. Ralf Souquet, Thomas Engert, Oliver Ortmann and Thorsten Hohmann of Germany, Radoslaw Babica of Poland, Konstantin Stepanov of Russia, Niels Fejen of the Netherlands, Fabio Petroni of Italy, Marcus Chamat of Sweden and Johnny Archer and Shane Van Boening of the US are also the favorites in the tournament. Also include reigning WPA World 9-Ball Titlist Daryl Peach of Great Britain.
contributed by MARLON BERNARDINO
MARLON MANALO CUES UP FOR QATAR WORLD 9-BALL OPEN
AFTER a semi-final finish in the just concluded second leg of Philippine Pool Tour dubbed as the Puerto Princesa Cup over the weekend at the Puerto Princesa City Coliseum in Palawan, "Marvelous" Marlon Manalo is setting his sights on the forthcoming Qatar Open 9-Ball tournament set on June 29-July 5 at the Qatar Billiards and Snooker Federation, Al Muntazah Road in Doha, Qatar.
The 30-year-old Mandaluyong native Manalo failed to advance in the championship's round of the Puerto Princesa Ten Ball bash after bowing to runner-up Jericho Bañares, the reigning RP junior champion, 8-9, in the final four. Double world champion (WPA 9 ball and 8 ball) Wu Chia-ching of Chinese-Taipei rules the said event after beating Bañares, 11-9, in the finals.
"Hindi talaga ukol 'yung Puerto Princesa Ten Ball Tour sa akin. Hope makabawi tayo dito sa Qatar World 9-Ball Open," said Manalo, who left the country yesterday, whose stint in Qatar are supported by Mandaluyong mayor Benhur Abalos and Philippine Billiards Development Foundation (PBDF).
Joining Manalo in the tournament proper of $150,000 event are Filipino pool maestro Efren "Bata" Reyes, Francisco "Django" Bustamante, world No.1 Dennis Orcollo, reigning national champion Lee Vann Corteza, Warren Kiamco, 2007 Manny Pacquiao International 9-ball Open titlist Jeffrey De Luna and 2006 Doha Asian Games gold medalist Antonio Gabica.
It shall be recalled that Gabica and Manalo, settled a strong 1-2 finish in the inaugural leg of Mandaluyong Mayor's Cup of Philippine Pool Tour.
Around 96 players will see action in this event. They will be divided into eight groups with 12 players each. They will play in a double elimination, alternate break, race-to-nine format.
A formidable cast of foreign participants from Europe and the United States will also compete. Ralf Souquet and Thorsten Hohmann of Germany and Johnny Archer and Shane Van Boening of the US are also the favorites in the tournament. Not to be outdone Taiwanese youth sensation Wu and compatriot Pin-Yi Ko, the reigning world junior champion.
All these players are already seeded in the tournament proper sanctioned by the World Pool Billiard Association (WPA) and Asian Pocket Billiard Union (APBU).
Cebu leg champion Gandy Valle, Ramil Gallego and snooker specialist Benjie Guevarra will participate in the stage one elimination on June 27. However, if another slot opens in the main draw, the Japan-based Gallego is the top priority.
contributed by MARLON BERNARDINO
The 30-year-old Mandaluyong native Manalo failed to advance in the championship's round of the Puerto Princesa Ten Ball bash after bowing to runner-up Jericho Bañares, the reigning RP junior champion, 8-9, in the final four. Double world champion (WPA 9 ball and 8 ball) Wu Chia-ching of Chinese-Taipei rules the said event after beating Bañares, 11-9, in the finals.
"Hindi talaga ukol 'yung Puerto Princesa Ten Ball Tour sa akin. Hope makabawi tayo dito sa Qatar World 9-Ball Open," said Manalo, who left the country yesterday, whose stint in Qatar are supported by Mandaluyong mayor Benhur Abalos and Philippine Billiards Development Foundation (PBDF).
Joining Manalo in the tournament proper of $150,000 event are Filipino pool maestro Efren "Bata" Reyes, Francisco "Django" Bustamante, world No.1 Dennis Orcollo, reigning national champion Lee Vann Corteza, Warren Kiamco, 2007 Manny Pacquiao International 9-ball Open titlist Jeffrey De Luna and 2006 Doha Asian Games gold medalist Antonio Gabica.
It shall be recalled that Gabica and Manalo, settled a strong 1-2 finish in the inaugural leg of Mandaluyong Mayor's Cup of Philippine Pool Tour.
Around 96 players will see action in this event. They will be divided into eight groups with 12 players each. They will play in a double elimination, alternate break, race-to-nine format.
A formidable cast of foreign participants from Europe and the United States will also compete. Ralf Souquet and Thorsten Hohmann of Germany and Johnny Archer and Shane Van Boening of the US are also the favorites in the tournament. Not to be outdone Taiwanese youth sensation Wu and compatriot Pin-Yi Ko, the reigning world junior champion.
All these players are already seeded in the tournament proper sanctioned by the World Pool Billiard Association (WPA) and Asian Pocket Billiard Union (APBU).
Cebu leg champion Gandy Valle, Ramil Gallego and snooker specialist Benjie Guevarra will participate in the stage one elimination on June 27. However, if another slot opens in the main draw, the Japan-based Gallego is the top priority.
contributed by MARLON BERNARDINO
WU, BANARES MAKES FINAL FOUR
Puerto Princesa - Double world champion Wu Chia-Ching and teenage Filipino sensation Jericho Banares were the first to enter the Final Four of the Puerto Princesa Mayor's Cup at the conclusion of Saturday's matches. And they did so in similar fashion - via hill-hill, pulse-pounding encounters.
Banares exacted revenge against Antonio Gabica, who had beaten him in the semifinals of the Mandaluyong Mayor's Cup, the opening leg of the Philippine Pool Tour last May 6-11, on the way to topping the tournament.
The 18-year-old who is the 2008 Filipino junior champion raced to commanding leads in his much-awaited meeting with Gabica, one of the tournament favorites. But with the score standing in his favor at 8-4, Gabica mounted a spirited and impressive comeback.
Gabica took four games in a row by besting Banares twice through superb safety play and then recording a couple of break-runouts.
In the 17th rack, the difficult layout after the break led to a drawn-out duel. Twice Gabica forced Banares to use his jump cue, but each time the latter was favored with a good lie after the jumpshot. In the crucial exchange during the final minutes of the match, Gabica missed by a hairline a difficult rail-first shot of the one-ball to a corner pocket, leaving an opening for Banares. The latter quickly went to work.
Banares took the one-ball using the rail first for position play, and he played the shot perfectly. From there, he mopped up the table with ease to the delight of the crowd in the TV table.
The match between Wu and Manalo was a similarly drawn-out and exciting affair, with the lead seesawing between the two noted players. The Filipino took several early leads, but the Taiwanese came charging back each time.
With the score at 8-6 in Manalo's favor, Wu made his decisive comeback by taking the final three racks.
Wu is the first non-Filipino to make it to the Final Four of a PPT tournament. In the earlier Mandaluyong Cup, the foreign contingent failed to make it past the last six in the tournament.
In the matches at 10 a.m. Sunday, double world champion and tournament top seed Ralf Soquet will play Gabica for a seat in the Final Four. In the other featured match, reigning world junior champion Ko Pin-Yi battles Manalo for the other slot.
contributed by MARLON BERNARDINO
Banares exacted revenge against Antonio Gabica, who had beaten him in the semifinals of the Mandaluyong Mayor's Cup, the opening leg of the Philippine Pool Tour last May 6-11, on the way to topping the tournament.
The 18-year-old who is the 2008 Filipino junior champion raced to commanding leads in his much-awaited meeting with Gabica, one of the tournament favorites. But with the score standing in his favor at 8-4, Gabica mounted a spirited and impressive comeback.
