THE women's champion and six top male players of the People's Republic of China will see action in the Puerto Princesa Mayor's Cup scheduled on June 16 to 22.
Ms. Li Jia, a Chinese player based in Japan, became the first female player to join the ten ball event, which is open to both sexes.
The male players are Li He-Wen, Fu Jian-Bo, Zhang Shu-Chun, Wang Ming, Dang Jin-Hu and Jiang Yang-Yi.
Li and Fu are familiar names in the annual 9-ball world championship and the Guinness pool tour. Li made it all the way to the semifinals in the 2006 WPC in Manila.
Organized by the Billiards & Snooker Congress of the Philippines, the Puerto Princesa Cup is divided into two stages. Stage 1, the Elimination Round, will take place at the Star Billiards Center on June 16-17. Stage 2, the Main Tournament, moves to Puerto Princesa City, where 32 players will compete for the top prize at the Puerto Princesa City Coliseum on June 20-22.
The seven Chinese players will all see action in Stage 1.
Hosted by Mayor Edward S. Hagedorn and presented by San Miguel Beer, the Puerto Princesa Cup offers a prize fund of $30,000. First prize is $10,000. All players who make it to the group of 32 are guaranteed cash prizes.
Dubbed as "the City in the forest" because of its location amidst well-preserved forests and lush vegetation, Puerto Princesa has hosted many major sports events in the country, including the recent Palarong Pambansa. It has wide appeal to athletes and sports fans because of the chance it provides for both sports competition and a holiday in a resort.
The Puerto Princesa Mayor's Cup is the second leg of the Philippine Pool Tour, which opened with the Mandaluyong Mayor's Cup in Mandaluyong City on May 6-11.
Registration in the second tournament is ongoing at the Star Billiards Center and Raya Sports office. Players can also register online at: www.rayasports.com.
contributed by MARLON BERNARDINO, edited by jovie sison
Friday, June 13, 2008
CHANG BEATS GABICA, TOPS GENTING LEG OF GUINNESS 9-BALL
FILIPINO Antonio "Ga-Ga" Gabica failed to end the Taiwanese domination of the 2008 Guinness 9-Ball Tournament as he bowed to eventual champion Chang Jung-lin, 11-6, in the finals of the third leg of the tournament held at the Genting International Convention Center in Malaysia.
With the win, Chang received the top prize of US$15,000 and post his third consecutive leg victory after winning the Taipei (Taiwan) and Penang (Malaysia) leg, respectively.
Actually, the 36-year-old Lapu-Lapu City native Gabica, member of the star-studded Philippine Billiards Development Foundation (PBDF) rallied in the opening game by winning four consecutive racks to tie the game at 4-all.
Gabica had a chance to seize the lead in the 9th frame but miss No.9 ball shot giving Chang to control the game at 5-4 then the latter's (Chang) clustered five consecutive racks to reach the hill at 10-4 count.
Gabica won the next two racks after Chang suffered a dry break in the 16th racks to close the gap at 10-6 before Chang finish the game at 11-6.
Semis
Gabica, the country's most underrated pool player today rallied from three racks deficit (3-6) to beat Taiwanese Wang Hung-Hsiang in come-from-behind, 9-7, victory yesterday to book the second finals seat .
With the win, Gabica prevented what seemed an all Taiwanese finals when he met Chang in the finals, who earlier beat Ryu Seung Woo of Korea, 9-2.
After Gabica failed to sink the No.9 ball in the 15th rack, he didn't waste time to clean up the table after Wang missed a corner pocket shot at No.2 ball in the 16th racks for a 9-7 triumph.
On the road to the final four, Gabica nipped Yang Ching-shun of Taiwan, 9-7, while Chang smashed Li He-wen of China, 9-0.
Other Filipinos who competed in the tournament were Alex Pagulayan and Marlon Manalo who both failed to reach the knockout part of the tournament. Joven Bustamante, on the other hand reached the quarter-finals.
contributed by MARLON BERNARDINO, edited by jovie sison
With the win, Chang received the top prize of US$15,000 and post his third consecutive leg victory after winning the Taipei (Taiwan) and Penang (Malaysia) leg, respectively.
Actually, the 36-year-old Lapu-Lapu City native Gabica, member of the star-studded Philippine Billiards Development Foundation (PBDF) rallied in the opening game by winning four consecutive racks to tie the game at 4-all.
Gabica had a chance to seize the lead in the 9th frame but miss No.9 ball shot giving Chang to control the game at 5-4 then the latter's (Chang) clustered five consecutive racks to reach the hill at 10-4 count.
Gabica won the next two racks after Chang suffered a dry break in the 16th racks to close the gap at 10-6 before Chang finish the game at 11-6.
Semis
Gabica, the country's most underrated pool player today rallied from three racks deficit (3-6) to beat Taiwanese Wang Hung-Hsiang in come-from-behind, 9-7, victory yesterday to book the second finals seat .
With the win, Gabica prevented what seemed an all Taiwanese finals when he met Chang in the finals, who earlier beat Ryu Seung Woo of Korea, 9-2.
