JOVEN BUSTAMANTE FIRST FILIPINO IN QUARTER-FINALS
TAIPEI, TAIWAN---AFTER demolishing Chang Pei-wei of Taiwan, 9-4, in the afternoon session, Joven Bustamante extended his winning run last night by crushing Alan Tan of Malaysia, 9-6, to finished undefeated in the preliminary rounds on Group A, became the first Filipino enters to the quarter-final rounds of the first leg of 2008 Guinness 9ball Tour at the Taipei, Gymnasium here.
"Medyo maganda lamang talaga ang nilaro ko ngayong araw, sana maipagpatuloy ko bukas," said Bustamante, 2007 WPA World Fujairah 8-Ball Semi-Finalists and 2007WPA Manila World Pool Quarter-Finalists.
However, compatriot Antonio Gabica and Alex Pagulayan failed to advance in the knock-out stage today. Gabica, the 2006 Doha Asian Games 9-Ball Gold Medallists succumbed to Budi Sumarno of Indoanesia, 9-8, and Last Year's Tour Grand Finale Champion Chang jun-lin of Taiwan, 9-6.
Pagulayan, the 2004 WPA World Pool Champion and 2005 US Open titlist bowed to two-time Asian Games 9-Ball Gold Medallists Yang Ching-shun, 9-8.
Both, Chang and Yang cruised to the quarter-final round after topping their group matches. Chang also beat Sumarno, 9-4, to dominates Group G brackets while Yang waylaid Siauw Wieto of Indonesia, 9-3, to conquered Group F division.
Chang will face 2006 Doha Asian Games 8-ball Gold Medallists Satoshi Kawabata of Japan in the last eight, who beat Han Hao Xiang of Hongkong, 9-5, and Toh Lian Han of Singapore, 9-6, while Yang will square off the winner in the Group E preliminaries matches between 2005 WPA World Pool Champion Wu Chia-ching of Taiwan and Ricky Yang of Indonesia who hurdle their respective assignments. Ricky beat Sumit Talwar of India, 9-3, even Wu crushed Talwar, 9-2.
Two Filipinos still battling as off presstime last night. Jeffrey de Luna, the 2006 Doha Asian Games 9-Ball Silver Medallists who beat Do Hoang Quan of Vietnam, 9-8, in the morning session takes on Nitiwat Kanjanasri of Thailand, the 23-year-old De Luna, RP's brighest hope needed to score at least 8 rack or beat Kanjanasri to advance in the KO's stage, because Do also beat Kanjanasri, 9-6, earlier in Group C.
The other Filipino bet Marlon Manalo, 2005 WPA World Pool 3rd placer who yielded to Aaron Koh of Singapore, 9-6, needed to beat 2007 WPA World Junior Champion Ko Pin-yi of Taiwan, and pray that Yi will beat Koh for a possible three way-tie in Group D and hope his tie break is superior than the two in the event offers top purse of $15,000 and aired live on ESPN Star Sports which sponsored by Guinness Beer while The Sherwood Hotel is the official hotel of the players.
Contributed by MARLON BERNARDINO
Friday, February 29, 2008
GUINEESS 9-BALL GETS UNDERWAY
Philippine's Brightest Take Charge In Guinness 9-ball Tour
TAIPEI, TAIWAN---THE Philippine's Brightest hope Jeffrey "The Bull" De Luna made three balls on the break and cleaned up the table in the 17th rack to escape a narrow 9-8 victory over Vietnam's Do Hoang Quan to open his bid in a bright note at the start of group stage of the annual tournament organized by ESPN STAR Sports dubbed as 2008 Guinness 9-ball tour here at the Taipei, Gymnasium yesterday.
"Talagang sinigurado ko na, baka matalo pa tayo. Actually dapat panalo na ako sa 15th frame pa lamang dahil 8-6 na ako kaso nag mintis ako kaya nakahabol pa siya at naka 8-all pa," said 2006 DOHA Asian Games Silver Medalist Jeffrey to his wife Ian in a long distance call.
Earlier, relying on his patented power breaks, the youthful Filipino was able to jump the gun early with a break and run out in the first rack followed by a string of five straight racks from the third frame to have an impressive 6-1 advantage against the little known Do.
However even with the odds already against him, the feisty Vietnamese refused give way as he pounced on a green six miscue by De Luna in the tenth frame to spark his own four rack run to climb back into contention at 6-7.
Another table rout in the 14th rack put the Filipino bet on the hill with the advantage of breaking for the match in the final frame. However a miscalculated approach to the pink four paved way to a muffed corner pocket attempt at the five ball, giving the unheralded Do one final crack at the table which saw him add to his score 7-8.
With the momentum shifting back to his side, the reigning Vietnam 8-ball and 9-ball National champion was able to push the contest to the limit, 8-8, with another masterful break and run-out.
But once again, De Luna's powerful break saved the day as he cued up perfectly to send the balls hurtling through to the pockets, creating the perfect table layout for the hard fought 9-8 victory.
Refusing to be outdone, another Filipino, Joven Bustamante, added further cause for celebration as he also came away with a first round victory - this time against one of the Philippines vaunted rivals, Chinese-Taipei.
Top ranked in the Taiwan leg competition field due to his impeccable quarterfinals finish at the recent WPA World Nine Ball Championships, Bustamante had little trouble in notching the 9-4 win away from Chinese-Taipei bet Chang Pei-Wei who surprisingly, had difficulty in finding his usually consistent rhythm and stroke.
Still, both De Luna and Bustamante, need to win their next group stage matchups to ensure safe passage through to the quarterfinals. De Luna is set to take on Thailand's Nitiwat Kanjanasri while Joven Bustamante will face off versus Malaysia's Alan Tan.
However, two other Filipino bets were unable to enjoy the same success as Marlon Manalo lost to Aaron Koh of Singapore, 6-9 while Antonio Gabica conceded both of his matches with losses against Indonesia's Budi Sumarno, 8-9, and last year's Tour Grand Finals Champion Chang Jung-Lin, 6-9 to be the first Filipino booted out of the $15,000.00 tournament.
Manalo on the other hand still has a chance to advance to the quarters if he manages to trump Chinese-Taipei's 2007 World Junior Champion Ko Pin Yi.
Actually Manalo is on the way to tie the match at 7-all in the 14th frame with three balls to go (7, 8 and 9-ball), however, he miss a tough right pocket long shot that gave Aaron an 8-6 commanding lead.
"Kung naipasok ko 'yung brown 7 ball ay tabla pa sana sa 7-all ang laro. Alternate break ang format kaya may pag-asa pa, yung ang turning point," said Manalo.
Battling Yang Ching-Shun as of press time is Alex Pagulayan, the 2004 WPA World Pool Champion.
Other results:
Satoshi Kawabata (JAP) bt. Han Hao Xiang (HKG), 9-6
Ricky Yang (INA) bt. Sumit Talwar (IND), 9-3
Yang Ching Shun (TPE) bt. Siaw Wieto, 9-3
Wu Chia Ching (TPE) bt. Sumit Talwar (IND), 9-3
Han Hao Xiang (HKG) bt. Toh Lian Han (SIN), 9-6.
Contributed by MARLON BERNARDINO
TAIPEI, TAIWAN---THE Philippine's Brightest hope Jeffrey "The Bull" De Luna made three balls on the break and cleaned up the table in the 17th rack to escape a narrow 9-8 victory over Vietnam's Do Hoang Quan to open his bid in a bright note at the start of group stage of the annual tournament organized by ESPN STAR Sports dubbed as 2008 Guinness 9-ball tour here at the Taipei, Gymnasium yesterday.
"Talagang sinigurado ko na, baka matalo pa tayo. Actually dapat panalo na ako sa 15th frame pa lamang dahil 8-6 na ako kaso nag mintis ako kaya nakahabol pa siya at naka 8-all pa," said 2006 DOHA Asian Games Silver Medalist Jeffrey to his wife Ian in a long distance call.
Earlier, relying on his patented power breaks, the youthful Filipino was able to jump the gun early with a break and run out in the first rack followed by a string of five straight racks from the third frame to have an impressive 6-1 advantage against the little known Do.
However even with the odds already against him, the feisty Vietnamese refused give way as he pounced on a green six miscue by De Luna in the tenth frame to spark his own four rack run to climb back into contention at 6-7.
Another table rout in the 14th rack put the Filipino bet on the hill with the advantage of breaking for the match in the final frame. However a miscalculated approach to the pink four paved way to a muffed corner pocket attempt at the five ball, giving the unheralded Do one final crack at the table which saw him add to his score 7-8.
With the momentum shifting back to his side, the reigning Vietnam 8-ball and 9-ball National champion was able to push the contest to the limit, 8-8, with another masterful break and run-out.
But once again, De Luna's powerful break saved the day as he cued up perfectly to send the balls hurtling through to the pockets, creating the perfect table layout for the hard fought 9-8 victory.
Refusing to be outdone, another Filipino, Joven Bustamante, added further cause for celebration as he also came away with a first round victory - this time against one of the Philippines vaunted rivals, Chinese-Taipei.
Top ranked in the Taiwan leg competition field due to his impeccable quarterfinals finish at the recent WPA World Nine Ball Championships, Bustamante had little trouble in notching the 9-4 win away from Chinese-Taipei bet Chang Pei-Wei who surprisingly, had difficulty in finding his usually consistent rhythm and stroke.
Still, both De Luna and Bustamante, need to win their next group stage matchups to ensure safe passage through to the quarterfinals. De Luna is set to take on Thailand's Nitiwat Kanjanasri while Joven Bustamante will face off versus Malaysia's Alan Tan.