Gabica took four games in a row by besting Banares twice through superb safety play and then recording a couple of break-runouts.
In the 17th rack, the difficult layout after the break led to a drawn-out duel. Twice Gabica forced Banares to use his jump cue, but each time the latter was favored with a good lie after the jumpshot. In the crucial exchange during the final minutes of the match, Gabica missed by a hairline a difficult rail-first shot of the one-ball to a corner pocket, leaving an opening for Banares. The latter quickly went to work.
Banares took the one-ball using the rail first for position play, and he played the shot perfectly. From there, he mopped up the table with ease to the delight of the crowd in the TV table.
The match between Wu and Manalo was a similarly drawn-out and exciting affair, with the lead seesawing between the two noted players. The Filipino took several early leads, but the Taiwanese came charging back each time.
With the score at 8-6 in Manalo's favor, Wu made his decisive comeback by taking the final three racks.
Wu is the first non-Filipino to make it to the Final Four of a PPT tournament. In the earlier Mandaluyong Cup, the foreign contingent failed to make it past the last six in the tournament.
In the matches at 10 a.m. Sunday, double world champion and tournament top seed Ralf Soquet will play Gabica for a seat in the Final Four. In the other featured match, reigning world junior champion Ko Pin-Yi battles Manalo for the other slot.
contributed by MARLON BERNARDINO
LAST TAIWANESE STANDING IN THE FINALS; 2 PINOYS DISPUTE LAST FINALS BERTH IN PUERTO POOL
Puerto Princessa Pool
Semi-Final Results: (Sunday)
Wu Chia-Ching of Taiwan beat Ralf Souquet of Germany, 9-8
Marlon Manalo and Jericho Banares still playing as of press time for the last final berths then finals afterwards
Loser's side: (Sunday)
Marlon Manalo nipped Ko Pin-yi of Taiwan, 9-7
Ralf Souquet of Germany trounced Antonio Gabica, 9-3
Quarter-Final Results: (Late Saturday)
Wu Chia-Ching beat Marlon Manalo, 9-8
Jericho Banares defeated Antonio Gabica, 9-8
PUERTO PRINCESA CITY---WU Chia-Ching of Taiwan overcame a bad start to come from behind and win over fellow double world champion (WPA 8ball and 9Ball Champion)Ralf Souquet of Germany, 9-8, in the semifinals of the Puerto Princesa Mayor's Cup, the second leg of Philippine Pool Tour here at the Puerto Princesa Coliseum on Sunday.
The 19-year-old cue artist from Taipei was set to battle late Sunday the winner of the match between 1st leg Mandaluyong Mayor's Cup PPT runner-up Marlon Manalo and reigning Philippine Junior champion Jericho Banares for the top prize of US$10,000 or roughly P440,000 in the Finals yesterday of the event presented by San Miguel Beer organized by the Billiards and Snookers Congress of the Philippines in partnership with Star Billiards Center and Raya Sports, and hosted by Puerto Princesa City Mayor Edward Hagedorn in close cooperation with city information officer Alroben Goh.
Barely making the semifinals after a grueling and tense 9-8 squeaker over Marlon Manalo, Wu, the 19-year-old sensation, found himself pushed to the wall in yet another down-to-the-wire encounter against one of the best in the business.
He was trailing 2-5, but worked his way to get back. He pocketed the blue 10 while breaking in the 12th rack to tie the count at 6-all. The Taiwanese big shot took care of the next two racks to move closer from wrapping the game up in this event organized by the Billiards and Snookers Congress of the Philippines in partnership with Star Billiards Center and Raya Sports, and supported by San Miguel Beer, Puerto Princesa City Mayor Edward Hagedorn and city information officer Alroben Goh.
But Souquet had other things in mind. Coming off an easy 9-3 demolition of first leg winner Gaga Gabica, Souquet had to fight back before forging an 8-8 deadlock. He appeared to have the match in his control, but had a bad break in the 17th and final rack as he scratched the cue ball, allowing Wu to clean up the table.
"Just like last night, I started slow, but I took it one rack at a time," said Hans Lu, owner of Pool Fusion Billiards Hall and interpreter of Wu.
Wu will be facing the winner of the other knockout semis match between Manalo and reigning national junior champion Jericho Bañares being played as of press time.
Studio 23 will air the semis and finals match of this event on Sunday, June 29 at 1 p.m. For latest photos of this event, visit www.rayasports.com
Both Wu and Banares, 18, from Antipolo City advance to the semi-finals after burning their respective opponents late Saturday night.
The two youthful players hurdled past the inaugural leg winner Antonio Gabica and Manalo – to become the early semifinalist. Souquet and Manalo, on the other hand booked their seat in the final four via back door.
Souquet trounced Gabica, 9-3, in the loser's side on Sunday while Manalo edged current world junior title-holder Ko Pin-Yi of Taiwan, 9-7.
How Banares beat Cebu Gabica for the final four late Saturday
Bañares repulsed a late charge by first leg champion Gabica to preserve a 9-8 win.
Banares led 8-5, but found himself threatened by a spirited assault by the former Asian Games gold medalist. In the crucial exchange during the final minutes of the match, Gabica missed by a hairline, a difficult rail-first shot of the one-ball to a corner pocket, leaving an opening for Banares. The latter quickly went to work to exact revenge against the man who has defeated him in the Mandaluyong tournament.
"Medyo minalas din siya nu'ng huli," said Bañares. "Ako naman, maganda ang placing ko sa bola and medyo sinuwerte rin. Pero ang totoo, talagang kinakabahan ako sa laban kay Gaga."
Wu also walked the tightrope before pulling off a come-from-behind victory.
Trailing 6-8, the Taiwanese sensation got a big break when the former Asian Snooker titlist couldn't get a better view of the blue 2. Manalo misplaced the No.2 then allowed Wu to set up a combination for the 2 and 10.
In the next two racks, Wu used his good breaking, setting up all balls for a good shot and cleaning up the table to complete the rally.
"I'm not pressured at the game, I'm more pressured on myself because I missed a lot of shot," said Hans Lu, owner of Pool Fusion Billiards Hall and interpreter of Wu.
On the road's to the final four
On the road's to the final four, Banares toppled Gerry Watson of Canada, 9-2, Leonardo Andam, 9-2, and Symons Courtney of Thailand, 9-5, while Wu subdued Arturo Palma, 9-3, Augusto Boots, 9-2, compatriot Ko, 9-7, on Saturday.
contributed by MARLON BERNARDINO
Semi-Final Results: (Sunday)
Wu Chia-Ching of Taiwan beat Ralf Souquet of Germany, 9-8
Marlon Manalo and Jericho Banares still playing as of press time for the last final berths then finals afterwards
Loser's side: (Sunday)
Marlon Manalo nipped Ko Pin-yi of Taiwan, 9-7
Ralf Souquet of Germany trounced Antonio Gabica, 9-3
Quarter-Final Results: (Late Saturday)
Wu Chia-Ching beat Marlon Manalo, 9-8
Jericho Banares defeated Antonio Gabica, 9-8
PUERTO PRINCESA CITY---WU Chia-Ching of Taiwan overcame a bad start to come from behind and win over fellow double world champion (WPA 8ball and 9Ball Champion)Ralf Souquet of Germany, 9-8, in the semifinals of the Puerto Princesa Mayor's Cup, the second leg of Philippine Pool Tour here at the Puerto Princesa Coliseum on Sunday.
The 19-year-old cue artist from Taipei was set to battle late Sunday the winner of the match between 1st leg Mandaluyong Mayor's Cup PPT runner-up Marlon Manalo and reigning Philippine Junior champion Jericho Banares for the top prize of US$10,000 or roughly P440,000 in the Finals yesterday of the event presented by San Miguel Beer organized by the Billiards and Snookers Congress of the Philippines in partnership with Star Billiards Center and Raya Sports, and hosted by Puerto Princesa City Mayor Edward Hagedorn in close cooperation with city information officer Alroben Goh.