After Gabica failed to sink the No.9 ball in the 15th rack, he didn't waste time to clean up the table after Wang missed a corner pocket shot at No.2 ball in the 16th racks for a 9-7 triumph.
On the road to the final four, Gabica nipped Yang Ching-shun of Taiwan, 9-7, while Chang smashed Li He-wen of China, 9-0.
Other Filipinos who competed in the tournament were Alex Pagulayan and Marlon Manalo who both failed to reach the knockout part of the tournament. Joven Bustamante, on the other hand reached the quarter-finals.
contributed by MARLON BERNARDINO, edited by jovie sison
TAIWANESE WU AND CHANG WILL JOIN PUERTO PRINCESA 10-BALL CUP
MANILA, PHILIPPINES---2005 double world champion Wu Chia-Ching and reigning Guinness 9-ball champion Chang Jung-Lin will lead a Taiwanese contingent of six players in the Puerto Princesa Mayor's Cup of the Philippine Pool Tour which begins on June 16.
This was announced Wednesday (May 28) by Mr. Tu Yung-Hui, president of the Chinese Taipei Billiards Association, in a letter to the PPT organizing committee.
Organized by the Billiards and Snooker Congress of the Philippines (BSCP) and
presented by San Miguel Corporation, the Puerto Princesa ten ball event will be hosted by Mayor Edward S. Hagedorn. It will take place in two stages: Stage 1 (Elimination Rounds) on June 16-17 at the Star Billiards Center in Quezon City, and Stage 2 (Main Tournament) on June 19-22 at the Puerto Princesa City Coliseum in the capital of Palawan.
The four other Taiwanese players are Ko Pin-Yi, the reigning 2007 world junior champion, Lu Hui-Chan, Kuo Chun-Nan, and Chung Chien-Te. The 18-year-old Ko has had recent success playing in the big leagues. He won the Supercup in Taiwan in December last year and a tournament in Bangkok in April this year, beating Filipino Dennis Orcullo in the finals. And he was one of 16 players who saw action at the recent World Poolmasters in Las Vegas.
The PPT organizing committee has awarded Wu and Chang PPT Tour Cards by virtue of their achievements in the WPA world championships and the Guinness 9-Ball Tour. A PPT Tour Card guarantees the cardholder an automatic spot in Stage 2 of the PPT leg in Puerto Princesa.
Chung also earned a Stage 2 spot by virtue of his placing in the top 16 of the Mandaluyong Mayor's Cup last May 6-11.
Ko, Lu and Kuo will see action in Stage 1 of the tournament.
The Puerto Princesa Cup has a prize fund of $30,000. A top prize of $10,000 goes to the winner of the championship. Prizes are awarded up to 32nd place.
The tournament is sanctioned by the Asian Pocket Billiards Union (APBU) and listed in the 2008 calendar of events of the World Pool-Billiards Association (WPA).
contributed by MARLON BERNARDINO, edited by jovie sison
This was announced Wednesday (May 28) by Mr. Tu Yung-Hui, president of the Chinese Taipei Billiards Association, in a letter to the PPT organizing committee.
Organized by the Billiards and Snooker Congress of the Philippines (BSCP) and
presented by San Miguel Corporation, the Puerto Princesa ten ball event will be hosted by Mayor Edward S. Hagedorn. It will take place in two stages: Stage 1 (Elimination Rounds) on June 16-17 at the Star Billiards Center in Quezon City, and Stage 2 (Main Tournament) on June 19-22 at the Puerto Princesa City Coliseum in the capital of Palawan.
The four other Taiwanese players are Ko Pin-Yi, the reigning 2007 world junior champion, Lu Hui-Chan, Kuo Chun-Nan, and Chung Chien-Te. The 18-year-old Ko has had recent success playing in the big leagues. He won the Supercup in Taiwan in December last year and a tournament in Bangkok in April this year, beating Filipino Dennis Orcullo in the finals. And he was one of 16 players who saw action at the recent World Poolmasters in Las Vegas.
The PPT organizing committee has awarded Wu and Chang PPT Tour Cards by virtue of their achievements in the WPA world championships and the Guinness 9-Ball Tour. A PPT Tour Card guarantees the cardholder an automatic spot in Stage 2 of the PPT leg in Puerto Princesa.
Chung also earned a Stage 2 spot by virtue of his placing in the top 16 of the Mandaluyong Mayor's Cup last May 6-11.
Ko, Lu and Kuo will see action in Stage 1 of the tournament.
The Puerto Princesa Cup has a prize fund of $30,000. A top prize of $10,000 goes to the winner of the championship. Prizes are awarded up to 32nd place.
The tournament is sanctioned by the Asian Pocket Billiards Union (APBU) and listed in the 2008 calendar of events of the World Pool-Billiards Association (WPA).
contributed by MARLON BERNARDINO, edited by jovie sison
Saturday, May 24, 2008
SHOULD GAB SUPERVISE AND REGULATE BILLIARDS AND OTHER SPORTS?
