Tuesday, May 06, 2008 Reyes faces Alcano in exhibition
TWO of the country’s top-rated cue artists will face each other in an anticipated rotation match that will spice up the First Senate President Manny Villar Cup Billiards Tournament at the Sports Center of StarMall Alabang in Muntilupa City.
Efren “Bata” Reyes and fellow former World Pool Association 9-Ball champion Ronnie Alcano is set to play in a race-to-four event in between the championships of the Search for the New Billiards Idol Sipag at Tiyaga Edition and the Top Guns Challenge on May 10.
“Efren and Ronnie are the top two rotation players in the world,” said Bugsy Promotions head Perry Mariano, who conceptualized the match. “Now let’s see who is on top of whom, who is number one.”
Reyes, who is having a busy schedule from the United States, came over just to compete for the said event which is the highlight of the Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines (BMPAP)’s month-long celebration of “Philippine Billiards Holidays.”
Alcano, on the other hand, is fresh from his runnerup finish in the recently concluded 2008 World 8-Ball Championship in United Arab Emirates last month.
Villar Cup
Both top cue artists are also seeing action in the Top Guns Challenge, where fellow world-class Filipino cue artists are vying for the P400,000 top purse and the distinction of being the first to hold the Villar Cup.
The other players entered in the Top Guns Challenge are current world no.1 Dennis Orcollo, 2007 World Pool Championship runnerup Roberto Gomez, former Asian Games gold medalist Gandy Valle, reigning national titlist Lee Van Corteza and veteran campaigners Warren Kiamco, Rodolfo Luat, Ramil Gallego, Eduardo Villanueva and Roel Esquillo.
Rounding up the contestants are rising stars Joven Bustamante, Carlo Biado, Jharome Pena, Russian Petiza, Benjie Guevarra, Ricky Zerna, Jundel Mason, Elmer Haya, Panfilo Damuag, Godofredo Ducanes, William Chua, 2007 national juniors champion Mark Mendoza, and top lady cue artists Rubilen Amit and Mary Ann Basas.
Over 100 players from all over the country will compete in the Billiards Idol Sipag at Tiyaga Edition, where a top prize of P200,000 and the equally-prestigious Sipag at Tiyaga trophy awaits the winner.
The final day of the Villar Cup will be aired on Solar Sports. (NSM from PR)
