Saturday, May 24, 2008 Bata, Django join Superbalita 9-Ball
IN WHAT could be a first in Cebu City, the country’s top cue artists will gather together in the biggest billiard tournament in the city.
The legendary Efren “Bata” Reyes will lead the 18 all-star cast of billiard players in the second leg of the first Senate President Manny Villar Cup-Sun.Star Superbalita 9-Ball Challenge from June 20 to 22 at the Atrium of SM City Cebu.
In a press conference at the Bravio Sports Bar in A.S. Fortuna, yesterday, Senate President Manny Villar himself came to promote the tournament, which is part of his quest to spread the love for the sport of billiards to the Filipino people.
He was in town along with billiard superstar and 2005 Superbalita champion Ronnie Alcano, 2007 World Pool runner-up Roberto Gomez and former Asian Games gold medalist Gandy Valle, who are three of the seeded players in the tournament.
“As I’ve said during the kick-off leg, I will bring the Villar Cup to the provinces to give our kaba–bayans a chance to see in our world-class Filipino billiards players in the flesh, and give those aspiring players a chance to compete with them,” said Villar.
Villar believes that the Filipinos can excel in the sport, which inspired him to pour out a lot of effort to support the sport.
“We have to have a sport that we will be known and recognized,” said Villar referring to billiard.
Players
Villar also displayed his billiard prowess by showing off his skills in breaking the rack.
Other cue artists slated in the billiard competition will be former world no.1 Francisco “Django” Bustamante, former world champion and reigning Sun.Star Superbalita champion Alex Pagu–layan, present world top-ranked cue artist Dennis Orcullo, reigning national title-holder Lee Van Corteza, Warren Kiamco, Rodolfo Luat, Joven Bustamante, Jharome Pena, Carlo Biado, Ramil Gallego, Ricky Zerna, Antonio Lining, Elmer Haya and Benson Palce.
The 18 top cue artists will be playing alongside with the 46 winners of the qualifying tournament–32 players from Cebu City, four each from Manila and Bacolod, and two each from Tuguegarao, Davao and Dagupan.
At stake for the champion will be P400,000 cash prize.
This billiard event is a venture of the Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines (BMPAP) and co-organized by Sun.Star and Superbalita, and supported by Bugsy Sports, Puyat Sports and Negros Billiards Stable, and sponsored by Camella Communities.
The tournament is sanctioned by the Games and Amusements Board, and will have a series of competitions for elementary, high school and amateur billiard players before the tournament. (EKA)