Barely making the semifinals after a grueling and tense 9-8 squeaker over Marlon Manalo, Wu, the 19-year-old sensation, found himself pushed to the wall in yet another down-to-the-wire encounter against one of the best in the business.
He was trailing 2-5, but worked his way to get back. He pocketed the blue 10 while breaking in the 12th rack to tie the count at 6-all. The Taiwanese big shot took care of the next two racks to move closer from wrapping the game up in this event organized by the Billiards and Snookers Congress of the Philippines in partnership with Star Billiards Center and Raya Sports, and supported by San Miguel Beer, Puerto Princesa City Mayor Edward Hagedorn and city information officer Alroben Goh.
But Souquet had other things in mind. Coming off an easy 9-3 demolition of first leg winner Gaga Gabica, Souquet had to fight back before forging an 8-8 deadlock. He appeared to have the match in his control, but had a bad break in the 17th and final rack as he scratched the cue ball, allowing Wu to clean up the table.
"Just like last night, I started slow, but I took it one rack at a time," said Hans Lu, owner of Pool Fusion Billiards Hall and interpreter of Wu.
Wu will be facing the winner of the other knockout semis match between Manalo and reigning national junior champion Jericho Bañares being played as of press time.
Studio 23 will air the semis and finals match of this event on Sunday, June 29 at 1 p.m. For latest photos of this event, visit www.rayasports.com
Both Wu and Banares, 18, from Antipolo City advance to the semi-finals after burning their respective opponents late Saturday night.
The two youthful players hurdled past the inaugural leg winner Antonio Gabica and Manalo – to become the early semifinalist. Souquet and Manalo, on the other hand booked their seat in the final four via back door.
Souquet trounced Gabica, 9-3, in the loser's side on Sunday while Manalo edged current world junior title-holder Ko Pin-Yi of Taiwan, 9-7.
How Banares beat Cebu Gabica for the final four late Saturday
Bañares repulsed a late charge by first leg champion Gabica to preserve a 9-8 win.
Banares led 8-5, but found himself threatened by a spirited assault by the former Asian Games gold medalist. In the crucial exchange during the final minutes of the match, Gabica missed by a hairline, a difficult rail-first shot of the one-ball to a corner pocket, leaving an opening for Banares. The latter quickly went to work to exact revenge against the man who has defeated him in the Mandaluyong tournament.
"Medyo minalas din siya nu'ng huli," said Bañares. "Ako naman, maganda ang placing ko sa bola and medyo sinuwerte rin. Pero ang totoo, talagang kinakabahan ako sa laban kay Gaga."
Wu also walked the tightrope before pulling off a come-from-behind victory.
Trailing 6-8, the Taiwanese sensation got a big break when the former Asian Snooker titlist couldn't get a better view of the blue 2. Manalo misplaced the No.2 then allowed Wu to set up a combination for the 2 and 10.
In the next two racks, Wu used his good breaking, setting up all balls for a good shot and cleaning up the table to complete the rally.
"I'm not pressured at the game, I'm more pressured on myself because I missed a lot of shot," said Hans Lu, owner of Pool Fusion Billiards Hall and interpreter of Wu.
On the road's to the final four
On the road's to the final four, Banares toppled Gerry Watson of Canada, 9-2, Leonardo Andam, 9-2, and Symons Courtney of Thailand, 9-5, while Wu subdued Arturo Palma, 9-3, Augusto Boots, 9-2, compatriot Ko, 9-7, on Saturday.
contributed by MARLON BERNARDINO
Friday, June 13, 2008
LINING, ESQUILLO, BALITON JOINING JAPAN TOURNEY
FILIPINO pool wizards Antonio "Nikoy" Lining, Roel Esquillo and Crisencio "Ato" Baliton will see action in some series of tournaments in Japan starting next week.
The triumvirate will first play in the Kyousho Open on June 15-16 in Fukuoka before proceeding to Tokyo for the annual Nine Ball Festival on June 21-22 which offers about P280,000 to the champion.
"We hope to perform well in Japan Circuit," said Japan-based veteran international campaigner Esquillo, who made it to the quarterfinals in this year's Japan Open which dominated by compatriots Dennis "Robocop" Orcollo and Ronato "Volcano" Alcano, respectively.
"We train hard for this event (Japan Circuit), we expect good results," added Plaridel, Bulacan native Baliton, the 2006 Astro Open and TPCC Open Champion in Japan.
Lining, Esquillo and Baliton are also scheduled to play in the Shikoku Open on June 28-29 in Osaka then proceed to the 14.1 championships on July 19-21 in Tokyo where Lining is defending the 14.1 championships'trophy.
contributed by MARLON BERNARDINO, edited by jovie sison
The triumvirate will first play in the Kyousho Open on June 15-16 in Fukuoka before proceeding to Tokyo for the annual Nine Ball Festival on June 21-22 which offers about P280,000 to the champion.
"We hope to perform well in Japan Circuit," said Japan-based veteran international campaigner Esquillo, who made it to the quarterfinals in this year's Japan Open which dominated by compatriots Dennis "Robocop" Orcollo and Ronato "Volcano" Alcano, respectively.
"We train hard for this event (Japan Circuit), we expect good results," added Plaridel, Bulacan native Baliton, the 2006 Astro Open and TPCC Open Champion in Japan.
Lining, Esquillo and Baliton are also scheduled to play in the Shikoku Open on June 28-29 in Osaka then proceed to the 14.1 championships on July 19-21 in Tokyo where Lining is defending the 14.1 championships'trophy.
contributed by MARLON BERNARDINO, edited by jovie sison
CHINESE WOMEN'S CHAMPION JOINS PPT PALAWAN LEG
THE women's champion and six top male players of the People's Republic of China will see action in the Puerto Princesa Mayor's Cup scheduled on June 16 to 22.
Ms. Li Jia, a Chinese player based in Japan, became the first female player to join the ten ball event, which is open to both sexes.
The male players are Li He-Wen, Fu Jian-Bo, Zhang Shu-Chun, Wang Ming, Dang Jin-Hu and Jiang Yang-Yi.
Li and Fu are familiar names in the annual 9-ball world championship and the Guinness pool tour. Li made it all the way to the semifinals in the 2006 WPC in Manila.
Organized by the Billiards & Snooker Congress of the Philippines, the Puerto Princesa Cup is divided into two stages. Stage 1, the Elimination Round, will take place at the Star Billiards Center on June 16-17. Stage 2, the Main Tournament, moves to Puerto Princesa City, where 32 players will compete for the top prize at the Puerto Princesa City Coliseum on June 20-22.
The seven Chinese players will all see action in Stage 1.
Hosted by Mayor Edward S. Hagedorn and presented by San Miguel Beer, the Puerto Princesa Cup offers a prize fund of $30,000. First prize is $10,000. All players who make it to the group of 32 are guaranteed cash prizes.
Dubbed as "the City in the forest" because of its location amidst well-preserved forests and lush vegetation, Puerto Princesa has hosted many major sports events in the country, including the recent Palarong Pambansa. It has wide appeal to athletes and sports fans because of the chance it provides for both sports competition and a holiday in a resort.
The Puerto Princesa Mayor's Cup is the second leg of the Philippine Pool Tour, which opened with the Mandaluyong Mayor's Cup in Mandaluyong City on May 6-11.
Registration in the second tournament is ongoing at the Star Billiards Center and Raya Sports office. Players can also register online at: www.rayasports.com.
contributed by MARLON BERNARDINO, edited by jovie sison
Ms. Li Jia, a Chinese player based in Japan, became the first female player to join the ten ball event, which is open to both sexes.
The male players are Li He-Wen, Fu Jian-Bo, Zhang Shu-Chun, Wang Ming, Dang Jin-Hu and Jiang Yang-Yi.
