BIG-TIME pool action comes again in Davao City with the staging of the Sun.Star-Superbalita Mindanao Open 9-Ball Challenge, which fires off November 28-29 at the NCCC Mall B3 Center.

Fomer Asian Games gold medal winner and one of the country's young stars Gandy Valle of Davao City and Elmer Haya of Zamboanga City will lead the cast of local pool stars in the chase for the huge cash prizes at stake in the two-day cuefest.

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A handful of local veterans spearheaded by Romeo Timcang and Gabriel Aton are entered in the tournament organized by the Sun.Star Davao Publishing Inc. in cooperation with the Davao Billiards Association Inc. (DBAI).

A whopping P25,000 cash and a trophy are being offered for the champion in the tournament, with the second and third placers getting P10,000 and P6,000, respectively. The fourth finisher is assured of P3,000 and the rest of the quarterfinalists will go home with P1,500 each.

Aside from Timcang and Batute, also competing in the event are Agusan del Sur's Danny Otacan, who emerged champion in the Search for Billiards Idol in July, Christopher Alanunay, Angel Kabigting of Boulevard, Eleazar Saludo of Tagum City, Alex Chua and Darrell Cubillan of Ecoland.

Valle and Haya got automatic berths in the quarterfinals, according to DBAI president Menlee Migellano.

Bacolod International Villar Cup quarterfinalist Ronnie Aying is also set to see action. Aying upset Francisco "Django" Bustamante in the Bacolod meet.

Mindanao's top Class A pool players Elvis Calasang, Leonardo "Dodong Panacan" Didal and Val Pajuay are also taking a shot at the big cash prizes at stake.

Registration fees are pegged at P300 for DBAI member and P500 for non-members. Participants, however, can avail of 50 percent discount on registration fees if they present five mastheads of Sun.Star Davao or Superbalita.

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(November 24, 2008 issue)
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