Position Paper Presented to the Philippine Senate
and the Philippine Olympic Committee
by the Billiards & Snooker Congress of the Philippines
5 May 2008
The Billiards & Snooker Congress of the Philippines is the national sports association (NSA) governing billiard sports in the country and representing the sport in the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC). Its membership comprises the many stakeholders of billiards, including players, promoters, billiards manufacturers and distributors, agents and managers, parlor owners, trainers, referees, and sheer lovers and fans of the sport.
We are making this appeal to the Senate and the Philippine Olympic Committee for clarification and guidance because of certain actions and directives by the Games and Amusement Board (GAB) that in our view impinge on sports' freedom from government interference, and the principle of open sports that has been well recognized internationally since the 1992 Olympics. These actions and directives are:
A directive last April 4, 2008 to Star Billiards Center, a partner organization of the BSCP, ordering its owner Mr. Sebastian Chua (BSCP treasurer) to report to the GAB offices to register and secure a permit for a pool tournament that it had scheduled for April 2008 and which it had been running for many years without government interference. In the directive, GAB chairman Eric Buhain said: "Please be informed that the Games and Amusement Board is the only national government under the Office of the President mandated to regulate and supervise all sports and games in the country and one of them is the sports billiard (sic)." He claimed that GAB has authority and supervision over any sports event offering a prize of P2000 or more. (Attachment A)
Attachment to the letter to Star Billiards of a copy of Resolution No. 98-10 of the GAB "Adopting policy guidelines for the exercise of the regulatory and supervisory powers of the Games and Amusement Board over Professional Sports", which was approved by the board on November 24, 1998, and which mandated that all tournaments offering cash prizes must secure an authority from the agency, and that all players joining the tournament are de facto professionals and must secure a GAB license. (Attachment B)
A memorandum of the GAB chairman on the agency's jurisdiction dated March 17, 2008, and sent to the BSCP president on March 17, 2008, alleging that in the selection of Filipino players for international competition, even in qualifying tournaments without cash prizes, GAB has authority of supervision and regulation.
A statement of Chairman Buhain, reported in the papers today (Monday, May 5) that "promoters and players who will stage or join qualifiers and tournaments not licensed or supervised by the agency will be immediately suspended."
A letter of Chairman Buhain to players who participated in the qualifiers for the Guinness 9-Ball Tour to report to the GAB office to secure a license to exercise their profession; otherwise they would be barred from participating in any future professional events/promotions.
We place in issue the legality and reasonableness of the above actions on the following grounds and circumstances:
First, the decree which GAB cites as the source of its authority (PD No. 871) was issued under martial law on January 6, 1976 and was never meant to cover sports in general. It specifically cited "professional basketball games and other professional games", not sports. And it was meant to correct game-fixing in the PBA that had occurred at the time. We maintain that billiards in all its forms is a sport and is officially recognized as such by the International Olympic Committee since Feb. 5, 1992. In the same way that many other sports are not under the supervision of GAB today, we submit that billiards should not be subject to GAB supervision.
Second, during the regime of President Ferdinand Marcos, who issued PD 871, we are of the belief that billiards was never declared nor envisioned to be subject to this decree. Up to the time he left office, the GAB under his government did not consider billiards as a professional game. What it regarded as a professional game was professional basketball under the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), and perhaps professional boxing, horseracing and cockfighting. If the author of the decree did not intend it to cover billiards and other sports, why should its executors today expand its scope to extend over all sports? In our view, this is an arrogation of authority that is not in the law.
Third, we believe that GAB's basis for distinguishing between professional players and amateur players – namely, competing in an event that offers prize money – is outdated and has been overtaken by the acceptance in 1992 of professional athletes into the Olympics. When the era of open sports was proclaimed, the basis for professionalism changed. Today, it is a settled principle in international sports that an athlete becomes a professional for being paid to play, not for competing in an event with a cash prize; and a league or tournament becomes professional because it explicitly desires to be classified as professional. In this sense, the PBA and its players are professional. But those who only compete in tournaments for the love of the sport cannot be considered professionals even if the tournament itself offers cash rewards to the winners.
A case in point would be the Star Billiards tournament where neither the players nor the host of the tournament wanted the event to be classified as professional. It has been a tournament where players of different levels of skills can play against one another, i.e. A players would play against B, C or D players through handicapping rules. For the GAB to clamp down on them because they saw a story about it in the newspapers is stretching its claws too far! Following its policies, everyone in that tournament would be required to get a GAB license annually.
GAB's basis for defining professionalism has been rendered untenable by the fact that many governments, including our own, are offering cash rewards for winning medals in the SEA games, the Asian Games and the Olympics. Would an athlete in, say, track and field, lose his or her amateur status if he/she receives a cash prize for medaling? That would be absurd.