Li and Fu are familiar names in the annual 9-ball world championship and the Guinness pool tour. Li made it all the way to the semifinals in the 2006 WPC in Manila.
Organized by the Billiards & Snooker Congress of the Philippines, the Puerto Princesa Cup is divided into two stages. Stage 1, the Elimination Round, will take place at the Star Billiards Center on June 16-17. Stage 2, the Main Tournament, moves to Puerto Princesa City, where 32 players will compete for the top prize at the Puerto Princesa City Coliseum on June 20-22.
The seven Chinese players will all see action in Stage 1.
Hosted by Mayor Edward S. Hagedorn and presented by San Miguel Beer, the Puerto Princesa Cup offers a prize fund of $30,000. First prize is $10,000. All players who make it to the group of 32 are guaranteed cash prizes.
Dubbed as "the City in the forest" because of its location amidst well-preserved forests and lush vegetation, Puerto Princesa has hosted many major sports events in the country, including the recent Palarong Pambansa. It has wide appeal to athletes and sports fans because of the chance it provides for both sports competition and a holiday in a resort.
The Puerto Princesa Mayor's Cup is the second leg of the Philippine Pool Tour, which opened with the Mandaluyong Mayor's Cup in Mandaluyong City on May 6-11.
Registration in the second tournament is ongoing at the Star Billiards Center and Raya Sports office. Players can also register online at: www.rayasports.com.
contributed by MARLON BERNARDINO, edited by jovie sison
CHANG BEATS GABICA, TOPS GENTING LEG OF GUINNESS 9-BALL
FILIPINO Antonio "Ga-Ga" Gabica failed to end the Taiwanese domination of the 2008 Guinness 9-Ball Tournament as he bowed to eventual champion Chang Jung-lin, 11-6, in the finals of the third leg of the tournament held at the Genting International Convention Center in Malaysia.
With the win, Chang received the top prize of US$15,000 and post his third consecutive leg victory after winning the Taipei (Taiwan) and Penang (Malaysia) leg, respectively.
Actually, the 36-year-old Lapu-Lapu City native Gabica, member of the star-studded Philippine Billiards Development Foundation (PBDF) rallied in the opening game by winning four consecutive racks to tie the game at 4-all.
Gabica had a chance to seize the lead in the 9th frame but miss No.9 ball shot giving Chang to control the game at 5-4 then the latter's (Chang) clustered five consecutive racks to reach the hill at 10-4 count.
Gabica won the next two racks after Chang suffered a dry break in the 16th racks to close the gap at 10-6 before Chang finish the game at 11-6.
Semis
Gabica, the country's most underrated pool player today rallied from three racks deficit (3-6) to beat Taiwanese Wang Hung-Hsiang in come-from-behind, 9-7, victory yesterday to book the second finals seat .
With the win, Gabica prevented what seemed an all Taiwanese finals when he met Chang in the finals, who earlier beat Ryu Seung Woo of Korea, 9-2.
After Gabica failed to sink the No.9 ball in the 15th rack, he didn't waste time to clean up the table after Wang missed a corner pocket shot at No.2 ball in the 16th racks for a 9-7 triumph.
On the road to the final four, Gabica nipped Yang Ching-shun of Taiwan, 9-7, while Chang smashed Li He-wen of China, 9-0.
Other Filipinos who competed in the tournament were Alex Pagulayan and Marlon Manalo who both failed to reach the knockout part of the tournament. Joven Bustamante, on the other hand reached the quarter-finals.
contributed by MARLON BERNARDINO, edited by jovie sison
With the win, Chang received the top prize of US$15,000 and post his third consecutive leg victory after winning the Taipei (Taiwan) and Penang (Malaysia) leg, respectively.
Actually, the 36-year-old Lapu-Lapu City native Gabica, member of the star-studded Philippine Billiards Development Foundation (PBDF) rallied in the opening game by winning four consecutive racks to tie the game at 4-all.
Gabica had a chance to seize the lead in the 9th frame but miss No.9 ball shot giving Chang to control the game at 5-4 then the latter's (Chang) clustered five consecutive racks to reach the hill at 10-4 count.
Gabica won the next two racks after Chang suffered a dry break in the 16th racks to close the gap at 10-6 before Chang finish the game at 11-6.
Semis
Gabica, the country's most underrated pool player today rallied from three racks deficit (3-6) to beat Taiwanese Wang Hung-Hsiang in come-from-behind, 9-7, victory yesterday to book the second finals seat .
With the win, Gabica prevented what seemed an all Taiwanese finals when he met Chang in the finals, who earlier beat Ryu Seung Woo of Korea, 9-2.
After Gabica failed to sink the No.9 ball in the 15th rack, he didn't waste time to clean up the table after Wang missed a corner pocket shot at No.2 ball in the 16th racks for a 9-7 triumph.
On the road to the final four, Gabica nipped Yang Ching-shun of Taiwan, 9-7, while Chang smashed Li He-wen of China, 9-0.
Other Filipinos who competed in the tournament were Alex Pagulayan and Marlon Manalo who both failed to reach the knockout part of the tournament. Joven Bustamante, on the other hand reached the quarter-finals.
contributed by MARLON BERNARDINO, edited by jovie sison
TAIWANESE WU AND CHANG WILL JOIN PUERTO PRINCESA 10-BALL CUP
MANILA, PHILIPPINES---2005 double world champion Wu Chia-Ching and reigning Guinness 9-ball champion Chang Jung-Lin will lead a Taiwanese contingent of six players in the Puerto Princesa Mayor's Cup of the Philippine Pool Tour which begins on June 16.
This was announced Wednesday (May 28) by Mr. Tu Yung-Hui, president of the Chinese Taipei Billiards Association, in a letter to the PPT organizing committee.
Organized by the Billiards and Snooker Congress of the Philippines (BSCP) and
presented by San Miguel Corporation, the Puerto Princesa ten ball event will be hosted by Mayor Edward S. Hagedorn. It will take place in two stages: Stage 1 (Elimination Rounds) on June 16-17 at the Star Billiards Center in Quezon City, and Stage 2 (Main Tournament) on June 19-22 at the Puerto Princesa City Coliseum in the capital of Palawan.
The four other Taiwanese players are Ko Pin-Yi, the reigning 2007 world junior champion, Lu Hui-Chan, Kuo Chun-Nan, and Chung Chien-Te. The 18-year-old Ko has had recent success playing in the big leagues. He won the Supercup in Taiwan in December last year and a tournament in Bangkok in April this year, beating Filipino Dennis Orcullo in the finals. And he was one of 16 players who saw action at the recent World Poolmasters in Las Vegas.
The PPT organizing committee has awarded Wu and Chang PPT Tour Cards by virtue of their achievements in the WPA world championships and the Guinness 9-Ball Tour. A PPT Tour Card guarantees the cardholder an automatic spot in Stage 2 of the PPT leg in Puerto Princesa.
Chung also earned a Stage 2 spot by virtue of his placing in the top 16 of the Mandaluyong Mayor's Cup last May 6-11.
Ko, Lu and Kuo will see action in Stage 1 of the tournament.
The Puerto Princesa Cup has a prize fund of $30,000. A top prize of $10,000 goes to the winner of the championship. Prizes are awarded up to 32nd place.
The tournament is sanctioned by the Asian Pocket Billiards Union (APBU) and listed in the 2008 calendar of events of the World Pool-Billiards Association (WPA).
contributed by MARLON BERNARDINO, edited by jovie sison
This was announced Wednesday (May 28) by Mr. Tu Yung-Hui, president of the Chinese Taipei Billiards Association, in a letter to the PPT organizing committee.