However, two other Filipino bets were unable to enjoy the same success as Marlon Manalo lost to Aaron Koh of Singapore, 6-9 while Antonio Gabica conceded both of his matches with losses against Indonesia's Budi Sumarno, 8-9, and last year's Tour Grand Finals Champion Chang Jung-Lin, 6-9 to be the first Filipino booted out of the $15,000.00 tournament.
Manalo on the other hand still has a chance to advance to the quarters if he manages to trump Chinese-Taipei's 2007 World Junior Champion Ko Pin Yi.
Actually Manalo is on the way to tie the match at 7-all in the 14th frame with three balls to go (7, 8 and 9-ball), however, he miss a tough right pocket long shot that gave Aaron an 8-6 commanding lead.
"Kung naipasok ko 'yung brown 7 ball ay tabla pa sana sa 7-all ang laro. Alternate break ang format kaya may pag-asa pa, yung ang turning point," said Manalo.
Battling Yang Ching-Shun as of press time is Alex Pagulayan, the 2004 WPA World Pool Champion.
Other results:
Satoshi Kawabata (JAP) bt. Han Hao Xiang (HKG), 9-6
Ricky Yang (INA) bt. Sumit Talwar (IND), 9-3
Yang Ching Shun (TPE) bt. Siaw Wieto, 9-3
Wu Chia Ching (TPE) bt. Sumit Talwar (IND), 9-3
Han Hao Xiang (HKG) bt. Toh Lian Han (SIN), 9-6.
Contributed by MARLON BERNARDINO
MENDOZA IS NEW BILLIARDS IDOL
MENDOZA BEATS DAMUAG WINS SEARCH FOR THE NEW BILLIARDS IDOL
MARK ARISTOTLE MENDOZA defeated Panfilo Damuag, 9-6, in the finals to add another feather his cap by winning the inauguration of the Search for the New Billiards Idol was held at the Bugsy's Lair Billiards Hall in Sgt. Esguerra, Quezon City on Sunday.
"Maganda pong preparasyon ito para sa elimination ng RP Junior of Pool," Mendoza told to this writer yesterday, who is schedule to defend his title when the 2008 Philippines Junior Pool Championship gets going on March 13 to 16 at the Star Billiards Center in Quezon City.
"Bukod kasi sa pag practice natin sa araw-araw at pag laro ng match sa kapwa bilyarista natin eh iba din y'ung may tournament na gaya nito para pag dumating 'yung big event ay hindi tayo na ra rusty. " Mendoza added, who also won the 1st Philippine Junior of Pool Championships by trouncing Jordan Legaspi, 11-3, in the finals of the last year's edition.
With the feat in the Search for the New Billiards Idol, the 18-year-old Mendoza, who hails from Mandaluyong City claimed the top purse of P20,000. Damuag, on the other hand received the runner-up prize of P10,000.
On the way to the finals, Mendoza stuns Christopher Bombita, 7-6,while Damuag beat Ricky Gamboa, 7-3, in the event which attracted 80 Class "O" cue artists.
Losing -semi-finalists Gamboa and Bombita, meanwhile didn't go home empty-handed, each received P5,000 for their efforts.
Contributed by MARLON BERNARDINO
MARK ARISTOTLE MENDOZA defeated Panfilo Damuag, 9-6, in the finals to add another feather his cap by winning the inauguration of the Search for the New Billiards Idol was held at the Bugsy's Lair Billiards Hall in Sgt. Esguerra, Quezon City on Sunday.
"Maganda pong preparasyon ito para sa elimination ng RP Junior of Pool," Mendoza told to this writer yesterday, who is schedule to defend his title when the 2008 Philippines Junior Pool Championship gets going on March 13 to 16 at the Star Billiards Center in Quezon City.
"Bukod kasi sa pag practice natin sa araw-araw at pag laro ng match sa kapwa bilyarista natin eh iba din y'ung may tournament na gaya nito para pag dumating 'yung big event ay hindi tayo na ra rusty. " Mendoza added, who also won the 1st Philippine Junior of Pool Championships by trouncing Jordan Legaspi, 11-3, in the finals of the last year's edition.
With the feat in the Search for the New Billiards Idol, the 18-year-old Mendoza, who hails from Mandaluyong City claimed the top purse of P20,000. Damuag, on the other hand received the runner-up prize of P10,000.
On the way to the finals, Mendoza stuns Christopher Bombita, 7-6,while Damuag beat Ricky Gamboa, 7-3, in the event which attracted 80 Class "O" cue artists.
Losing -semi-finalists Gamboa and Bombita, meanwhile didn't go home empty-handed, each received P5,000 for their efforts.
Contributed by MARLON BERNARDINO
GUINNESS 9-BALL TOUR
GABICA, MANALO, 3 OTHERS SAYS THEY'RE READY FOR GUINNESS 9-BALL TOUR
ANTONIO GABICA and Manalo Manalo along three others proclaimed their readiness to break the Taiwanese Domination when the first leg of 2008 Guinness 9-Ball Tour gets going on February 29 to March 2 at the Taipei Gymasium in Taipei, Taiwan.
"Handa na kami," said the Lapu-Lapu City pride Gabica, the prize figther of newly-formed Philippine Billiards Development Foundation (PBDF), who already booked his seat in the main draw of 2008 World 8-Ball Championships set April 18 to 25 in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates after topping the qualification tournament last Saturday along with Elvis Calasang was held at the Star Billiards Center in Quezon City.
"Kailangan manalo agad tayo sa 1st leg para makuha natin ang momentum," added Mandaluyong ace Manalo, who recalled the Taiwanese domination in the last year's edition by winning the all legs including the grand finale which topped by Chang Chung-lin.
Joining them were Jeffrey de Luna, Joven Bustamante and Alex Pagulayan---this year's Guinness Ambassador and Endorser of the Irish stout beer, which is famous in Europe and some part of Asia not in the Philippines.
The five men cue artists are schedule to leave tomorrow, Wednesday aboard Philippine Air Lines and will return to the country on March 3.
Formerly Asian 9-Ball Tour, in the 2006 edition of the tour, the Philippines swept the four legs behind pool maestro Efren "Bata" Reyes, who won twice, and countryman Rodolfo Luat and Ramil Gallego who took a leg each.
Unforunately, Reyes and former world no.1 Francisco "Django" Bustamante, both San Miguel Beer endorsers, failed to compete in the Guinness tour. Guinness is a director competitor of San Miguel Beer.
Contributed by MARLON BERNARDINO
ANTONIO GABICA and Manalo Manalo along three others proclaimed their readiness to break the Taiwanese Domination when the first leg of 2008 Guinness 9-Ball Tour gets going on February 29 to March 2 at the Taipei Gymasium in Taipei, Taiwan.
"Handa na kami," said the Lapu-Lapu City pride Gabica, the prize figther of newly-formed Philippine Billiards Development Foundation (PBDF), who already booked his seat in the main draw of 2008 World 8-Ball Championships set April 18 to 25 in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates after topping the qualification tournament last Saturday along with Elvis Calasang was held at the Star Billiards Center in Quezon City.
"Kailangan manalo agad tayo sa 1st leg para makuha natin ang momentum," added Mandaluyong ace Manalo, who recalled the Taiwanese domination in the last year's edition by winning the all legs including the grand finale which topped by Chang Chung-lin.
Joining them were Jeffrey de Luna, Joven Bustamante and Alex Pagulayan---this year's Guinness Ambassador and Endorser of the Irish stout beer, which is famous in Europe and some part of Asia not in the Philippines.
The five men cue artists are schedule to leave tomorrow, Wednesday aboard Philippine Air Lines and will return to the country on March 3.
Formerly Asian 9-Ball Tour, in the 2006 edition of the tour, the Philippines swept the four legs behind pool maestro Efren "Bata" Reyes, who won twice, and countryman Rodolfo Luat and Ramil Gallego who took a leg each.
Unforunately, Reyes and former world no.1 Francisco "Django" Bustamante, both San Miguel Beer endorsers, failed to compete in the Guinness tour. Guinness is a director competitor of San Miguel Beer.
Contributed by MARLON BERNARDINO
DIDAL WINS STAR BILLIARDS 10-BALL TOURNEY
VETERAN campaigner Leonardo "Dodong" Didal clustered eight straight racks to frustrate new comer Lawrence Anthony Aguillar, 9-5, to emerge champion in the second edition of Star Billiards 10-Ball Tournament, held at the Star Billiards Center in Grace Village, Quezon City over last weekend.
Didal, runner-up to 2006 SMB Philippine 9-Ball Open Champion Francisco "Django" Bustamante, took the first rack before Aguillar seized a 5-1 lead by winning the next five racks of this race to 9, winner's break format, before Didal claims the next eight racks enroute to the title.
Didal, who beat Jimmy Deauna, 8-4, in the semis match takes home the top prize of P20,000 in the event bankrolled by BSCP treasurer and Brunswick Billiards Table local distributor Sebastian "Baste" Chua.
Aguillar, on the other hand, a 8-7 winner over Paos in other semis-match took the runner-up prize of P10,000. Losing-semi-finalists Deauna and Paos take home P5,000 each for their effort.
Tournament director Anthony Roberto said that the top four finishers also receive trophies. In the first edition of Star Billiards tourney, 15-year-old Jhon Garde took the title.
For future events, call or text at 0927-471-3417 for complete details.