Fourth, we protest the singling out of billiards by GAB for supervision and regulation as both discriminatory against our sport and capricious. Discriminatory because its supposed policy covering tournaments offering cash prizes is not being applied to all sports and games. Tournaments with cash prizes regularly take place in chess, tennis, bowling, beach volleyball, and other sports, and they are not subjected to GAB supervision.
This policy towards billiards is also capricious because GAB has been enforcing this policy selectively. Many tournament promoters do not secure permits. We can place on evidence hundreds of tournaments with over P2000 in prizes that were not policed by the agency.
Fifth, we submit that GAB's demand for billiards players to secure a GAB license annually is an unreasonable imposition on tens of thousands of Filipino players, who mostly can hardly make ends meet. The cost of a GAB license is P950 yearly; and in addition each player is required to get medical tests that cost nearly P2000. There are very few players who can afford these fees; and still fewer who would willingly want to pay them. The effect of this policy is to infringe on the livelihood and occupation of thousands. And this is contrary to the national government's policy of encouraging and supporting every citizen in his livelihood.
Sixth, GAB seeks from tournament organizers license fees, a percentage from gate receipts, and a share from television revenues. These revenue policies result in double taxation in the case of gate receipts (local governments collect amusement taxes) and TV revenues (promoters pay BIR taxes on sponsorship income). These are heavy impositions that would reduce promoters to penury were they to pay them. As things are, it is already very difficult to secure the sponsorships necessary to mount tournaments like the national championships and the world championship.
Seventh, we are concerned that GAB's policies toward billiards will have a stifling effect on the development and promotion of our sport all over the country and among people of all ages and gender. When people must pay to engage in any sport, they would opt for another activity which they are free to enjoy. And when tournament organizers must pay sums of money to mount any form of pool competition, they would prefer to do something else. This would be a great pity considering the dynamic growth of billiards in our country in recent years because of our holding of the world pool championship in Manila and the success of many Filipino players in competition which brought glory to our country.
Finally, we submit that GAB's interference in BSCP's selection of players for international competition is an outright violation of the time-honored principle of sports' freedom from government interference under the Olympic Charter. When GAB says that it can meddle in BSCP's qualifying events, whether they are with or without purse, is arrogation of powers not within the law and not allowed under international sports.
We believe there is urgent need to resolve these questions and issues, because on their resolution may lie the future of billiards in the Philippines. If the source of this arrogation of powers and draconian policies is PD 871, then we submit that it's time the law is reexamined, amended or even repealed.
It would be unfortunate if an anachronistic decree from a bygone time were to result in the regression of a sport which we Filipinos love and wherein we excel.
contributed by Marlon Bernardino
and the Philippine Olympic Committee
by the Billiards & Snooker Congress of the Philippines
5 May 2008
The Billiards & Snooker Congress of the Philippines is the national sports association (NSA) governing billiard sports in the country and representing the sport in the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC). Its membership comprises the many stakeholders of billiards, including players, promoters, billiards manufacturers and distributors, agents and managers, parlor owners, trainers, referees, and sheer lovers and fans of the sport.
We are making this appeal to the Senate and the Philippine Olympic Committee for clarification and guidance because of certain actions and directives by the Games and Amusement Board (GAB) that in our view impinge on sports' freedom from government interference, and the principle of open sports that has been well recognized internationally since the 1992 Olympics. These actions and directives are:
A directive last April 4, 2008 to Star Billiards Center, a partner organization of the BSCP, ordering its owner Mr. Sebastian Chua (BSCP treasurer) to report to the GAB offices to register and secure a permit for a pool tournament that it had scheduled for April 2008 and which it had been running for many years without government interference. In the directive, GAB chairman Eric Buhain said: "Please be informed that the Games and Amusement Board is the only national government under the Office of the President mandated to regulate and supervise all sports and games in the country and one of them is the sports billiard (sic)." He claimed that GAB has authority and supervision over any sports event offering a prize of P2000 or more. (Attachment A)
Attachment to the letter to Star Billiards of a copy of Resolution No. 98-10 of the GAB "Adopting policy guidelines for the exercise of the regulatory and supervisory powers of the Games and Amusement Board over Professional Sports", which was approved by the board on November 24, 1998, and which mandated that all tournaments offering cash prizes must secure an authority from the agency, and that all players joining the tournament are de facto professionals and must secure a GAB license. (Attachment B)
A memorandum of the GAB chairman on the agency's jurisdiction dated March 17, 2008, and sent to the BSCP president on March 17, 2008, alleging that in the selection of Filipino players for international competition, even in qualifying tournaments without cash prizes, GAB has authority of supervision and regulation.
A statement of Chairman Buhain, reported in the papers today (Monday, May 5) that "promoters and players who will stage or join qualifiers and tournaments not licensed or supervised by the agency will be immediately suspended."
A letter of Chairman Buhain to players who participated in the qualifiers for the Guinness 9-Ball Tour to report to the GAB office to secure a license to exercise their profession; otherwise they would be barred from participating in any future professional events/promotions.