Organized by the Billiards and Snooker Congress of the Philippines (BSCP) and
presented by San Miguel Corporation, the Puerto Princesa ten ball event will be hosted by Mayor Edward S. Hagedorn. It will take place in two stages: Stage 1 (Elimination Rounds) on June 16-17 at the Star Billiards Center in Quezon City, and Stage 2 (Main Tournament) on June 19-22 at the Puerto Princesa City Coliseum in the capital of Palawan.
The four other Taiwanese players are Ko Pin-Yi, the reigning 2007 world junior champion, Lu Hui-Chan, Kuo Chun-Nan, and Chung Chien-Te. The 18-year-old Ko has had recent success playing in the big leagues. He won the Supercup in Taiwan in December last year and a tournament in Bangkok in April this year, beating Filipino Dennis Orcullo in the finals. And he was one of 16 players who saw action at the recent World Poolmasters in Las Vegas.
The PPT organizing committee has awarded Wu and Chang PPT Tour Cards by virtue of their achievements in the WPA world championships and the Guinness 9-Ball Tour. A PPT Tour Card guarantees the cardholder an automatic spot in Stage 2 of the PPT leg in Puerto Princesa.
Chung also earned a Stage 2 spot by virtue of his placing in the top 16 of the Mandaluyong Mayor's Cup last May 6-11.
Ko, Lu and Kuo will see action in Stage 1 of the tournament.
The Puerto Princesa Cup has a prize fund of $30,000. A top prize of $10,000 goes to the winner of the championship. Prizes are awarded up to 32nd place.
The tournament is sanctioned by the Asian Pocket Billiards Union (APBU) and listed in the 2008 calendar of events of the World Pool-Billiards Association (WPA).
contributed by MARLON BERNARDINO, edited by jovie sison
Saturday, May 24, 2008
SHOULD GAB SUPERVISE AND REGULATE BILLIARDS AND OTHER SPORTS?
Position Paper Presented to the Philippine Senate
and the Philippine Olympic Committee
by the Billiards & Snooker Congress of the Philippines
5 May 2008
The Billiards & Snooker Congress of the Philippines is the national sports association (NSA) governing billiard sports in the country and representing the sport in the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC). Its membership comprises the many stakeholders of billiards, including players, promoters, billiards manufacturers and distributors, agents and managers, parlor owners, trainers, referees, and sheer lovers and fans of the sport.
We are making this appeal to the Senate and the Philippine Olympic Committee for clarification and guidance because of certain actions and directives by the Games and Amusement Board (GAB) that in our view impinge on sports' freedom from government interference, and the principle of open sports that has been well recognized internationally since the 1992 Olympics. These actions and directives are:
A directive last April 4, 2008 to Star Billiards Center, a partner organization of the BSCP, ordering its owner Mr. Sebastian Chua (BSCP treasurer) to report to the GAB offices to register and secure a permit for a pool tournament that it had scheduled for April 2008 and which it had been running for many years without government interference. In the directive, GAB chairman Eric Buhain said: "Please be informed that the Games and Amusement Board is the only national government under the Office of the President mandated to regulate and supervise all sports and games in the country and one of them is the sports billiard (sic)." He claimed that GAB has authority and supervision over any sports event offering a prize of P2000 or more. (Attachment A)
Attachment to the letter to Star Billiards of a copy of Resolution No. 98-10 of the GAB "Adopting policy guidelines for the exercise of the regulatory and supervisory powers of the Games and Amusement Board over Professional Sports", which was approved by the board on November 24, 1998, and which mandated that all tournaments offering cash prizes must secure an authority from the agency, and that all players joining the tournament are de facto professionals and must secure a GAB license. (Attachment B)
A memorandum of the GAB chairman on the agency's jurisdiction dated March 17, 2008, and sent to the BSCP president on March 17, 2008, alleging that in the selection of Filipino players for international competition, even in qualifying tournaments without cash prizes, GAB has authority of supervision and regulation.
A statement of Chairman Buhain, reported in the papers today (Monday, May 5) that "promoters and players who will stage or join qualifiers and tournaments not licensed or supervised by the agency will be immediately suspended."
A letter of Chairman Buhain to players who participated in the qualifiers for the Guinness 9-Ball Tour to report to the GAB office to secure a license to exercise their profession; otherwise they would be barred from participating in any future professional events/promotions.
We place in issue the legality and reasonableness of the above actions on the following grounds and circumstances:
First, the decree which GAB cites as the source of its authority (PD No. 871) was issued under martial law on January 6, 1976 and was never meant to cover sports in general. It specifically cited "professional basketball games and other professional games", not sports. And it was meant to correct game-fixing in the PBA that had occurred at the time. We maintain that billiards in all its forms is a sport and is officially recognized as such by the International Olympic Committee since Feb. 5, 1992. In the same way that many other sports are not under the supervision of GAB today, we submit that billiards should not be subject to GAB supervision.
Second, during the regime of President Ferdinand Marcos, who issued PD 871, we are of the belief that billiards was never declared nor envisioned to be subject to this decree. Up to the time he left office, the GAB under his government did not consider billiards as a professional game. What it regarded as a professional game was professional basketball under the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), and perhaps professional boxing, horseracing and cockfighting. If the author of the decree did not intend it to cover billiards and other sports, why should its executors today expand its scope to extend over all sports? In our view, this is an arrogation of authority that is not in the law.
Third, we believe that GAB's basis for distinguishing between professional players and amateur players – namely, competing in an event that offers prize money – is outdated and has been overtaken by the acceptance in 1992 of professional athletes into the Olympics. When the era of open sports was proclaimed, the basis for professionalism changed. Today, it is a settled principle in international sports that an athlete becomes a professional for being paid to play, not for competing in an event with a cash prize; and a league or tournament becomes professional because it explicitly desires to be classified as professional. In this sense, the PBA and its players are professional. But those who only compete in tournaments for the love of the sport cannot be considered professionals even if the tournament itself offers cash rewards to the winners.
A case in point would be the Star Billiards tournament where neither the players nor the host of the tournament wanted the event to be classified as professional. It has been a tournament where players of different levels of skills can play against one another, i.e. A players would play against B, C or D players through handicapping rules. For the GAB to clamp down on them because they saw a story about it in the newspapers is stretching its claws too far! Following its policies, everyone in that tournament would be required to get a GAB license annually.
GAB's basis for defining professionalism has been rendered untenable by the fact that many governments, including our own, are offering cash rewards for winning medals in the SEA games, the Asian Games and the Olympics. Would an athlete in, say, track and field, lose his or her amateur status if he/she receives a cash prize for medaling? That would be absurd.
Fourth, we protest the singling out of billiards by GAB for supervision and regulation as both discriminatory against our sport and capricious. Discriminatory because its supposed policy covering tournaments offering cash prizes is not being applied to all sports and games. Tournaments with cash prizes regularly take place in chess, tennis, bowling, beach volleyball, and other sports, and they are not subjected to GAB supervision.
This policy towards billiards is also capricious because GAB has been enforcing this policy selectively. Many tournament promoters do not secure permits. We can place on evidence hundreds of tournaments with over P2000 in prizes that were not policed by the agency.
Fifth, we submit that GAB's demand for billiards players to secure a GAB license annually is an unreasonable imposition on tens of thousands of Filipino players, who mostly can hardly make ends meet. The cost of a GAB license is P950 yearly; and in addition each player is required to get medical tests that cost nearly P2000. There are very few players who can afford these fees; and still fewer who would willingly want to pay them. The effect of this policy is to infringe on the livelihood and occupation of thousands. And this is contrary to the national government's policy of encouraging and supporting every citizen in his livelihood.
Sixth, GAB seeks from tournament organizers license fees, a percentage from gate receipts, and a share from television revenues. These revenue policies result in double taxation in the case of gate receipts (local governments collect amusement taxes) and TV revenues (promoters pay BIR taxes on sponsorship income). These are heavy impositions that would reduce promoters to penury were they to pay them. As things are, it is already very difficult to secure the sponsorships necessary to mount tournaments like the national championships and the world championship.