Contributed by MARLON BERNARDINO
Didal, runner-up to 2006 SMB Philippine 9-Ball Open Champion Francisco "Django" Bustamante, took the first rack before Aguillar seized a 5-1 lead by winning the next five racks of this race to 9, winner's break format, before Didal claims the next eight racks enroute to the title.
Didal, who beat Jimmy Deauna, 8-4, in the semis match takes home the top prize of P20,000 in the event bankrolled by BSCP treasurer and Brunswick Billiards Table local distributor Sebastian "Baste" Chua.
Aguillar, on the other hand, a 8-7 winner over Paos in other semis-match took the runner-up prize of P10,000. Losing-semi-finalists Deauna and Paos take home P5,000 each for their effort.
Tournament director Anthony Roberto said that the top four finishers also receive trophies. In the first edition of Star Billiards tourney, 15-year-old Jhon Garde took the title.
For future events, call or text at 0927-471-3417 for complete details.
Contributed by MARLON BERNARDINO
Sunday, February 24, 2008
PHILIPPINE JUNIOR POOL CHAMPIONSHIP
MARK MENDOZA WILL DEFEND HIS RP JUNIOR POOL CROWN
DEFENDING CHAMPION MARK ARISTOTLE MENDOZA will defend his title when the 2008 Philippines Junior Pool Championship gets going on March 13 to 16 at the Star Billiards Center in Quezon City.
"Ngayon pa lamang po ay puspusan na ang ginagawa kong paghahanda kasi alam ko lahat ay nakatutok sa akin," said Mendoza, fondly called Big Mc or Mak-mak in local pool circuit.
The 18-year-old Mendoza, needed one and half hours to disposed of Jordan Legaspi, 11-3, in the finals to capture the top prize of P50,000 in the inauguration leg last year.
Also seeing in action is Renemar "Revo" David, the 2006 Sydney World Junior Quarter-Finalist also is expected to give the good fight over Mendoza.
Joining them were Johann Chua, Mike Takayama, Patrick Gonzales, Sean Mark Malayan, Alvin Punzalan among others.
The Ten Ball Double Elimination, Winner's Break Format is Open to all Filipino players 19-year-old and below.
According to tournament director Sol Gueco, the top 2 finishers will represent the country in the 2008 World Junior Pool Championships slated this year in Los Angeles, California.
Scooter, Appliances, Gift Certificates and other prizes awaits the said winners in the Billiards Snooker Congress of the Philippines (BSCP) organized tournament in close cooperation with Raya Sports, Star Billiards Center and Philippine Billiards Development Foundation (PBDF).
Free registration fee to all participants and you can get a registration form at the Raya Sports Office or Star Billiards Center.
Call or text 0910-887-5216 or 0928-744-1740 for complete details.
Contributed by MARLON BERNARDINO
DEFENDING CHAMPION MARK ARISTOTLE MENDOZA will defend his title when the 2008 Philippines Junior Pool Championship gets going on March 13 to 16 at the Star Billiards Center in Quezon City.
"Ngayon pa lamang po ay puspusan na ang ginagawa kong paghahanda kasi alam ko lahat ay nakatutok sa akin," said Mendoza, fondly called Big Mc or Mak-mak in local pool circuit.
The 18-year-old Mendoza, needed one and half hours to disposed of Jordan Legaspi, 11-3, in the finals to capture the top prize of P50,000 in the inauguration leg last year.
Also seeing in action is Renemar "Revo" David, the 2006 Sydney World Junior Quarter-Finalist also is expected to give the good fight over Mendoza.
Joining them were Johann Chua, Mike Takayama, Patrick Gonzales, Sean Mark Malayan, Alvin Punzalan among others.
The Ten Ball Double Elimination, Winner's Break Format is Open to all Filipino players 19-year-old and below.
According to tournament director Sol Gueco, the top 2 finishers will represent the country in the 2008 World Junior Pool Championships slated this year in Los Angeles, California.
Scooter, Appliances, Gift Certificates and other prizes awaits the said winners in the Billiards Snooker Congress of the Philippines (BSCP) organized tournament in close cooperation with Raya Sports, Star Billiards Center and Philippine Billiards Development Foundation (PBDF).
Free registration fee to all participants and you can get a registration form at the Raya Sports Office or Star Billiards Center.
Call or text 0910-887-5216 or 0928-744-1740 for complete details.
Contributed by MARLON BERNARDINO
Saturday, February 23, 2008
WINNER TAKE ALL 9-BALL
CHUA BEATS VALLE WINS WTA 9-BALL TOUR
MANILA, PHILIPPINES---YOUNGSTER JOHANN "Bubwit" Chua of Bacolod City defeated 1998 Asian Games 9-Ball Gold Medallist Gandy "Yang-Yang" Valle of Davao City, 9-4, late Wednesday to rule the second edition of the Winner-Take-all 9-ball tour at the Ever Gotesco Mall in Commonwealth in Quezon City.
En route to the title, the 15-year-old Chua, nipped Elmer Haya in the quarters and Panfilo Damuag in the semis, respectively, to claim the top purse of P60,000 in the two-day event, 28 player's field jointly organized by Lando Vicente, Ish Caparras and Troy Danao
In the first edition of WTA 9-Ball tour last month, veteran campaigner Godofredo "Boy Cotabato" Ducanes took the last three racks to defeat Joemar de Ocampo, 9-8. This event was held at the Bowling Inn on Taft Avenue, Manila.
The registration of 2008 Philippines Junior Pool Championship is now on full swing at the Star Billiards Center in Quezon City and Raya Sports Office in Makati City.
The 19-year-old and below event will kick off on March 13 to 16 at the Star Billiards Center in Quezon City, at stake are two slots for this year's World Junior of Pool in Los Angeles, California.
Scooter, Appliances, Gift Certificates and other prizes awaits also the said winners in the Billiards Snooker Congress of the Philippines (BSCP) organized tournament in close cooperation with Raya Sports, Star Billiards Center and Philippine Billiards Development Foundation (PBDF).
Call or text 0910-887-5216 or 0928-744-1740 for complete details.
Contributed by MARLON BERNARDINO
MANILA, PHILIPPINES---YOUNGSTER JOHANN "Bubwit" Chua of Bacolod City defeated 1998 Asian Games 9-Ball Gold Medallist Gandy "Yang-Yang" Valle of Davao City, 9-4, late Wednesday to rule the second edition of the Winner-Take-all 9-ball tour at the Ever Gotesco Mall in Commonwealth in Quezon City.
En route to the title, the 15-year-old Chua, nipped Elmer Haya in the quarters and Panfilo Damuag in the semis, respectively, to claim the top purse of P60,000 in the two-day event, 28 player's field jointly organized by Lando Vicente, Ish Caparras and Troy Danao
In the first edition of WTA 9-Ball tour last month, veteran campaigner Godofredo "Boy Cotabato" Ducanes took the last three racks to defeat Joemar de Ocampo, 9-8. This event was held at the Bowling Inn on Taft Avenue, Manila.
The registration of 2008 Philippines Junior Pool Championship is now on full swing at the Star Billiards Center in Quezon City and Raya Sports Office in Makati City.
The 19-year-old and below event will kick off on March 13 to 16 at the Star Billiards Center in Quezon City, at stake are two slots for this year's World Junior of Pool in Los Angeles, California.
Scooter, Appliances, Gift Certificates and other prizes awaits also the said winners in the Billiards Snooker Congress of the Philippines (BSCP) organized tournament in close cooperation with Raya Sports, Star Billiards Center and Philippine Billiards Development Foundation (PBDF).
Call or text 0910-887-5216 or 0928-744-1740 for complete details.
Contributed by MARLON BERNARDINO
Thursday, February 21, 2008
JAPAN OPEN 9-BALL
ALEX PAGULAYAN WILL DEFEND HIS JAPAN 9-BALL OPEN TITLE
MANILA, PHILIPPINES---DEFENDING Champion Alex "The Lion" Pagulayan, the Canadian-based Filipino, will defend his title and he will be joined by fellow World 9-Ball Champion Efren "Bata" Reyes and Ronato "Volcano" Alcano when the tough 2008 Japan 9-Ball Open kicks off on March 22 in Tokyo, Japan.
This was bared yesterday by Manila based friend Rolly "Lando" Vicente, who is busy staging the finals of Winner Take All 9-Ball Tournament which started yesterday at the Ever Gotesco Mall in Commonwealth, Quezon City.
"Alex (Pagulayan) will play in Japan 9-Ball Open to defend his title together with Efren (Reyes) and Django (Bustamante)," said Vicente, childhood friend of Reyes and Bustamante, both the country's 1-2 punch.
The Cabagan, Isabela native Pagulayan but raise in Taguig City beat Taiwanese ace Ro-Li Wen, 9-6, in the finals of last year's 17th Japan 9-Ball Open in Tokyo, Japan.
It shall be recalled that Pagulayan, bested 2006 Japan 9-Ball Open champion Antonio "Nikoy" Lining, 9-5, in the semifinals, after ousting Japanese hopeful Naoyuki Ooi, 9-6, in the quarterfinals and veteran Rodolfo "Boy Samson" Luat, 9-4, in the earlier rounds.
Several of the Philippines' top players also signified their intention to play in this year's edition headed by former world no.1 Francisco "Django" Bustamante, 2006 Japan 9-Ball Champion Antonio "Nickoy" Lining, 2006 All Japan Champion and reigning National Open titlist Lee Vann "The Slayer" Corteza, 2007 BCA 9-Ball ruler Dennis "Robocop" Orcollo, Ramil "Bebeng" Gallego, Roel Esquillo and Dondon Razalan, who is fresh from winning the 200 player's field Kyoto 9-Ball Open.
