MANDALUYONG CITY, PHILIPPINES---ANTONIO Gabica and Jeffrey de Luna, reigning titlists of the last two major Philippine tournaments featuring all top Filipino players, will banner the country's bid in the Mandaluyong Mayor's Cup of the Philippine Pool Tour. Presented by San Miguel Beer, the tournament is slated on May 6-11 in Mandaluyong City.
Gabica topped the 2007 San Miguel Philippine 9-Ball Open in September last year. He beat two former world champions on the way to the title: Efren Reyes in the semifinals, and Ronnie Alcano in the finals. It was the second time he won the Philippine Open. He is also the reigning Asian 9-ball gold medalist.
De Luna topped the Manny Pacquiao International Pool Championship in October last year. He trumped World No.1 Dennis Orcullo in the finals. De Luna is also the Asian Games 9-ball silver medalist. He was also the first Pool Showdown champion last year.
"They are at the top of Philippine pool today on the basis of their records in tournaments in which all noted Filipino players saw action," says June Diokno, executive director of the Philippine Billiards Development Foundation. "Every notable in RP pool – including Django Bustamante – was in those tournaments."
Diokno said that BMPAP doesn't know what it's talking about when it boasts of having all the top players in the country in its fold.
"The BMPAP players came up short against our players in the key tournaments. The only time when one of their players won was in the Quezon City 9-Ball Open last March, which Gabica, de Luna and our other players significantly did not join," he said.
Joining Gabica and de Luna in the Philippine contingent for the Mandaluyong Cup are Marlon Manalo, Elvis Calasang, Mario Tolentino, James Al Ortega, Edgar Acaba, Fidel Punzalan, Leonardo Andam, Leonardo Didal and Armando Cagol.
Manalo, also known as "Marvellous Marlon", is a multi-titled international campaigner. He has won the Reno Open, placed second in the IPT North America 8-Ball Championship, and was a semifinalist in the 2005 World Pool Championship. He is a native of Mandaluyong City.
Calasang, Tolentino and Ortega are recent returnees from stints as club pros in the Middle East. Calasang has reached the quarterfinals and last 32 in the last two world 8-Ball championships in Fujairah, UAE.
"The test of a true champion is competition, not talk," Diokno added. "You can't rest on laurels won long ago. Or on coming up second in the world championship. If the BMPAP players want to prove their worth, let them enter the Mandaluyong Cup and other PPT legs, and meet Gabica, de Luna and other top players from all over the world."
Registration for the Mandaluyong Cup is ongoing at Raya Sports and the Star Billiards Center.
contributed by MARLON BERNARDINO, edited by jovie sison
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