Seventh, we are concerned that GAB's policies toward billiards will have a stifling effect on the development and promotion of our sport all over the country and among people of all ages and gender. When people must pay to engage in any sport, they would opt for another activity which they are free to enjoy. And when tournament organizers must pay sums of money to mount any form of pool competition, they would prefer to do something else. This would be a great pity considering the dynamic growth of billiards in our country in recent years because of our holding of the world pool championship in Manila and the success of many Filipino players in competition which brought glory to our country.
Finally, we submit that GAB's interference in BSCP's selection of players for international competition is an outright violation of the time-honored principle of sports' freedom from government interference under the Olympic Charter. When GAB says that it can meddle in BSCP's qualifying events, whether they are with or without purse, is arrogation of powers not within the law and not allowed under international sports.
We believe there is urgent need to resolve these questions and issues, because on their resolution may lie the future of billiards in the Philippines. If the source of this arrogation of powers and draconian policies is PD 871, then we submit that it's time the law is reexamined, amended or even repealed.
It would be unfortunate if an anachronistic decree from a bygone time were to result in the regression of a sport which we Filipinos love and wherein we excel.
contributed by Marlon Bernardino
and the Philippine Olympic Committee
by the Billiards & Snooker Congress of the Philippines
5 May 2008
The Billiards & Snooker Congress of the Philippines is the national sports association (NSA) governing billiard sports in the country and representing the sport in the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC). Its membership comprises the many stakeholders of billiards, including players, promoters, billiards manufacturers and distributors, agents and managers, parlor owners, trainers, referees, and sheer lovers and fans of the sport.
We are making this appeal to the Senate and the Philippine Olympic Committee for clarification and guidance because of certain actions and directives by the Games and Amusement Board (GAB) that in our view impinge on sports' freedom from government interference, and the principle of open sports that has been well recognized internationally since the 1992 Olympics. These actions and directives are:
A directive last April 4, 2008 to Star Billiards Center, a partner organization of the BSCP, ordering its owner Mr. Sebastian Chua (BSCP treasurer) to report to the GAB offices to register and secure a permit for a pool tournament that it had scheduled for April 2008 and which it had been running for many years without government interference. In the directive, GAB chairman Eric Buhain said: "Please be informed that the Games and Amusement Board is the only national government under the Office of the President mandated to regulate and supervise all sports and games in the country and one of them is the sports billiard (sic)." He claimed that GAB has authority and supervision over any sports event offering a prize of P2000 or more. (Attachment A)
Attachment to the letter to Star Billiards of a copy of Resolution No. 98-10 of the GAB "Adopting policy guidelines for the exercise of the regulatory and supervisory powers of the Games and Amusement Board over Professional Sports", which was approved by the board on November 24, 1998, and which mandated that all tournaments offering cash prizes must secure an authority from the agency, and that all players joining the tournament are de facto professionals and must secure a GAB license. (Attachment B)
A memorandum of the GAB chairman on the agency's jurisdiction dated March 17, 2008, and sent to the BSCP president on March 17, 2008, alleging that in the selection of Filipino players for international competition, even in qualifying tournaments without cash prizes, GAB has authority of supervision and regulation.
A statement of Chairman Buhain, reported in the papers today (Monday, May 5) that "promoters and players who will stage or join qualifiers and tournaments not licensed or supervised by the agency will be immediately suspended."
A letter of Chairman Buhain to players who participated in the qualifiers for the Guinness 9-Ball Tour to report to the GAB office to secure a license to exercise their profession; otherwise they would be barred from participating in any future professional events/promotions.
We place in issue the legality and reasonableness of the above actions on the following grounds and circumstances:
First, the decree which GAB cites as the source of its authority (PD No. 871) was issued under martial law on January 6, 1976 and was never meant to cover sports in general. It specifically cited "professional basketball games and other professional games", not sports. And it was meant to correct game-fixing in the PBA that had occurred at the time. We maintain that billiards in all its forms is a sport and is officially recognized as such by the International Olympic Committee since Feb. 5, 1992. In the same way that many other sports are not under the supervision of GAB today, we submit that billiards should not be subject to GAB supervision.
Second, during the regime of President Ferdinand Marcos, who issued PD 871, we are of the belief that billiards was never declared nor envisioned to be subject to this decree. Up to the time he left office, the GAB under his government did not consider billiards as a professional game. What it regarded as a professional game was professional basketball under the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), and perhaps professional boxing, horseracing and cockfighting. If the author of the decree did not intend it to cover billiards and other sports, why should its executors today expand its scope to extend over all sports? In our view, this is an arrogation of authority that is not in the law.
Third, we believe that GAB's basis for distinguishing between professional players and amateur players – namely, competing in an event that offers prize money – is outdated and has been overtaken by the acceptance in 1992 of professional athletes into the Olympics. When the era of open sports was proclaimed, the basis for professionalism changed. Today, it is a settled principle in international sports that an athlete becomes a professional for being paid to play, not for competing in an event with a cash prize; and a league or tournament becomes professional because it explicitly desires to be classified as professional. In this sense, the PBA and its players are professional. But those who only compete in tournaments for the love of the sport cannot be considered professionals even if the tournament itself offers cash rewards to the winners.
A case in point would be the Star Billiards tournament where neither the players nor the host of the tournament wanted the event to be classified as professional. It has been a tournament where players of different levels of skills can play against one another, i.e. A players would play against B, C or D players through handicapping rules. For the GAB to clamp down on them because they saw a story about it in the newspapers is stretching its claws too far! Following its policies, everyone in that tournament would be required to get a GAB license annually.
GAB's basis for defining professionalism has been rendered untenable by the fact that many governments, including our own, are offering cash rewards for winning medals in the SEA games, the Asian Games and the Olympics. Would an athlete in, say, track and field, lose his or her amateur status if he/she receives a cash prize for medaling? That would be absurd.
Fourth, we protest the singling out of billiards by GAB for supervision and regulation as both discriminatory against our sport and capricious. Discriminatory because its supposed policy covering tournaments offering cash prizes is not being applied to all sports and games. Tournaments with cash prizes regularly take place in chess, tennis, bowling, beach volleyball, and other sports, and they are not subjected to GAB supervision.
This policy towards billiards is also capricious because GAB has been enforcing this policy selectively. Many tournament promoters do not secure permits. We can place on evidence hundreds of tournaments with over P2000 in prizes that were not policed by the agency.
Fifth, we submit that GAB's demand for billiards players to secure a GAB license annually is an unreasonable imposition on tens of thousands of Filipino players, who mostly can hardly make ends meet. The cost of a GAB license is P950 yearly; and in addition each player is required to get medical tests that cost nearly P2000. There are very few players who can afford these fees; and still fewer who would willingly want to pay them. The effect of this policy is to infringe on the livelihood and occupation of thousands. And this is contrary to the national government's policy of encouraging and supporting every citizen in his livelihood.
Sixth, GAB seeks from tournament organizers license fees, a percentage from gate receipts, and a share from television revenues. These revenue policies result in double taxation in the case of gate receipts (local governments collect amusement taxes) and TV revenues (promoters pay BIR taxes on sponsorship income). These are heavy impositions that would reduce promoters to penury were they to pay them. As things are, it is already very difficult to secure the sponsorships necessary to mount tournaments like the national championships and the world championship.
Seventh, we are concerned that GAB's policies toward billiards will have a stifling effect on the development and promotion of our sport all over the country and among people of all ages and gender. When people must pay to engage in any sport, they would opt for another activity which they are free to enjoy. And when tournament organizers must pay sums of money to mount any form of pool competition, they would prefer to do something else. This would be a great pity considering the dynamic growth of billiards in our country in recent years because of our holding of the world pool championship in Manila and the success of many Filipino players in competition which brought glory to our country.