Contributed by MARLON BERNARDINO
MANILA, PHILIPPINES---DEFENDING Champion Alex "The Lion" Pagulayan, the Canadian-based Filipino, will defend his title and he will be joined by fellow World 9-Ball Champion Efren "Bata" Reyes and Ronato "Volcano" Alcano when the tough 2008 Japan 9-Ball Open kicks off on March 22 in Tokyo, Japan.
This was bared yesterday by Manila based friend Rolly "Lando" Vicente, who is busy staging the finals of Winner Take All 9-Ball Tournament which started yesterday at the Ever Gotesco Mall in Commonwealth, Quezon City.
"Alex (Pagulayan) will play in Japan 9-Ball Open to defend his title together with Efren (Reyes) and Django (Bustamante)," said Vicente, childhood friend of Reyes and Bustamante, both the country's 1-2 punch.
The Cabagan, Isabela native Pagulayan but raise in Taguig City beat Taiwanese ace Ro-Li Wen, 9-6, in the finals of last year's 17th Japan 9-Ball Open in Tokyo, Japan.
It shall be recalled that Pagulayan, bested 2006 Japan 9-Ball Open champion Antonio "Nikoy" Lining, 9-5, in the semifinals, after ousting Japanese hopeful Naoyuki Ooi, 9-6, in the quarterfinals and veteran Rodolfo "Boy Samson" Luat, 9-4, in the earlier rounds.
Several of the Philippines' top players also signified their intention to play in this year's edition headed by former world no.1 Francisco "Django" Bustamante, 2006 Japan 9-Ball Champion Antonio "Nickoy" Lining, 2006 All Japan Champion and reigning National Open titlist Lee Vann "The Slayer" Corteza, 2007 BCA 9-Ball ruler Dennis "Robocop" Orcollo, Ramil "Bebeng" Gallego, Roel Esquillo and Dondon Razalan, who is fresh from winning the 200 player's field Kyoto 9-Ball Open.
Contributed by MARLON BERNARDINO
Saturday, February 16, 2008
BOWLING INN WINNER TAKE ALL 9-BALL
DUCANES BEATS DE OCAMPO
VETERAN CAMPAIGNER Godofredo "Boy Cotabato" Ducanes disposed of new comer Jomar de Ocampo, 9-8, to emerge champion in the 2008 Winner Take-All 9-Ball Tournament held last Wednesday at the Bowling Inn on Taft Avenue, Manila.
Trailling behind two racks going to the final canto (6-8), Ducanes swept the next three racks to seal the win in the race-to-9, winner's break format.
On his way to the crown and the P58,000 top prize in this 24 player's field, Ducanes beat Panfilo Damuag, 7-4, Luis Saberdo, 7-5, Mark Mendoza, 7-2, and Jech Limen,7-3, in the event organized by Rolly "Lando" Vicente, Troy Danao and Ish Caparras.
"Sinuwerte lamang sa bandang huli, " said Ducanes.
Meanwhile, the elimination series for 9-ball handicapping tournament gets underway at the Star Billiards Center in Grace Village, Quezon City.
The champion will get the lion's share of P20,000, the runner-up P10,000, and the third placer P5,000 with all trophies.
The elimination begins last Feb. 13, and will ends on Feb.23. The tournament proper set on Feb. 24.
Meanwhile, starting this month, Star Billiards Center offers another "FREE" hatid sundo program, Tamaraw FX service with Aircon to all players and pool fanatics want to visit and play in world class pool area. From 6 pm to 1am, every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday, Pick up and drop point, Araneta cor. Del Monte (BPI) and Araneta cor. Quezon Avenue (Jollibee).
Contributed by MARLON BERNARDINO
VETERAN CAMPAIGNER Godofredo "Boy Cotabato" Ducanes disposed of new comer Jomar de Ocampo, 9-8, to emerge champion in the 2008 Winner Take-All 9-Ball Tournament held last Wednesday at the Bowling Inn on Taft Avenue, Manila.
Trailling behind two racks going to the final canto (6-8), Ducanes swept the next three racks to seal the win in the race-to-9, winner's break format.
On his way to the crown and the P58,000 top prize in this 24 player's field, Ducanes beat Panfilo Damuag, 7-4, Luis Saberdo, 7-5, Mark Mendoza, 7-2, and Jech Limen,7-3, in the event organized by Rolly "Lando" Vicente, Troy Danao and Ish Caparras.
"Sinuwerte lamang sa bandang huli, " said Ducanes.
Meanwhile, the elimination series for 9-ball handicapping tournament gets underway at the Star Billiards Center in Grace Village, Quezon City.
The champion will get the lion's share of P20,000, the runner-up P10,000, and the third placer P5,000 with all trophies.
The elimination begins last Feb. 13, and will ends on Feb.23. The tournament proper set on Feb. 24.
Meanwhile, starting this month, Star Billiards Center offers another "FREE" hatid sundo program, Tamaraw FX service with Aircon to all players and pool fanatics want to visit and play in world class pool area. From 6 pm to 1am, every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday, Pick up and drop point, Araneta cor. Del Monte (BPI) and Araneta cor. Quezon Avenue (Jollibee).
Contributed by MARLON BERNARDINO
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
GUINESS TOUR AND WORLD TEN-BALL
PAGULAYAN, MANALO, GABICA, DE LUNA AND JOVEN VYING GUINNESS
DEFENDING champion, Taiwanese Chang Jung-lin is ready to defend the crown while Filipinos Alex "The Lion" Pagulayan and Marlon "Marvelous" Manalo will spearhead the country's campaign in the 2008 Guinness 9-Ball Tour that kicks off on February 29 to March 2 in Taipei, Taiwan.
Last year, Chang beat Filipino, Lee Vann "The Slayer" Corteza, 11-8, in the 2007 Guinness 9-Ball Tour Grand Finals held at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Bali, Indonesia where he clinched the title as the Tour's first ever Grand Champion and pocketing the top prize of US$36,000 as Asia's Pool King of 2007.
"Our biggest threat is the Taiwanese players but we are ready," said Manalo, the 2005 Taiwan World Pool Championships third placer.
Manalo, picked up former two-time Asian Games 9-Ball Gold Medalist Yang Ching Shun, nicknamed "The Son of Pool" as the toughest to beat, pointing out that he was "the best Taiwanese player with a powerful break and a fine all-around game."
Manalo also warned that Chang, ex-world 9-ball champions Wu Chia Ching and veteran Fong Pang Chao are also dangerous.
Other Filipinos who will see in action in the Taipei leg are Antonio "Ga-Ga" Gabica, Jeffrey "Jeff Bata" De Luna and new pool sensation Joven "The Shark" Bustamante.
"I have all the pressures because a lot of Filipinos are expecting me to play very well in this first leg of Taipei Guinness leg, besides nakaka nerbiyos kasi ako ang napili,"said the 29-year-old Bustamante, a distant relative of former world no.1 Francisco "Django" Bustamante.
Actually, the fifth and final slot for the Philippines was a toss-up between Joven, Corteza, Ronato Alcano and Roberto Gomez but the organizing committee chose Joven.
Joven made it to the semi-final round of the 2007 WPA World 8-Ball Championships in United Arab Emirates and the quarter-finals in the 2007 WPA World 9-Ball Championships in Manila. He also won the Korean Pro Tour last July and placed third in the same event last November.
Billiards and Snooker Congress of the Philippines (BSCP) president Ernesto "Ernie" Fajardo is very optimistic that the Filipinos will perform well despite the sweep by the Taiwanese in all the legs in the last year's edition.
"Kailangan lamang tayo ang makauna sa first leg, para makuha natin ang momentum kahit mabigat kasi sa teritoryo nila ang first leg," said Fajardo.
BSCP picked Manalo, Gabica and De Luna while the organizing committee allotted the last two slots for Joven and Pagulayan, also this year's ambassador and endorser of Guinness, an Irish Stout Beer which is famous in Europe and some part of Asia.
NOTE:
Marlon Manalo, Antonio Gabica and Jeffrey de Luna are BSCP representatives, while Alex Pagulayan and Joven Bustamante, were both invited by the tournament organizer; Pagulayan is this year's endorser/ ambassador of Guinness Beer Drink
RAYA SPORTS WON THE FIVE-YEAR FRANCHISE FOR WORLD TEN BALL
RAYA Sports president and Billiards and Snooker Congress of the Philippines (BSCP) chairman Yen Makabenta said that the Raya Sports and Events group won the five-year franchise for the WPA World Ten Ball Pool Championship.
"Yes, Raya Sports and Events won the five-year franchise for the WPA World Ten Ball Pool Championship" said Makabenta, the man who brought the WPA World 9-Ball Pool Championship to the Philippines for two straight years.
Makabenta, a journalist and speech writer for presidents and a passionate pool enthusiast, was named "Man of the Year" of the famed Billiards Digest (one of the most widely read and prestigious pool magazines in the world in 2006 for his contributions to Philippine Pool.
"This (Ten Ball) is the game our players excel in. And we will be at the front ranks in promoting Ten Ball as the new game of choice of pool professionals and fans," added Makabenta, as he welcomes the issuance of the Ten Ball rules as a big plus for Filipino pool.
According to Makabenta, World Pool Billiard Association (WPA) president Ian Anderson will be visiting Manila in early March for the formal signing of the agreement.
Makabenta and Anderson met each other in last year's WPA World 8-Ball In Fujairah, United Arab Emirates and talked about the inauguration of WPA World Ten Ball Pool Championship is slated on November.