We place in issue the legality and reasonableness of the above actions on the following grounds and circumstances:
First, the decree which GAB cites as the source of its authority (PD No. 871) was issued under martial law on January 6, 1976 and was never meant to cover sports in general. It specifically cited "professional basketball games and other professional games", not sports. And it was meant to correct game-fixing in the PBA that had occurred at the time. We maintain that billiards in all its forms is a sport and is officially recognized as such by the International Olympic Committee since Feb. 5, 1992. In the same way that many other sports are not under the supervision of GAB today, we submit that billiards should not be subject to GAB supervision.
Second, during the regime of President Ferdinand Marcos, who issued PD 871, we are of the belief that billiards was never declared nor envisioned to be subject to this decree. Up to the time he left office, the GAB under his government did not consider billiards as a professional game. What it regarded as a professional game was professional basketball under the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), and perhaps professional boxing, horseracing and cockfighting. If the author of the decree did not intend it to cover billiards and other sports, why should its executors today expand its scope to extend over all sports? In our view, this is an arrogation of authority that is not in the law.
Third, we believe that GAB's basis for distinguishing between professional players and amateur players – namely, competing in an event that offers prize money – is outdated and has been overtaken by the acceptance in 1992 of professional athletes into the Olympics. When the era of open sports was proclaimed, the basis for professionalism changed. Today, it is a settled principle in international sports that an athlete becomes a professional for being paid to play, not for competing in an event with a cash prize; and a league or tournament becomes professional because it explicitly desires to be classified as professional. In this sense, the PBA and its players are professional. But those who only compete in tournaments for the love of the sport cannot be considered professionals even if the tournament itself offers cash rewards to the winners.
A case in point would be the Star Billiards tournament where neither the players nor the host of the tournament wanted the event to be classified as professional. It has been a tournament where players of different levels of skills can play against one another, i.e. A players would play against B, C or D players through handicapping rules. For the GAB to clamp down on them because they saw a story about it in the newspapers is stretching its claws too far! Following its policies, everyone in that tournament would be required to get a GAB license annually.
GAB's basis for defining professionalism has been rendered untenable by the fact that many governments, including our own, are offering cash rewards for winning medals in the SEA games, the Asian Games and the Olympics. Would an athlete in, say, track and field, lose his or her amateur status if he/she receives a cash prize for medaling? That would be absurd.
Fourth, we protest the singling out of billiards by GAB for supervision and regulation as both discriminatory against our sport and capricious. Discriminatory because its supposed policy covering tournaments offering cash prizes is not being applied to all sports and games. Tournaments with cash prizes regularly take place in chess, tennis, bowling, beach volleyball, and other sports, and they are not subjected to GAB supervision.
This policy towards billiards is also capricious because GAB has been enforcing this policy selectively. Many tournament promoters do not secure permits. We can place on evidence hundreds of tournaments with over P2000 in prizes that were not policed by the agency.
Fifth, we submit that GAB's demand for billiards players to secure a GAB license annually is an unreasonable imposition on tens of thousands of Filipino players, who mostly can hardly make ends meet. The cost of a GAB license is P950 yearly; and in addition each player is required to get medical tests that cost nearly P2000. There are very few players who can afford these fees; and still fewer who would willingly want to pay them. The effect of this policy is to infringe on the livelihood and occupation of thousands. And this is contrary to the national government's policy of encouraging and supporting every citizen in his livelihood.
Sixth, GAB seeks from tournament organizers license fees, a percentage from gate receipts, and a share from television revenues. These revenue policies result in double taxation in the case of gate receipts (local governments collect amusement taxes) and TV revenues (promoters pay BIR taxes on sponsorship income). These are heavy impositions that would reduce promoters to penury were they to pay them. As things are, it is already very difficult to secure the sponsorships necessary to mount tournaments like the national championships and the world championship.
Seventh, we are concerned that GAB's policies toward billiards will have a stifling effect on the development and promotion of our sport all over the country and among people of all ages and gender. When people must pay to engage in any sport, they would opt for another activity which they are free to enjoy. And when tournament organizers must pay sums of money to mount any form of pool competition, they would prefer to do something else. This would be a great pity considering the dynamic growth of billiards in our country in recent years because of our holding of the world pool championship in Manila and the success of many Filipino players in competition which brought glory to our country.
Finally, we submit that GAB's interference in BSCP's selection of players for international competition is an outright violation of the time-honored principle of sports' freedom from government interference under the Olympic Charter. When GAB says that it can meddle in BSCP's qualifying events, whether they are with or without purse, is arrogation of powers not within the law and not allowed under international sports.
We believe there is urgent need to resolve these questions and issues, because on their resolution may lie the future of billiards in the Philippines. If the source of this arrogation of powers and draconian policies is PD 871, then we submit that it's time the law is reexamined, amended or even repealed.
It would be unfortunate if an anachronistic decree from a bygone time were to result in the regression of a sport which we Filipinos love and wherein we excel.
contributed by Marlon Bernardino
Monday, May 19, 2008
DJANGO IS RUNNER-UP IN PREDATOR 10-BALL
FRANCISCO "Django" Bustamante failed to pocket his first major title this year when he bowed to eventual champion Tony Drago of Malta, 13-10, in the finals of the 8th annual Predator International 10-Ball Championship held at the Riviera Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, last Sunday.