Finally, we submit that GAB's interference in BSCP's selection of players for international competition is an outright violation of the time-honored principle of sports' freedom from government interference under the Olympic Charter. When GAB says that it can meddle in BSCP's qualifying events, whether they are with or without purse, is arrogation of powers not within the law and not allowed under international sports.
We believe there is urgent need to resolve these questions and issues, because on their resolution may lie the future of billiards in the Philippines. If the source of this arrogation of powers and draconian policies is PD 871, then we submit that it's time the law is reexamined, amended or even repealed.
It would be unfortunate if an anachronistic decree from a bygone time were to result in the regression of a sport which we Filipinos love and wherein we excel.
contributed by Marlon Bernardino
Monday, May 19, 2008
DJANGO IS RUNNER-UP IN PREDATOR 10-BALL
FRANCISCO "Django" Bustamante failed to pocket his first major title this year when he bowed to eventual champion Tony Drago of Malta, 13-10, in the finals of the 8th annual Predator International 10-Ball Championship held at the Riviera Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, last Sunday.
With his superb performance, Drago took home the top prize of $17,000.
Bustamante, on the other hand duplicated the feat of his compatriot Dennis "Robocop" Orcollo who settled for runner-up in the last year's edition after losing to eventual winner American Shane Van Boening in the finals.
Dubbed as Tornado in the pool world, Drago is no stranger to high pressure matches in Las Vegas, as he was the man of the week back in December when his Team Europe scored an upset win over Team USA. Drago made his way into the final sixteen without a defeat and eliminated Darren Appleton of United Kingdom and Alex Pagulayan so far in the single elimination stages.
Bustamante only lost to Drago eliminated Robb Saez of the United States and fellow countryman reigning national open champion Lee Van Corteza in the single elimination stage.
On the way to the finals, Drago beat Marcus Chamat of Sweden in the semis to arrange a titular showdown with Bustamante, who outclassed Jeremy Jones of the United States.
contributed by MARLON BERNARDINO, edited by jovie sison
With his superb performance, Drago took home the top prize of $17,000.
Bustamante, on the other hand duplicated the feat of his compatriot Dennis "Robocop" Orcollo who settled for runner-up in the last year's edition after losing to eventual winner American Shane Van Boening in the finals.
Dubbed as Tornado in the pool world, Drago is no stranger to high pressure matches in Las Vegas, as he was the man of the week back in December when his Team Europe scored an upset win over Team USA. Drago made his way into the final sixteen without a defeat and eliminated Darren Appleton of United Kingdom and Alex Pagulayan so far in the single elimination stages.
Bustamante only lost to Drago eliminated Robb Saez of the United States and fellow countryman reigning national open champion Lee Van Corteza in the single elimination stage.
On the way to the finals, Drago beat Marcus Chamat of Sweden in the semis to arrange a titular showdown with Bustamante, who outclassed Jeremy Jones of the United States.
contributed by MARLON BERNARDINO, edited by jovie sison
PREDATOR 10-BALL
CORTEZA, BUSTAMANTE PREVAILS IN PREDATOR 10-BALL; BATA FALLS
Reigning National Open Champion Lee Vann "The Slayer" Corteza easily beat Ulrich Louie of the United States, 10-5, however countryman Francisco "Django" Bustamante was challenged by compatriot Jose "Amang" Parica before nailing his fourth straight win after posting a hard 10-8 victory in the on-going fourth round of 2008 Predator International 10-Ball Championships yesterday at the Riviera Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.
" Nakausap ko si Van-Van (Lee Vann Corteza), magkakaroon ng bunutan bukas sa main draw at para kay Van-Van si (Shane) Van Boening ang tinik sa kampanya niya sa titulo," said NBS president Jonathan Sy in an interview with writer yesterday. Shane Van Boening, the defending champion in this double elimination format is currently playing in the one-loss side as of presstime.
After Louie took the first rack, the pride of Davao City Corteza clustered four straight racks to take a 4-1 lead and never trouble entire the game leading as much four racks in the 14th frame before scoring a stunning 10-5 victory.
Bustamante, the former World No.1 who seized a 2-0 to 3-1 lead before Parica tied the match at 3-all, 4-all, 5-all, 6-all, 7-all and 8-all.
Pool Maestro Efren "Bata" Reyes failed to flash his old brilliance and bowed to Alex Lely of the Netherlands, 10-7, for his second loss and join other early Filipino casualties that includes Warren Kiamco and Deomark Alpajora who lost to unheralded Keisuke Hanawa of Japan, 10-7.
Meanwhile, Alex "The Lion" Pagulayan and Ramil "Bebeng" Gallego won their respective matches to remain in contention in the loser's brackets.
The Cabagan, Isabela native Pagulayan trounced Manuel Gama of Spain, 10-4, while the Japan-Bacolod based Gallego nipped three-time WPA World Junior Champion Vilmos Foldes of Hungrary, 10-6, in the morning session then edges Tony Robles of the United States, 10-9, in the afternoon session.
In other matches, 2006 US Open Champion John Schmidt downed compatriot Gabe Owen, 10-3, Raj Hundal crushed Darren Appleton, 10-6, Neils Fejien beat Charlie Williams, 10-3, Tony Drago trounced Tyler Edey, 10-6, Karl Boyes defeated Imram Majid, 10-4, Ralf Souquet ousted Hanawa, 10-5, and Johnny Archer conquer Mike Davis, 10-6.
contributed by MARLON BERNARDINO, edited by jovie sison
Reigning National Open Champion Lee Vann "The Slayer" Corteza easily beat Ulrich Louie of the United States, 10-5, however countryman Francisco "Django" Bustamante was challenged by compatriot Jose "Amang" Parica before nailing his fourth straight win after posting a hard 10-8 victory in the on-going fourth round of 2008 Predator International 10-Ball Championships yesterday at the Riviera Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.
" Nakausap ko si Van-Van (Lee Vann Corteza), magkakaroon ng bunutan bukas sa main draw at para kay Van-Van si (Shane) Van Boening ang tinik sa kampanya niya sa titulo," said NBS president Jonathan Sy in an interview with writer yesterday. Shane Van Boening, the defending champion in this double elimination format is currently playing in the one-loss side as of presstime.
After Louie took the first rack, the pride of Davao City Corteza clustered four straight racks to take a 4-1 lead and never trouble entire the game leading as much four racks in the 14th frame before scoring a stunning 10-5 victory.
Bustamante, the former World No.1 who seized a 2-0 to 3-1 lead before Parica tied the match at 3-all, 4-all, 5-all, 6-all, 7-all and 8-all.
Pool Maestro Efren "Bata" Reyes failed to flash his old brilliance and bowed to Alex Lely of the Netherlands, 10-7, for his second loss and join other early Filipino casualties that includes Warren Kiamco and Deomark Alpajora who lost to unheralded Keisuke Hanawa of Japan, 10-7.
Meanwhile, Alex "The Lion" Pagulayan and Ramil "Bebeng" Gallego won their respective matches to remain in contention in the loser's brackets.
The Cabagan, Isabela native Pagulayan trounced Manuel Gama of Spain, 10-4, while the Japan-Bacolod based Gallego nipped three-time WPA World Junior Champion Vilmos Foldes of Hungrary, 10-6, in the morning session then edges Tony Robles of the United States, 10-9, in the afternoon session.
In other matches, 2006 US Open Champion John Schmidt downed compatriot Gabe Owen, 10-3, Raj Hundal crushed Darren Appleton, 10-6, Neils Fejien beat Charlie Williams, 10-3, Tony Drago trounced Tyler Edey, 10-6, Karl Boyes defeated Imram Majid, 10-4, Ralf Souquet ousted Hanawa, 10-5, and Johnny Archer conquer Mike Davis, 10-6.
contributed by MARLON BERNARDINO, edited by jovie sison
Monday, May 12, 2008
A SAD MISUSE OF A POOL LEGEND
Statement of Yen Makabenta
BSCP Chairman
9 May 2008
The statement issued yesterday (May 8) by Efren Reyes is one more example of the misuse of players by certain unscrupulous managers to hit at the Billiards & Snooker Congress of the Philippines (BSCP) and Raya Sports, and the leadership of the billiards community in our country.
