Pool legends wow Cebuanos

THE American billiards champions accomplished what they came for in Cebu, spread the gospel of Christ and wowed the Cebuanos with their trick shots.

This was how Clive Cox, a freelance billiards producer for ESPN, described the three-day Gospel Trick Shot at the J Center Mall in Mandaue City that ended last Friday.

The GTS Rack Team of world trick shot champions Mike “Tennessee Tarzan” Massey, Tom “Dr. Cue” Rossman and Steve “The Pastor of Pool” Lillis proved tireless in their three-hour daily preaching of the word of Christ and playing good billiards to the amazement of the fans.

“It’s been very well attended. The past three days that we were here, hundreds of people came by to watch and I guess they have fulfilled their mission to tell the people their stories and the Gospel of Christ through the pool table,” Cox told Sun.Star Cebu.

Now based in Cebu, Cox helped the Rack Team set up the billiard table, which was lent by Puyat Sports from Manila, as well as getting them opponents from the crowd.

“Unfortunately, the three players who I contacted from Lapu-Lapu went to a different mall in Lapu-Lapu that’s why we were forced to pick their opponent in the competition portion from the crowd,” added Cox, who now lives in Lapu-Lapu City.

Massy, Rossman and Lillis held an average of 8-10 challenge games per day and the last day was supposed to be a billiard competition with the local players.

“They did skills shots and allowed people to take part and in most cases they allowed 40 percent of those participants to win while the 60 percent got beaten. They played three sets of 9-ball, three sets of 8-ball and on occasion they did challenge shots and tricks shots that really entertained the crowd,” explained Cox.

Massey was so pleased with the results of their efforts.

“It was very good. We’ve been all over the Philippines and here we had our best. I just hope we can motivate the youth to play pool through a different approach,” Massey added.

GTS is now serious on its project to put up a Rack Room at J Center Mall, where they can set up billiard tables where family can play and teach the youth how to play billiards for free.

GTS is hoping to produce a world champion out of the Rack Room.