With his superb performance, Drago took home the top prize of $17,000.
Bustamante, on the other hand duplicated the feat of his compatriot Dennis "Robocop" Orcollo who settled for runner-up in the last year's edition after losing to eventual winner American Shane Van Boening in the finals.
Dubbed as Tornado in the pool world, Drago is no stranger to high pressure matches in Las Vegas, as he was the man of the week back in December when his Team Europe scored an upset win over Team USA. Drago made his way into the final sixteen without a defeat and eliminated Darren Appleton of United Kingdom and Alex Pagulayan so far in the single elimination stages.
Bustamante only lost to Drago eliminated Robb Saez of the United States and fellow countryman reigning national open champion Lee Van Corteza in the single elimination stage.
On the way to the finals, Drago beat Marcus Chamat of Sweden in the semis to arrange a titular showdown with Bustamante, who outclassed Jeremy Jones of the United States.
contributed by MARLON BERNARDINO, edited by jovie sison
With his superb performance, Drago took home the top prize of $17,000.
Bustamante, on the other hand duplicated the feat of his compatriot Dennis "Robocop" Orcollo who settled for runner-up in the last year's edition after losing to eventual winner American Shane Van Boening in the finals.
Dubbed as Tornado in the pool world, Drago is no stranger to high pressure matches in Las Vegas, as he was the man of the week back in December when his Team Europe scored an upset win over Team USA. Drago made his way into the final sixteen without a defeat and eliminated Darren Appleton of United Kingdom and Alex Pagulayan so far in the single elimination stages.
Bustamante only lost to Drago eliminated Robb Saez of the United States and fellow countryman reigning national open champion Lee Van Corteza in the single elimination stage.
On the way to the finals, Drago beat Marcus Chamat of Sweden in the semis to arrange a titular showdown with Bustamante, who outclassed Jeremy Jones of the United States.
contributed by MARLON BERNARDINO, edited by jovie sison
PREDATOR 10-BALL
CORTEZA, BUSTAMANTE PREVAILS IN PREDATOR 10-BALL; BATA FALLS
Reigning National Open Champion Lee Vann "The Slayer" Corteza easily beat Ulrich Louie of the United States, 10-5, however countryman Francisco "Django" Bustamante was challenged by compatriot Jose "Amang" Parica before nailing his fourth straight win after posting a hard 10-8 victory in the on-going fourth round of 2008 Predator International 10-Ball Championships yesterday at the Riviera Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.
" Nakausap ko si Van-Van (Lee Vann Corteza), magkakaroon ng bunutan bukas sa main draw at para kay Van-Van si (Shane) Van Boening ang tinik sa kampanya niya sa titulo," said NBS president Jonathan Sy in an interview with writer yesterday. Shane Van Boening, the defending champion in this double elimination format is currently playing in the one-loss side as of presstime.
After Louie took the first rack, the pride of Davao City Corteza clustered four straight racks to take a 4-1 lead and never trouble entire the game leading as much four racks in the 14th frame before scoring a stunning 10-5 victory.
Bustamante, the former World No.1 who seized a 2-0 to 3-1 lead before Parica tied the match at 3-all, 4-all, 5-all, 6-all, 7-all and 8-all.
Pool Maestro Efren "Bata" Reyes failed to flash his old brilliance and bowed to Alex Lely of the Netherlands, 10-7, for his second loss and join other early Filipino casualties that includes Warren Kiamco and Deomark Alpajora who lost to unheralded Keisuke Hanawa of Japan, 10-7.
Meanwhile, Alex "The Lion" Pagulayan and Ramil "Bebeng" Gallego won their respective matches to remain in contention in the loser's brackets.
The Cabagan, Isabela native Pagulayan trounced Manuel Gama of Spain, 10-4, while the Japan-Bacolod based Gallego nipped three-time WPA World Junior Champion Vilmos Foldes of Hungrary, 10-6, in the morning session then edges Tony Robles of the United States, 10-9, in the afternoon session.
In other matches, 2006 US Open Champion John Schmidt downed compatriot Gabe Owen, 10-3, Raj Hundal crushed Darren Appleton, 10-6, Neils Fejien beat Charlie Williams, 10-3, Tony Drago trounced Tyler Edey, 10-6, Karl Boyes defeated Imram Majid, 10-4, Ralf Souquet ousted Hanawa, 10-5, and Johnny Archer conquer Mike Davis, 10-6.
contributed by MARLON BERNARDINO, edited by jovie sison
Reigning National Open Champion Lee Vann "The Slayer" Corteza easily beat Ulrich Louie of the United States, 10-5, however countryman Francisco "Django" Bustamante was challenged by compatriot Jose "Amang" Parica before nailing his fourth straight win after posting a hard 10-8 victory in the on-going fourth round of 2008 Predator International 10-Ball Championships yesterday at the Riviera Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.
