Thursday, April 03, 2008 Corteza, Valle join Magnificent 7
REIGNING national champion Lee Van Corteza and former Asian Games gold medalist Gandy Valle will see action in the Magnificent 7 Invitational Qualifier 9-Ball tournament at the Bravio Sports & Resto Lounge at A.S Fortuna, Mandaue City this weekend.
Hilton Professional Cues President and tournament director Craig Dodkin said yesterday that the event will have a round robin format with the lone winner taking the P300,000 top purse.
The game starts at 3 p.m on Friday, while the semifinals will start at 9 a.m. on Saturday.
Joining Corteza and Valle are up-and-coming cue artists like Ricky Zerna, William Chua, who beat Efren “Bata” Reyes in the earlier rounds of the Quezon City 9-Ball Tournament last month, Ronnie Aying, Victor Arpilleda, who replaced Oliver Yap, and Hilton Professional Cues owner Michael Hilton.
The Magnificent 7 event is a tournament composed of seven groups of seven players that will play for the seven spots at the yearend finals.
“We just came up with that idea (Magnificent 7), because we wanted and are looking for players who are not just playing to win, but has quality play, to improve the game in the Philippines,” said Hilton.
League
He said that aside from promoting their products, they also want to promote the sports in the country.
The group is also trying to create a Magnificent 7 Hilton Team and will try to develop a league out of the tournament. That way, players don’t have to leave the country just to play in tournaments.
Hilton said the group is also planning to hold grassroots tournaments here to give room for those new players.
Bravio Sports & Resto Lounge VP for Marketing Richard Sharpe on the other hand said that there will be a consumable cover charge of P250 during the event and promised a good and exciting tournament. (NSM)