Raya Sports and BSCP will stage the inauguration of Philippine Ten Ball Open set in May and will have a main draw of 128 players. First prize money is $20,000 and prizes will be given up to 32nd place.
In the Philippines, pro players play ten ball almost entirely in their one-on-one matches. "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."
Meanwhile, the game of Ten Ball will be officially played in pool tournaments all over the world under new rules issued by the World Pool-Billiard Association, the international governing body for pool. And the official name is "Ten Ball", not 10-ball.
WPA President Ian Anderson has released the official rules for Ten Ball to all the member federations, promoters and pool news organizations. He said: "The game of Ten Ball has rapidly grown in popularity over the last few years and the WPA felt compelled to bring this game into official status and to eliminate any confusion concerning the game format by releasing a uniform rule set that players from all corners of the world may refer to and use as a common playing platform. We at the WPA look forward to witnessing the growth of the game of Ten Ball."
Ten Ball is the most popular game in the Philippines today. It is preferred by all professional players because of its greater complexity and difficulty. In comparison, 9-ball is considered easy.
The new rules designate Ten Ball as a call-shot game, differentiating it from 9-ball. They also mandate a power break at the start of every game, by requiring four object balls to be driven to one or more rails.
Anderson said: "As the governing body of pool the WPA is always excited by developments such as this that will help expand the horizons of our sport and bring in even more players and fans."
He urged all players, promoters and tournament officials to carefully study the new Ten Ball rule set and to utilize these rules in all Ten Ball competitions. "Players from every continent will benefit from the uniformity and consistency that this rule set will bring to the new discipline," Anderson said.
Contributed by MARLON BERNARDINO
DEFENDING champion, Taiwanese Chang Jung-lin is ready to defend the crown while Filipinos Alex "The Lion" Pagulayan and Marlon "Marvelous" Manalo will spearhead the country's campaign in the 2008 Guinness 9-Ball Tour that kicks off on February 29 to March 2 in Taipei, Taiwan.
Last year, Chang beat Filipino, Lee Vann "The Slayer" Corteza, 11-8, in the 2007 Guinness 9-Ball Tour Grand Finals held at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Bali, Indonesia where he clinched the title as the Tour's first ever Grand Champion and pocketing the top prize of US$36,000 as Asia's Pool King of 2007.
"Our biggest threat is the Taiwanese players but we are ready," said Manalo, the 2005 Taiwan World Pool Championships third placer.
Manalo, picked up former two-time Asian Games 9-Ball Gold Medalist Yang Ching Shun, nicknamed "The Son of Pool" as the toughest to beat, pointing out that he was "the best Taiwanese player with a powerful break and a fine all-around game."
Manalo also warned that Chang, ex-world 9-ball champions Wu Chia Ching and veteran Fong Pang Chao are also dangerous.
Other Filipinos who will see in action in the Taipei leg are Antonio "Ga-Ga" Gabica, Jeffrey "Jeff Bata" De Luna and new pool sensation Joven "The Shark" Bustamante.
"I have all the pressures because a lot of Filipinos are expecting me to play very well in this first leg of Taipei Guinness leg, besides nakaka nerbiyos kasi ako ang napili,"said the 29-year-old Bustamante, a distant relative of former world no.1 Francisco "Django" Bustamante.
Actually, the fifth and final slot for the Philippines was a toss-up between Joven, Corteza, Ronato Alcano and Roberto Gomez but the organizing committee chose Joven.
Joven made it to the semi-final round of the 2007 WPA World 8-Ball Championships in United Arab Emirates and the quarter-finals in the 2007 WPA World 9-Ball Championships in Manila. He also won the Korean Pro Tour last July and placed third in the same event last November.
Billiards and Snooker Congress of the Philippines (BSCP) president Ernesto "Ernie" Fajardo is very optimistic that the Filipinos will perform well despite the sweep by the Taiwanese in all the legs in the last year's edition.
"Kailangan lamang tayo ang makauna sa first leg, para makuha natin ang momentum kahit mabigat kasi sa teritoryo nila ang first leg," said Fajardo.
BSCP picked Manalo, Gabica and De Luna while the organizing committee allotted the last two slots for Joven and Pagulayan, also this year's ambassador and endorser of Guinness, an Irish Stout Beer which is famous in Europe and some part of Asia.
NOTE:
Marlon Manalo, Antonio Gabica and Jeffrey de Luna are BSCP representatives, while Alex Pagulayan and Joven Bustamante, were both invited by the tournament organizer; Pagulayan is this year's endorser/ ambassador of Guinness Beer Drink
RAYA SPORTS WON THE FIVE-YEAR FRANCHISE FOR WORLD TEN BALL
RAYA Sports president and Billiards and Snooker Congress of the Philippines (BSCP) chairman Yen Makabenta said that the Raya Sports and Events group won the five-year franchise for the WPA World Ten Ball Pool Championship.
"Yes, Raya Sports and Events won the five-year franchise for the WPA World Ten Ball Pool Championship" said Makabenta, the man who brought the WPA World 9-Ball Pool Championship to the Philippines for two straight years.
Makabenta, a journalist and speech writer for presidents and a passionate pool enthusiast, was named "Man of the Year" of the famed Billiards Digest (one of the most widely read and prestigious pool magazines in the world in 2006 for his contributions to Philippine Pool.
"This (Ten Ball) is the game our players excel in. And we will be at the front ranks in promoting Ten Ball as the new game of choice of pool professionals and fans," added Makabenta, as he welcomes the issuance of the Ten Ball rules as a big plus for Filipino pool.
According to Makabenta, World Pool Billiard Association (WPA) president Ian Anderson will be visiting Manila in early March for the formal signing of the agreement.
Makabenta and Anderson met each other in last year's WPA World 8-Ball In Fujairah, United Arab Emirates and talked about the inauguration of WPA World Ten Ball Pool Championship is slated on November.
Raya Sports and BSCP will stage the inauguration of Philippine Ten Ball Open set in May and will have a main draw of 128 players. First prize money is $20,000 and prizes will be given up to 32nd place.
In the Philippines, pro players play ten ball almost entirely in their one-on-one matches. "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."
Meanwhile, the game of Ten Ball will be officially played in pool tournaments all over the world under new rules issued by the World Pool-Billiard Association, the international governing body for pool. And the official name is "Ten Ball", not 10-ball.
WPA President Ian Anderson has released the official rules for Ten Ball to all the member federations, promoters and pool news organizations. He said: "The game of Ten Ball has rapidly grown in popularity over the last few years and the WPA felt compelled to bring this game into official status and to eliminate any confusion concerning the game format by releasing a uniform rule set that players from all corners of the world may refer to and use as a common playing platform. We at the WPA look forward to witnessing the growth of the game of Ten Ball."
Ten Ball is the most popular game in the Philippines today. It is preferred by all professional players because of its greater complexity and difficulty. In comparison, 9-ball is considered easy.
The new rules designate Ten Ball as a call-shot game, differentiating it from 9-ball. They also mandate a power break at the start of every game, by requiring four object balls to be driven to one or more rails.
Anderson said: "As the governing body of pool the WPA is always excited by developments such as this that will help expand the horizons of our sport and bring in even more players and fans."
He urged all players, promoters and tournament officials to carefully study the new Ten Ball rule set and to utilize these rules in all Ten Ball competitions. "Players from every continent will benefit from the uniformity and consistency that this rule set will bring to the new discipline," Anderson said.
Contributed by MARLON BERNARDINO
Saturday, February 9, 2008
POOL STAKEHOLDERS DEFEND THEIR SPORT
The Billiards & Snooker Congress of the Philippines (BSCP), joined by its partner organizations Raya Sports and Star Billiards and a score of player supporters, denounced at a press conference today (4 February) the continuing blackmail and obstructionism perpetrated by predatory managers against the country's billiards development program and culminating in last week's threat of a boycott of BSCP-sanctioned events.
Citing specific instances from the last two decades, BSCP President Ernie Fajardo said, "Enough. Never again will we allow our NSA and our Philippine billiards community to be held hostage by individuals or groups pursuing their private agendas."
As if to mark a new beginning, the press conference venue was filled to overflowing by players and media representatives. Longtime BSCP member Tony Baranda moved the gathering into applause when he delivered a stirring appeal to the media not to be misled by the falsehoods and double talk of the billiards managers. He stressed that "no single player or group of players is bigger than the sport, or more important than the millions of players and fans across the country."
He said that if the Filipino pool community must face a boycott by misguided players, then so be it. "The nation has a vast pool of players to tap and nurture," he said. He pointed to the Philippine Billiards Development Foundation (PBDF) as the key to ending once and for all the blackmail by irresponsible and greedy billiards managers.
PBDF Executive Director Jun Diokno disclosed some of the high profile names who have already enrolled in the program. Among them are: Marlon Manalo, winner of numerous international titles; Antonio Gabica, Asian Games gold medalist (formerly of Bugsy Promotions); Renemar David, Pool Showdown champion (formerly managed by BMPAP spokesman Edwin Reyes); and Mark Mendoza, Philippine junior champion (formerly of Negros Billiards). So far, over 50 players have already applied for inclusion in the program.
BSCP chairman and Raya President Yen Makabenta described as a kangaroo meeting the gathering of players touted by managers as a "players' revolt" against the BSCP and Raya. He cited players at the press conference who attested that they were just used by the managers for the rigged manifesto. No manifesto was signed. But he said: "Players are innocent in this conspiracy. We will not be drawn into a conflict with our players."