" Nakausap ko si Van-Van (Lee Vann Corteza), magkakaroon ng bunutan bukas sa main draw at para kay Van-Van si (Shane) Van Boening ang tinik sa kampanya niya sa titulo," said NBS president Jonathan Sy in an interview with writer yesterday. Shane Van Boening, the defending champion in this double elimination format is currently playing in the one-loss side as of presstime.
After Louie took the first rack, the pride of Davao City Corteza clustered four straight racks to take a 4-1 lead and never trouble entire the game leading as much four racks in the 14th frame before scoring a stunning 10-5 victory.
Bustamante, the former World No.1 who seized a 2-0 to 3-1 lead before Parica tied the match at 3-all, 4-all, 5-all, 6-all, 7-all and 8-all.
Pool Maestro Efren "Bata" Reyes failed to flash his old brilliance and bowed to Alex Lely of the Netherlands, 10-7, for his second loss and join other early Filipino casualties that includes Warren Kiamco and Deomark Alpajora who lost to unheralded Keisuke Hanawa of Japan, 10-7.
Meanwhile, Alex "The Lion" Pagulayan and Ramil "Bebeng" Gallego won their respective matches to remain in contention in the loser's brackets.
The Cabagan, Isabela native Pagulayan trounced Manuel Gama of Spain, 10-4, while the Japan-Bacolod based Gallego nipped three-time WPA World Junior Champion Vilmos Foldes of Hungrary, 10-6, in the morning session then edges Tony Robles of the United States, 10-9, in the afternoon session.
In other matches, 2006 US Open Champion John Schmidt downed compatriot Gabe Owen, 10-3, Raj Hundal crushed Darren Appleton, 10-6, Neils Fejien beat Charlie Williams, 10-3, Tony Drago trounced Tyler Edey, 10-6, Karl Boyes defeated Imram Majid, 10-4, Ralf Souquet ousted Hanawa, 10-5, and Johnny Archer conquer Mike Davis, 10-6.
contributed by MARLON BERNARDINO, edited by jovie sison
Monday, May 12, 2008
A SAD MISUSE OF A POOL LEGEND
Statement of Yen Makabenta
BSCP Chairman
9 May 2008
The statement issued yesterday (May 8) by Efren Reyes is one more example of the misuse of players by certain unscrupulous managers to hit at the Billiards & Snooker Congress of the Philippines (BSCP) and Raya Sports, and the leadership of the billiards community in our country.
It is a desperate attempt to deflect widespread media criticism here of Sen. Manny Villar for his misguided decision to put up a personal tournament on the same dates (May 6-11) as the Mandaluyong Mayor's Cup of the Philippine Pool Tour, an international tournament that had long been in the pool calendar.
It seeks to head off a Philippine Senate inquiry that will look into the actions and inaction of the Games and Amusement Board, which has abused its powers in interfering in the work of the BSCP in its billiards program and has been remiss in its duties to stop practices of illegal gambling and tournament rigging in our sport.
It rehashes verbatim wild allegations by BMPAP officials that have already been shown to be baseless and untruthful. The suggestion that we have personally reaped financial windfalls from our support of billiards through Raya is totally off tangent since we still have to turn the smallest profit from our investments of time and resources.
Our record at the BSCP and Raya Sports since we became active in our sport in 2005 speaks for itself. We have put our country in the very center of international pool. We have brought to Manila the prestigious World Pool Championship twice, in 2006 and 2007. We have held officially two national men's championship, one national women's championship, and two national juniors championship. We have pioneered in the broadcast of a weekly billiards TV program. We have created various projects for the development of billiards all over our country. As a consequence, there are more players, more fans and more supporters of our sport today than in previous years and decades.
I am saddened to see Efren being used -- and allowing himself to be used -- as an instrument to blacken the name of someone who personally helped him rise to the top of Philippine billiards. Documentary records will show, and witnesses can attest, that I championed as a magazine editor, journalist and billiards patron his career as a player in all those years when no manager and no sponsor would recognize him as the real Filipino pool champion. And I did not take or make a single cent off him for my efforts.
In our work at BSCP since I became its chairman in 2005 and our work in Raya, we have at no time ever been the recipient of the favors of Efren. In the one time when he was offered by his manager to play for our country in the Southeast Asian Games (in 2005), he pulled out at the last hour to play instead in the lucrative International Pool Tour in the United States. So we find it incredible and shabby that he should be suggesting that we ever exploited him as a player.
In all the tournaments and events that Raya and BSCP have mounted, Efren made it a point never to participate because of the dictates of his manager, Aristeo Puyat. In the two world championships that he joined – the 2006 and 2007 WPCs – his manager made it a point to say that he was only joining because Matchroom Sports was running the show. And he has not said one word in praise of all that we were doing for our sport in our country – so we can't even owe him that.
