SAN MIGUEL ASIAN POOL TOUR STARTS IN MAY

MANILA, PHILIPPINES---Raya Sports announced last Friday that the 2008 San Miguel Asian Pool Tour will kick off in May with the inaugural bow of the Philippine Ten Ball Open in Manila.

The tour will consist of six ten ball events. After opening in Manila, it will move to Jakarta in Indonesia, Taipei in Taiwan, Guangzhou in China, and Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam. It will then return to Manila for a final leg in October, which will serve as a prelude to the WPA World Ten Ball Championship in Manila in November.
While located in Asia, the event will be open to players from all over the world. Invitations are now being sent out to key players in every continent.

Yen Makabenta, Raya Sports president, said the Tour will mark two milestones: first, the formal introduction of Ten Ball in the Asian pool circuit, and second, the return of the San Miguel Asian Tour in a much bigger format.

"Ten Ball is a great vehicle for San Miguel's new thrust in the international market," said Makabenta. "It's now the game of choice of pool professionals because of it is more challenging and complex. Pool experts believe it is on the way to replacing 9-ball."

In the Philippines, pro players play ten ball almost entirely in their one-on-one matches. Little 9-ball is played. "Pro players consider 9-ball too easy, so much so that higher-ranked players can be upset readily by lesser talents," says Sol Gueco, Raya tournament director. "Ten ball tests the players more, and lesser players must work extra hard to beat better players."

The Philippine Ten Ball Open set in May will have a main draw of 128 players. First prize money is $20,000. And prizes will be given up to 32nd place.

The subsequent legs of the tour will be invitational, consisting of 32 players for each leg. First prize money is $15,000. All players are guaranteed prizes.

Raya also announced that it will introduce the San Miguel Tour Card this year, which will signify membership in the event. Player-members will have first crack at the slots available in each tour leg, particularly the invitationals.

Details and mechanics for joining the Philippine Ten Ball Open and the rest of the tour will be disclosed at a press conference on Monday at Pantalan Restaurant in Manila.

Contributed by MARLON BERNARDINO