Makabenta said the assault on the BSCP and Raya was "a naked and unprovoked attempt" to take over control of Philippine pool. He warned of sinister forces who were out to establish a pool team league, bring in illegal gambling into the sport, and who had no program to promote international events like the world pool championship in the country.
For his part, BSCP treasurer Sebastian Chua revealed to the assembled media that player manager Perry Mariano visited him several times to persuade him to join the managers' conspiracy, alleging funds misuse and other violations in BSCP. But Mariano could not substantiate his charges and just substituted one false claim after another..
Chua also said that players should have the right to leave managers who charge an exorbitant price for their so-called management: 40% of everything they earn. They even charge the bonuses given by the government, he said. He pledged unqualified support for the billiards foundation to help pool players.
Many players also spoke at the press conference to express their concern about the managers' agenda and their steadfast support for the BSCP and its partner organizations. Notable among them was Edgar Acaba, a veteran player who had headed a players association in the past and was an original incorporator of BSCP. "I am for the welfare of sport," he said. "I am for BSCP." [Press Release]
Contributed by MARLON BERNARDINO
Citing specific instances from the last two decades, BSCP President Ernie Fajardo said, "Enough. Never again will we allow our NSA and our Philippine billiards community to be held hostage by individuals or groups pursuing their private agendas."
As if to mark a new beginning, the press conference venue was filled to overflowing by players and media representatives. Longtime BSCP member Tony Baranda moved the gathering into applause when he delivered a stirring appeal to the media not to be misled by the falsehoods and double talk of the billiards managers. He stressed that "no single player or group of players is bigger than the sport, or more important than the millions of players and fans across the country."
He said that if the Filipino pool community must face a boycott by misguided players, then so be it. "The nation has a vast pool of players to tap and nurture," he said. He pointed to the Philippine Billiards Development Foundation (PBDF) as the key to ending once and for all the blackmail by irresponsible and greedy billiards managers.
PBDF Executive Director Jun Diokno disclosed some of the high profile names who have already enrolled in the program. Among them are: Marlon Manalo, winner of numerous international titles; Antonio Gabica, Asian Games gold medalist (formerly of Bugsy Promotions); Renemar David, Pool Showdown champion (formerly managed by BMPAP spokesman Edwin Reyes); and Mark Mendoza, Philippine junior champion (formerly of Negros Billiards). So far, over 50 players have already applied for inclusion in the program.
BSCP chairman and Raya President Yen Makabenta described as a kangaroo meeting the gathering of players touted by managers as a "players' revolt" against the BSCP and Raya. He cited players at the press conference who attested that they were just used by the managers for the rigged manifesto. No manifesto was signed. But he said: "Players are innocent in this conspiracy. We will not be drawn into a conflict with our players."
Makabenta said the assault on the BSCP and Raya was "a naked and unprovoked attempt" to take over control of Philippine pool. He warned of sinister forces who were out to establish a pool team league, bring in illegal gambling into the sport, and who had no program to promote international events like the world pool championship in the country.
For his part, BSCP treasurer Sebastian Chua revealed to the assembled media that player manager Perry Mariano visited him several times to persuade him to join the managers' conspiracy, alleging funds misuse and other violations in BSCP. But Mariano could not substantiate his charges and just substituted one false claim after another..
Chua also said that players should have the right to leave managers who charge an exorbitant price for their so-called management: 40% of everything they earn. They even charge the bonuses given by the government, he said. He pledged unqualified support for the billiards foundation to help pool players.
Many players also spoke at the press conference to express their concern about the managers' agenda and their steadfast support for the BSCP and its partner organizations. Notable among them was Edgar Acaba, a veteran player who had headed a players association in the past and was an original incorporator of BSCP. "I am for the welfare of sport," he said. "I am for BSCP." [Press Release]
Contributed by MARLON BERNARDINO
MORE ON R.P. POOL 'CONFLICT'
SOME of the players drawn by the managers in what was billed as "players' revolt" against the Billiards and Snooker Congress of the Philippines bared that they have no plans of destabilizing the local governing body of the sport.
"Hindi namin alam na plano pala nila kaming gamitin sa boycott daw sa tournaments ng BSCP," said Antonio "Gaga" Gabica. "Subukan n'yong kausapin ang iba pang players, malamang hindi rin nila alam."
The 2006 Doha Asian Games gold medal winner in 9-ball and two-time Philippine 9-Ball Open champion added that the players, as far as he knew at least, have nothing against the BSCP or its leaders.
"Bakit naman namin kakalabanin 'yung nagbibigay sa amin ng tournaments," he said.
The state of local billiard industry is on an all-time high after hosting the past two editions of the World Pool Championship.
"Dati rati naghahanap pa kami ng managers para makalaro sa world championship, ngayon kahit hindi na dahil hindi na kailangang mag-eroplano papunta sa venue."
Jeffrey "Jeff Bata" De Luna shares Gabica's thoughts.
"Basta kami laro lang. Wala kaming pakialam sa gulo nila," De Luna said. "Kung talagang mahal nila ang bilyar tigilan na nila ang gulo. Baka mawalan pa ng sponsors ang mga tournaments."
Meanwhile, BSCP named the three Filipino players that will represent the country in the first leg of the Guinness Asian 9-Ball Tour. They are Gabica, De Luna and Marlon Manalo. Gabica and De Luna are former players of the Bugsy Promotions while Manalo is a long-time national player.
The opening leg of the nation-hopping tour is slated on Feb. 29 to March 2 in Taipei, Taiwan.PRESS RELEASE
Contributed by MARLON BERNARDINO
"Hindi namin alam na plano pala nila kaming gamitin sa boycott daw sa tournaments ng BSCP," said Antonio "Gaga" Gabica. "Subukan n'yong kausapin ang iba pang players, malamang hindi rin nila alam."
The 2006 Doha Asian Games gold medal winner in 9-ball and two-time Philippine 9-Ball Open champion added that the players, as far as he knew at least, have nothing against the BSCP or its leaders.
"Bakit naman namin kakalabanin 'yung nagbibigay sa amin ng tournaments," he said.
The state of local billiard industry is on an all-time high after hosting the past two editions of the World Pool Championship.
"Dati rati naghahanap pa kami ng managers para makalaro sa world championship, ngayon kahit hindi na dahil hindi na kailangang mag-eroplano papunta sa venue."
Jeffrey "Jeff Bata" De Luna shares Gabica's thoughts.
"Basta kami laro lang. Wala kaming pakialam sa gulo nila," De Luna said. "Kung talagang mahal nila ang bilyar tigilan na nila ang gulo. Baka mawalan pa ng sponsors ang mga tournaments."
Meanwhile, BSCP named the three Filipino players that will represent the country in the first leg of the Guinness Asian 9-Ball Tour. They are Gabica, De Luna and Marlon Manalo. Gabica and De Luna are former players of the Bugsy Promotions while Manalo is a long-time national player.
The opening leg of the nation-hopping tour is slated on Feb. 29 to March 2 in Taipei, Taiwan.PRESS RELEASE
Contributed by MARLON BERNARDINO
YEN MAKABENTA ON C.O.I. ISSUE
Makabenta Statement on the Conflict-of-Interest Issue
After PSC Chairman William Ramirez completely belied the charge of the BMPAP leaders that the PSC gave P10 million and P1.2 million to the Billiards & Snooker Congress of the Philippines (BSCP), it shifted to this new charge that there is "a conflict of interest" between my being the chairman of BSCP and being president of Raya Sports.
This charge has no basis in fact and in law, for the following reasons:
1. The BSCP is a private, voluntary association, registered as a non-stock corporation to promote and develop billiard sports in the Philippines. Its membership comprises billiards stakeholders, such as players, promoters, billiards distributors, managers, referees, coaches, billiard parlor owners, billiard clubs, patrons, and fans. All stakeholders have interest in billiard sports, and all are encouraged and urged by the BSCP to do their utmost to promote pool in our country.
I joined the BSCP in 2005 because of my interest in pool as executive of a sports promotions company, as a player and as a fan. Mr. Sebastian Chua, the president of Star Paper Corporation and BSCP treasurer, is in a similar situation; he is the distributor of quality billiards equipment and owner of the finest local billiards facility. Others in BSCP have similar business and professional interests in pool.
The suggestion that to avoid "conflict of interest" a BSCP official must be free of business or professional interest in our sport would negate the very purpose of our association. It would consign the BSCP to the leadership of individuals who can't do anything to help Philippine pool development.
2. The Billiards Congress of America, the governing body for billiards in the US and the model for BSCP, has as officers and members executives representing billiards companies and associations. Ivan Lee, president of Ivan Simonis, is the president; Sean Cummings of Brunswick Billiards is the Treasurer; Mark Griffin, president and promoter of the BCAPool League, is a director; and Renee Poeblman of the American Poolplayers Association is the second vice-president. Virtually every officer and director has a strong business or professional connection with billiards – and that precisely is the point. They all are in a position to affect the future of the sport – that's why they sit in the governing body for pool in the US.
Conflict of interest in law and business ethics applies to "a situation wherein a person has a duty to more than one person or organization, and cannot do justice to the actual or potentially adverse interests of both parties. An attorney, an accountant, a business adviser or realtor, for example, cannot represent two parties in a dispute and must avoid even the appearance of conflict."
There is no conflict or appearance of conflict between the work of the BCA and the work of the executives in the billiards companies they lead. The same is true of the BSCP and its officers, directors and members. Indeed, both organizations encourage the participation of billiard companies in the association because their goals converge around the common objective of advancing billiard sports.