Behind this controversy that has cast a cloud on Philippine pool is the naked attempt of player managers to take over from BSCP the governance and direction of billiard sports in our country, in order to implement their own agenda for the establishment of a pro team league. As they have failed and keep failing in their agenda, so have their actions become more desperate. The latest is their pathetic decision to mount an event simultaneously with the inaugural tournament of the Philippine Pool Tour.
To those who really know what is what in Philippine pool – and these include the players themselves who are being misused – our biggest offense at BSCP and Raya is that we dared to mount an ambitious and proactive program in our sport. Our efforts stole the limelight from a self-proclaimed "billiards godfather" and derailed the gambling schemes of some managers and their backers. Their own tournaments have been dwarfed and will always be dwarfed – in organizational knowhow, quality equipment, player participation, sponsorship support, and broadcast reach – for as long as we are on the scene.
It is fortunate that the Philippine Senate will be conducting its inquiry very soon because it will finally bring out the truth about the billiards situation in our country, and throw light on the shadowy practices and sinister forces that are tarnishing our sport and endangering its future.
Ferreting out the truth will serve as a cleansing process for Philippine pool. It will make our sport and our billiards community stronger. And we at the BSCP and Raya Sports welcome it.
BSCP Chairman
9 May 2008
The statement issued yesterday (May 8) by Efren Reyes is one more example of the misuse of players by certain unscrupulous managers to hit at the Billiards & Snooker Congress of the Philippines (BSCP) and Raya Sports, and the leadership of the billiards community in our country.
It is a desperate attempt to deflect widespread media criticism here of Sen. Manny Villar for his misguided decision to put up a personal tournament on the same dates (May 6-11) as the Mandaluyong Mayor's Cup of the Philippine Pool Tour, an international tournament that had long been in the pool calendar.
It seeks to head off a Philippine Senate inquiry that will look into the actions and inaction of the Games and Amusement Board, which has abused its powers in interfering in the work of the BSCP in its billiards program and has been remiss in its duties to stop practices of illegal gambling and tournament rigging in our sport.
It rehashes verbatim wild allegations by BMPAP officials that have already been shown to be baseless and untruthful. The suggestion that we have personally reaped financial windfalls from our support of billiards through Raya is totally off tangent since we still have to turn the smallest profit from our investments of time and resources.
Our record at the BSCP and Raya Sports since we became active in our sport in 2005 speaks for itself. We have put our country in the very center of international pool. We have brought to Manila the prestigious World Pool Championship twice, in 2006 and 2007. We have held officially two national men's championship, one national women's championship, and two national juniors championship. We have pioneered in the broadcast of a weekly billiards TV program. We have created various projects for the development of billiards all over our country. As a consequence, there are more players, more fans and more supporters of our sport today than in previous years and decades.
I am saddened to see Efren being used -- and allowing himself to be used -- as an instrument to blacken the name of someone who personally helped him rise to the top of Philippine billiards. Documentary records will show, and witnesses can attest, that I championed as a magazine editor, journalist and billiards patron his career as a player in all those years when no manager and no sponsor would recognize him as the real Filipino pool champion. And I did not take or make a single cent off him for my efforts.
In our work at BSCP since I became its chairman in 2005 and our work in Raya, we have at no time ever been the recipient of the favors of Efren. In the one time when he was offered by his manager to play for our country in the Southeast Asian Games (in 2005), he pulled out at the last hour to play instead in the lucrative International Pool Tour in the United States. So we find it incredible and shabby that he should be suggesting that we ever exploited him as a player.
In all the tournaments and events that Raya and BSCP have mounted, Efren made it a point never to participate because of the dictates of his manager, Aristeo Puyat. In the two world championships that he joined – the 2006 and 2007 WPCs – his manager made it a point to say that he was only joining because Matchroom Sports was running the show. And he has not said one word in praise of all that we were doing for our sport in our country – so we can't even owe him that.
Behind this controversy that has cast a cloud on Philippine pool is the naked attempt of player managers to take over from BSCP the governance and direction of billiard sports in our country, in order to implement their own agenda for the establishment of a pro team league. As they have failed and keep failing in their agenda, so have their actions become more desperate. The latest is their pathetic decision to mount an event simultaneously with the inaugural tournament of the Philippine Pool Tour.
To those who really know what is what in Philippine pool – and these include the players themselves who are being misused – our biggest offense at BSCP and Raya is that we dared to mount an ambitious and proactive program in our sport. Our efforts stole the limelight from a self-proclaimed "billiards godfather" and derailed the gambling schemes of some managers and their backers. Their own tournaments have been dwarfed and will always be dwarfed – in organizational knowhow, quality equipment, player participation, sponsorship support, and broadcast reach – for as long as we are on the scene.
It is fortunate that the Philippine Senate will be conducting its inquiry very soon because it will finally bring out the truth about the billiards situation in our country, and throw light on the shadowy practices and sinister forces that are tarnishing our sport and endangering its future.
Ferreting out the truth will serve as a cleansing process for Philippine pool. It will make our sport and our billiards community stronger. And we at the BSCP and Raya Sports welcome it.
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