Monday, November 13, 2006 Mongaya: A game Pinoys excel in By Anol Mongaya Panahom
I’M NOT a billiard player. Never have been. But like many non-billiard players, the pool fever brought about by the World Pool Championships in Manila and the Super B 9-ball challenge here in Cebu City over the weekend hooked me.
Maybe, it’s because I see Filipino players clobbering non-Pinoy world champions. Here in Cebu, former world champions Mika Immonen and Marcus Chamat from Finland and Sweden failed to barge into the semi-finals of the Super B 9-ball challenge.
Filipino players whose names I heard for the first time entered the semi-finals instead and faced veterans Dennis Orcullo and Gaga Gabica.
While I’m writing this column, Ronnie Alcano is leading over Ralf Souquet 9-4 in their race to 17 championships in the World pool. Newcomer Alcano, incidentally, is the Super B 9-ball challenge champion in 2005.
I am glad to be part of this effort to develop billiards in Central Philippines. After several years, the Super B 9-ball challenge has shown that given the chance, more Filipinos and not just familiar champions like Bata Reyes and Django Bustamante can whip world-class players from all over the world.
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Next weekend, the nation will be mesmerized by the Pacquaio-Morales boxing match. As of the moment, friends are already planning where they will watch the exciting match. The delayed telecasts of regular television coverage and the cable pay-per-view scheme have created business opportunities for malls, several hotels and plush restaurants. We definitely don’t want to see the delayed telecasts and are willing to pay premium for seeing Manny Pacquiao clobber Erik Morales again.
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The media attacks directed at Gov. Gwen Garcia and Mandaue City Mayor Teddy Ouano seemed like desperate attempts with the completion of the Cebu International Convention Center. I think those behind the criticisms were worried about the request for additional budget. Hadlok mapildi sa umaabot piliay.
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With the way soldiers and police go wild when drunk while on the Asean watch here in Cebu, we should start pushing alarm buttons. If the AFP and the PNP cannot prevent violence from their own ranks, how can they thwart actual attempts by terrorists?
Moreover, if robbery gangs could run circles around local police, how can police frustrate terrorist attacks?
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Mayor Tomas Osmeña and Vice Mayor Mike Rama don’t agree on the performance of the local police and vigilante issue. While Rama hit police incompetence against another surge in crimes, Osmeña says local cops are doing very well.
But then what’s new? Both have been expressing different positions on various issues through the years. It’s just that before, the vice mayor tends to shy away from a good fight when their conflict comes to a head even if Rama was right. With the 2007 elections fast approaching, let’s see if Rama will still bow down whenever Osmeña puts his foot down.
(superbalita@sunstar.com.ph or anol.blogs.friendster.com/anols_blog)