3. The BSCP is recognized as the National Sports Association (NSA) for billiards by the Philippine Olympic Committee. NSA status does not turn it into a government agency, as is clear in the POC by-laws. Further, the BSCP does not receive any funding from the Philippine Sports Commission. Whatever the PSC allocates for billiard sports are directly paid to the individual payees or activities being funded. This includes allowances for coaches and players, and the payment for the travel of players abroad.
The Philippine sports system relies on private associations to do the work of sports development and promotions. They are expected and encouraged to seek sponsorships and partnerships to achieve their goals. It is in this light that Raya, with the sanction and support of BSCP, organized the World Pool Championship and the National Championships for men, women and youth.
4. My being chair of BSCP confers no preferential treatment of Raya in the policies of the association towards promoters. Neither does my being chair make the selling of Raya events easier with either private or government agencies. Our sponsorships depend entirely on the quality and significance of the events we organize. The post of BSCP chairman is one of policy making and oversight through the board of directors. The executive function is exercised by the president and the other officers of BSCP.
Last year, Bugsy Promotion, per its proposal, was granted sanction and support to organize "the BSCP Ranking Tour" – a 20-event tour to be staged all over the country. For this project, BSCP directors personally contributed P30,000 each. The project failed because of poor organization and management, scant sponsorship and failure to pay prizewinners. Perry Mariano still has not accounted for the funds or the events.
BSCP has offered to the BMPAP the management and promotions of the national championships and the world pool championship this year. But it is not interested. This shows again that they are interested only in their agenda, and not in serious pool development in the country.
5. The BSCP is now 21 years old. I joined the association just two years and 10 months ago. For the previous 18 years, the association's main activity was selecting players for the Southeast Asian Games and the Asian Games. And for much longer, the leaders of the Filipino billiards community had all the prerogatives and opportunities to develop pool in our country, yet they did not do much in this objective.
The fact that the new BSCP board since 2005 inaugurated a more proactive program and has succeeded in raising our sport to the front ranks deserves commendation. And the fact that our Raya Sports division has contributed to this is a service to our sport. It is the height of absurdity and envy for anyone to suggest impropriety in Raya's ability to mobilize private and public sector support for the staging of the prestigious World Pool Championship in Manila for two years running.
6. On the other hand, I contend that there is a real conflict of interest when player managers become also the organizers of pool tournaments. There is conflict because managers have an interest in their players' winning the tournaments and promoters are obligated to be impartial and fair to all the players in the tournaments, who pay good money to join and also seek to win. The basic principle of fairness is strained because managers naturally favor their players in various ways, from entry into the tournament to event formatting to arrangements.
We are not speaking of the appearance of conflict here, but real conflict. Many players have complained no end about favoritism and rigging of tournaments run by player managers. The media should investigate these some time, if they are really interested. In the Negros International Open organized by Puyat Sports and Negros Billiards last year, players of the organizers (both managers) were accorded automatic "seedings" in the final 32 draw. On the other hand, other players had to slug it out in qualifiers that involved scores of players. Other tournaments run by the BMPAP managers have been similarly conflicted.
This is the real danger now posed by the plan of BMPAP to organize a professional pool team league. With managers also the promoters, there will be problems of credibility and fairness, to say nothing of possible game-fixing.
To sum up, nothing in what I do as BSCP chairman and as Raya president constitutes a conflict of interest in any manner. My work as chair has to do strictly with oversight and policy-making. Like other directors and members of the BSCP, I believe I should do my part in making billiards a major sport in our country and in putting Filipino pool on the map of the world. Through Raya Sports, I believe I am meeting this responsibility and performing a national service. YEN MAKABENTA
Contributed by MARLON BERNARDINO
After PSC Chairman William Ramirez completely belied the charge of the BMPAP leaders that the PSC gave P10 million and P1.2 million to the Billiards & Snooker Congress of the Philippines (BSCP), it shifted to this new charge that there is "a conflict of interest" between my being the chairman of BSCP and being president of Raya Sports.
This charge has no basis in fact and in law, for the following reasons:
1. The BSCP is a private, voluntary association, registered as a non-stock corporation to promote and develop billiard sports in the Philippines. Its membership comprises billiards stakeholders, such as players, promoters, billiards distributors, managers, referees, coaches, billiard parlor owners, billiard clubs, patrons, and fans. All stakeholders have interest in billiard sports, and all are encouraged and urged by the BSCP to do their utmost to promote pool in our country.
I joined the BSCP in 2005 because of my interest in pool as executive of a sports promotions company, as a player and as a fan. Mr. Sebastian Chua, the president of Star Paper Corporation and BSCP treasurer, is in a similar situation; he is the distributor of quality billiards equipment and owner of the finest local billiards facility. Others in BSCP have similar business and professional interests in pool.
The suggestion that to avoid "conflict of interest" a BSCP official must be free of business or professional interest in our sport would negate the very purpose of our association. It would consign the BSCP to the leadership of individuals who can't do anything to help Philippine pool development.
2. The Billiards Congress of America, the governing body for billiards in the US and the model for BSCP, has as officers and members executives representing billiards companies and associations. Ivan Lee, president of Ivan Simonis, is the president; Sean Cummings of Brunswick Billiards is the Treasurer; Mark Griffin, president and promoter of the BCAPool League, is a director; and Renee Poeblman of the American Poolplayers Association is the second vice-president. Virtually every officer and director has a strong business or professional connection with billiards – and that precisely is the point. They all are in a position to affect the future of the sport – that's why they sit in the governing body for pool in the US.
Conflict of interest in law and business ethics applies to "a situation wherein a person has a duty to more than one person or organization, and cannot do justice to the actual or potentially adverse interests of both parties. An attorney, an accountant, a business adviser or realtor, for example, cannot represent two parties in a dispute and must avoid even the appearance of conflict."
There is no conflict or appearance of conflict between the work of the BCA and the work of the executives in the billiards companies they lead. The same is true of the BSCP and its officers, directors and members. Indeed, both organizations encourage the participation of billiard companies in the association because their goals converge around the common objective of advancing billiard sports.
3. The BSCP is recognized as the National Sports Association (NSA) for billiards by the Philippine Olympic Committee. NSA status does not turn it into a government agency, as is clear in the POC by-laws. Further, the BSCP does not receive any funding from the Philippine Sports Commission. Whatever the PSC allocates for billiard sports are directly paid to the individual payees or activities being funded. This includes allowances for coaches and players, and the payment for the travel of players abroad.
The Philippine sports system relies on private associations to do the work of sports development and promotions. They are expected and encouraged to seek sponsorships and partnerships to achieve their goals. It is in this light that Raya, with the sanction and support of BSCP, organized the World Pool Championship and the National Championships for men, women and youth.
4. My being chair of BSCP confers no preferential treatment of Raya in the policies of the association towards promoters. Neither does my being chair make the selling of Raya events easier with either private or government agencies. Our sponsorships depend entirely on the quality and significance of the events we organize. The post of BSCP chairman is one of policy making and oversight through the board of directors. The executive function is exercised by the president and the other officers of BSCP.
Last year, Bugsy Promotion, per its proposal, was granted sanction and support to organize "the BSCP Ranking Tour" – a 20-event tour to be staged all over the country. For this project, BSCP directors personally contributed P30,000 each. The project failed because of poor organization and management, scant sponsorship and failure to pay prizewinners. Perry Mariano still has not accounted for the funds or the events.
BSCP has offered to the BMPAP the management and promotions of the national championships and the world pool championship this year. But it is not interested. This shows again that they are interested only in their agenda, and not in serious pool development in the country.
5. The BSCP is now 21 years old. I joined the association just two years and 10 months ago. For the previous 18 years, the association's main activity was selecting players for the Southeast Asian Games and the Asian Games. And for much longer, the leaders of the Filipino billiards community had all the prerogatives and opportunities to develop pool in our country, yet they did not do much in this objective.
The fact that the new BSCP board since 2005 inaugurated a more proactive program and has succeeded in raising our sport to the front ranks deserves commendation. And the fact that our Raya Sports division has contributed to this is a service to our sport. It is the height of absurdity and envy for anyone to suggest impropriety in Raya's ability to mobilize private and public sector support for the staging of the prestigious World Pool Championship in Manila for two years running.
6. On the other hand, I contend that there is a real conflict of interest when player managers become also the organizers of pool tournaments. There is conflict because managers have an interest in their players' winning the tournaments and promoters are obligated to be impartial and fair to all the players in the tournaments, who pay good money to join and also seek to win. The basic principle of fairness is strained because managers naturally favor their players in various ways, from entry into the tournament to event formatting to arrangements.
We are not speaking of the appearance of conflict here, but real conflict. Many players have complained no end about favoritism and rigging of tournaments run by player managers. The media should investigate these some time, if they are really interested. In the Negros International Open organized by Puyat Sports and Negros Billiards last year, players of the organizers (both managers) were accorded automatic "seedings" in the final 32 draw. On the other hand, other players had to slug it out in qualifiers that involved scores of players. Other tournaments run by the BMPAP managers have been similarly conflicted.
This is the real danger now posed by the plan of BMPAP to organize a professional pool team league. With managers also the promoters, there will be problems of credibility and fairness, to say nothing of possible game-fixing.