It is a desperate attempt to deflect widespread media criticism here of Sen. Manny Villar for his misguided decision to put up a personal tournament on the same dates (May 6-11) as the Mandaluyong Mayor's Cup of the Philippine Pool Tour, an international tournament that had long been in the pool calendar.
It seeks to head off a Philippine Senate inquiry that will look into the actions and inaction of the Games and Amusement Board, which has abused its powers in interfering in the work of the BSCP in its billiards program and has been remiss in its duties to stop practices of illegal gambling and tournament rigging in our sport.
It rehashes verbatim wild allegations by BMPAP officials that have already been shown to be baseless and untruthful. The suggestion that we have personally reaped financial windfalls from our support of billiards through Raya is totally off tangent since we still have to turn the smallest profit from our investments of time and resources.
Our record at the BSCP and Raya Sports since we became active in our sport in 2005 speaks for itself. We have put our country in the very center of international pool. We have brought to Manila the prestigious World Pool Championship twice, in 2006 and 2007. We have held officially two national men's championship, one national women's championship, and two national juniors championship. We have pioneered in the broadcast of a weekly billiards TV program. We have created various projects for the development of billiards all over our country. As a consequence, there are more players, more fans and more supporters of our sport today than in previous years and decades.
I am saddened to see Efren being used -- and allowing himself to be used -- as an instrument to blacken the name of someone who personally helped him rise to the top of Philippine billiards. Documentary records will show, and witnesses can attest, that I championed as a magazine editor, journalist and billiards patron his career as a player in all those years when no manager and no sponsor would recognize him as the real Filipino pool champion. And I did not take or make a single cent off him for my efforts.
In our work at BSCP since I became its chairman in 2005 and our work in Raya, we have at no time ever been the recipient of the favors of Efren. In the one time when he was offered by his manager to play for our country in the Southeast Asian Games (in 2005), he pulled out at the last hour to play instead in the lucrative International Pool Tour in the United States. So we find it incredible and shabby that he should be suggesting that we ever exploited him as a player.
In all the tournaments and events that Raya and BSCP have mounted, Efren made it a point never to participate because of the dictates of his manager, Aristeo Puyat. In the two world championships that he joined – the 2006 and 2007 WPCs – his manager made it a point to say that he was only joining because Matchroom Sports was running the show. And he has not said one word in praise of all that we were doing for our sport in our country – so we can't even owe him that.
Behind this controversy that has cast a cloud on Philippine pool is the naked attempt of player managers to take over from BSCP the governance and direction of billiard sports in our country, in order to implement their own agenda for the establishment of a pro team league. As they have failed and keep failing in their agenda, so have their actions become more desperate. The latest is their pathetic decision to mount an event simultaneously with the inaugural tournament of the Philippine Pool Tour.
To those who really know what is what in Philippine pool – and these include the players themselves who are being misused – our biggest offense at BSCP and Raya is that we dared to mount an ambitious and proactive program in our sport. Our efforts stole the limelight from a self-proclaimed "billiards godfather" and derailed the gambling schemes of some managers and their backers. Their own tournaments have been dwarfed and will always be dwarfed – in organizational knowhow, quality equipment, player participation, sponsorship support, and broadcast reach – for as long as we are on the scene.
It is fortunate that the Philippine Senate will be conducting its inquiry very soon because it will finally bring out the truth about the billiards situation in our country, and throw light on the shadowy practices and sinister forces that are tarnishing our sport and endangering its future.
Ferreting out the truth will serve as a cleansing process for Philippine pool. It will make our sport and our billiards community stronger. And we at the BSCP and Raya Sports welcome it.
BSCP Chairman
9 May 2008
The statement issued yesterday (May 8) by Efren Reyes is one more example of the misuse of players by certain unscrupulous managers to hit at the Billiards & Snooker Congress of the Philippines (BSCP) and Raya Sports, and the leadership of the billiards community in our country.
It is a desperate attempt to deflect widespread media criticism here of Sen. Manny Villar for his misguided decision to put up a personal tournament on the same dates (May 6-11) as the Mandaluyong Mayor's Cup of the Philippine Pool Tour, an international tournament that had long been in the pool calendar.
It seeks to head off a Philippine Senate inquiry that will look into the actions and inaction of the Games and Amusement Board, which has abused its powers in interfering in the work of the BSCP in its billiards program and has been remiss in its duties to stop practices of illegal gambling and tournament rigging in our sport.
It rehashes verbatim wild allegations by BMPAP officials that have already been shown to be baseless and untruthful. The suggestion that we have personally reaped financial windfalls from our support of billiards through Raya is totally off tangent since we still have to turn the smallest profit from our investments of time and resources.
Our record at the BSCP and Raya Sports since we became active in our sport in 2005 speaks for itself. We have put our country in the very center of international pool. We have brought to Manila the prestigious World Pool Championship twice, in 2006 and 2007. We have held officially two national men's championship, one national women's championship, and two national juniors championship. We have pioneered in the broadcast of a weekly billiards TV program. We have created various projects for the development of billiards all over our country. As a consequence, there are more players, more fans and more supporters of our sport today than in previous years and decades.
I am saddened to see Efren being used -- and allowing himself to be used -- as an instrument to blacken the name of someone who personally helped him rise to the top of Philippine billiards. Documentary records will show, and witnesses can attest, that I championed as a magazine editor, journalist and billiards patron his career as a player in all those years when no manager and no sponsor would recognize him as the real Filipino pool champion. And I did not take or make a single cent off him for my efforts.
In our work at BSCP since I became its chairman in 2005 and our work in Raya, we have at no time ever been the recipient of the favors of Efren. In the one time when he was offered by his manager to play for our country in the Southeast Asian Games (in 2005), he pulled out at the last hour to play instead in the lucrative International Pool Tour in the United States. So we find it incredible and shabby that he should be suggesting that we ever exploited him as a player.
In all the tournaments and events that Raya and BSCP have mounted, Efren made it a point never to participate because of the dictates of his manager, Aristeo Puyat. In the two world championships that he joined – the 2006 and 2007 WPCs – his manager made it a point to say that he was only joining because Matchroom Sports was running the show. And he has not said one word in praise of all that we were doing for our sport in our country – so we can't even owe him that.
Behind this controversy that has cast a cloud on Philippine pool is the naked attempt of player managers to take over from BSCP the governance and direction of billiard sports in our country, in order to implement their own agenda for the establishment of a pro team league. As they have failed and keep failing in their agenda, so have their actions become more desperate. The latest is their pathetic decision to mount an event simultaneously with the inaugural tournament of the Philippine Pool Tour.
To those who really know what is what in Philippine pool – and these include the players themselves who are being misused – our biggest offense at BSCP and Raya is that we dared to mount an ambitious and proactive program in our sport. Our efforts stole the limelight from a self-proclaimed "billiards godfather" and derailed the gambling schemes of some managers and their backers. Their own tournaments have been dwarfed and will always be dwarfed – in organizational knowhow, quality equipment, player participation, sponsorship support, and broadcast reach – for as long as we are on the scene.
It is fortunate that the Philippine Senate will be conducting its inquiry very soon because it will finally bring out the truth about the billiards situation in our country, and throw light on the shadowy practices and sinister forces that are tarnishing our sport and endangering its future.
Ferreting out the truth will serve as a cleansing process for Philippine pool. It will make our sport and our billiards community stronger. And we at the BSCP and Raya Sports welcome it.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)