To sum up, nothing in what I do as BSCP chairman and as Raya president constitutes a conflict of interest in any manner. My work as chair has to do strictly with oversight and policy-making. Like other directors and members of the BSCP, I believe I should do my part in making billiards a major sport in our country and in putting Filipino pool on the map of the world. Through Raya Sports, I believe I am meeting this responsibility and performing a national service. YEN MAKABENTA
Contributed by MARLON BERNARDINO
RAYA MANAGING DIRECTOR SPEAKS
STATEMENT OF JP FENIX MANAGING DIRECTOR, RAYA SPORTS
ON PLAYER'S BOYCOTT, 7 February 2008
We note with regret the announcement that some players will boycott the pool events that Raya Sports is organizing this year and will continue to organize in keeping with its mission for the advancement of Filipino pool. This development will hamper in no way our plans for the year and beyond.
1. Whenever Raya organizes a tournament, we announce who are the players eligible and can apply for entry. We do not issue invitations. We do not force anyone to join. But our experience is that our tournaments – the national championships and the world pool championships – have usually overflowed with participants. If there are some players who don't want to join these events, that will therefore be their loss, not ours.
The tactic of boycotting events to enforce a demand is a familiar one of Mr. Aristeo Puyat, so we are not surprised. He employed it against the BSCP in many campaigns at the Southeast Asian Games and the Asian Games over the last 20 years, without much success. He is trying to use it now against Raya Sports, with the collusion of a couple of other managers. Obviously, he is envious of our success in staging major international events, whereas his tournaments, like the Negros Open immediately after the 2007 WPC, have been small, poorly organized and criticized by foreign players.
2. Raya's events are staged in cooperation with other top organizations, notably Star Billiards for quality tables and ESPN-Star Sports and ABS-CBN, ABC and Solar Sports for TV coverage. We pay top prizes to the winners, and players get their money within a week of the event, not months as they do with rival promotions. We stage our events in quality venues; we do not run from one billiard parlor to another like some promoters. We take no commissions from players' winnings. And we pay taxes.
3. Raya Sports is an official member of the World Pool-Billiard Association. It has official international status equal to Matchroom Sport and other promoters.
4. Mr. Yen Makabenta, the president of Raya Sports, is a licensed promoter by the Games and Amusement Board of the Philippines, a respected member of the international pool fraternity and known to players and pool officials worldwide. He was named Man of the Year last year by Billiards Digest, the biggest pool magazine in the world. He is currently a regular columnist for AZBilliards, the top international website of pool. He was instrumental in bringing the prestigious World Pool Championship to Manila in 2006 and 2007. And he has secured for the Philippines the five-year franchise for the World Ten Ball Championship starting this year.
5. The authority of sending Filipino players to international tournaments rests with the Billiards & Snooker Congress of the Philippines. The BSCP is part of the WPA system, being officially a member of the Asian Pocket Billiards Union. Tournaments like the world championships and the Guinness Pool Tour course their request for billiard players through the BSCP.
6. As for the players' supposed grievances against Raya, we cannot comprehend them. We don't owe any players any money. We were scrupulously fair to players in our tournaments. And we always gave them excellent TV exposure.
7. Those who have declared a boycott are only a fraction of our Filipino pool community. The great majority of our players do not support the BMPAP's agenda of envy and negativism. They have expressed their full support for Raya and the BSCP and will play in our events. Pool honors are not won by saying you will not play. They are won by competing in tournaments that are fair, well organized, and recognized by international sports bodies.
Reference:
JP FENIX
Managing Director
Email: jpfenix@prismphil.com
Mobile: 0916-7441160
RAYA SPORTS AND EVENTS
Contributed by MARLON BERNARDINO
ON PLAYER'S BOYCOTT, 7 February 2008
We note with regret the announcement that some players will boycott the pool events that Raya Sports is organizing this year and will continue to organize in keeping with its mission for the advancement of Filipino pool. This development will hamper in no way our plans for the year and beyond.
1. Whenever Raya organizes a tournament, we announce who are the players eligible and can apply for entry. We do not issue invitations. We do not force anyone to join. But our experience is that our tournaments – the national championships and the world pool championships – have usually overflowed with participants. If there are some players who don't want to join these events, that will therefore be their loss, not ours.
The tactic of boycotting events to enforce a demand is a familiar one of Mr. Aristeo Puyat, so we are not surprised. He employed it against the BSCP in many campaigns at the Southeast Asian Games and the Asian Games over the last 20 years, without much success. He is trying to use it now against Raya Sports, with the collusion of a couple of other managers. Obviously, he is envious of our success in staging major international events, whereas his tournaments, like the Negros Open immediately after the 2007 WPC, have been small, poorly organized and criticized by foreign players.
2. Raya's events are staged in cooperation with other top organizations, notably Star Billiards for quality tables and ESPN-Star Sports and ABS-CBN, ABC and Solar Sports for TV coverage. We pay top prizes to the winners, and players get their money within a week of the event, not months as they do with rival promotions. We stage our events in quality venues; we do not run from one billiard parlor to another like some promoters. We take no commissions from players' winnings. And we pay taxes.
3. Raya Sports is an official member of the World Pool-Billiard Association. It has official international status equal to Matchroom Sport and other promoters.
4. Mr. Yen Makabenta, the president of Raya Sports, is a licensed promoter by the Games and Amusement Board of the Philippines, a respected member of the international pool fraternity and known to players and pool officials worldwide. He was named Man of the Year last year by Billiards Digest, the biggest pool magazine in the world. He is currently a regular columnist for AZBilliards, the top international website of pool. He was instrumental in bringing the prestigious World Pool Championship to Manila in 2006 and 2007. And he has secured for the Philippines the five-year franchise for the World Ten Ball Championship starting this year.
5. The authority of sending Filipino players to international tournaments rests with the Billiards & Snooker Congress of the Philippines. The BSCP is part of the WPA system, being officially a member of the Asian Pocket Billiards Union. Tournaments like the world championships and the Guinness Pool Tour course their request for billiard players through the BSCP.
6. As for the players' supposed grievances against Raya, we cannot comprehend them. We don't owe any players any money. We were scrupulously fair to players in our tournaments. And we always gave them excellent TV exposure.
7. Those who have declared a boycott are only a fraction of our Filipino pool community. The great majority of our players do not support the BMPAP's agenda of envy and negativism. They have expressed their full support for Raya and the BSCP and will play in our events. Pool honors are not won by saying you will not play. They are won by competing in tournaments that are fair, well organized, and recognized by international sports bodies.
Reference:
JP FENIX
Managing Director
Email: jpfenix@prismphil.com
Mobile: 0916-7441160
RAYA SPORTS AND EVENTS
Contributed by MARLON BERNARDINO
Sunday, February 3, 2008
BSCP IN SPOTLIGHT AT PRESS CONFERENCE TODAY
MAKABENTA WILL ALSO TACKLE THE ISSUES RAISED BY BILLIARD MANAGERS
THE Billiards and Snooker Congress of the Philippines and Raya Sports will hold a joint press conference to discuss the 2008 San Miguel Asian Pool Tour and the Philippine 10-Ball Open today at the Pantalan Restaurant in Manila.
The press conference starts at 11 a.m.
The local pool's governing body will also introduce the newly formed Philippine Billiards Development Foundation (PBDF), which is created to protect the welfare of the players.
BSCP chairman and Raya Sports president Yen Makabenta, the man who brought the World Pool Championship in the Philippines, will also tackle the issues raised by billiard managers and – according to reports – some players.
A few days earlier, billiard managers Perry Mariano and Edwin Reyes, the prime movers of the newly formed Billiard Managers and Players Association of the Philippines (BMPAP) led a so-called revolt targeting the head of Makabenta.
The group called Billiard Managers and Players Association of the Philippines (BMPAP) is saying that Makabenta is using the BSCP to get sponsors for the events of Raya Sports.
Makabenta, named "Man of the Year" of the famed Billiards Digest in 2006 for his contributions to the sport, finds the issue ironic.
"We need tournaments to develop more players and help them earn from their profession. What's wrong with that?"
A report also came out that the handling of the San Miguel Asian Pool Tour may be shifted to BMPAP?
From the looks of it, the BMPAP wants to get its share of the pie.
It's no longer a secret that the managers are getting 40-percent from the earnings of their players. Maybe it's not enough.
Contributed by MARLON BERNARDINO
THE Billiards and Snooker Congress of the Philippines and Raya Sports will hold a joint press conference to discuss the 2008 San Miguel Asian Pool Tour and the Philippine 10-Ball Open today at the Pantalan Restaurant in Manila.
The press conference starts at 11 a.m.
The local pool's governing body will also introduce the newly formed Philippine Billiards Development Foundation (PBDF), which is created to protect the welfare of the players.
BSCP chairman and Raya Sports president Yen Makabenta, the man who brought the World Pool Championship in the Philippines, will also tackle the issues raised by billiard managers and – according to reports – some players.
A few days earlier, billiard managers Perry Mariano and Edwin Reyes, the prime movers of the newly formed Billiard Managers and Players Association of the Philippines (BMPAP) led a so-called revolt targeting the head of Makabenta.
The group called Billiard Managers and Players Association of the Philippines (BMPAP) is saying that Makabenta is using the BSCP to get sponsors for the events of Raya Sports.
Makabenta, named "Man of the Year" of the famed Billiards Digest in 2006 for his contributions to the sport, finds the issue ironic.
"We need tournaments to develop more players and help them earn from their profession. What's wrong with that?"
A report also came out that the handling of the San Miguel Asian Pool Tour may be shifted to BMPAP?
From the looks of it, the BMPAP wants to get its share of the pie.
It's no longer a secret that the managers are getting 40-percent from the earnings of their players. Maybe it's not enough.
Contributed by MARLON BERNARDINO
Saturday, February 2, 2008
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
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
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