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The
who’s who of Philippine billiards, along with dozens of
new faces, gather in the year’s biggest pool event thus
far as the First Senate President Manny Villar
Cup Billiards Tournament opens today at the Sports
Center of StarMall-Alabang in
Muntinlupa City.
Led by
the game’s icon Efren “Bata” Reyes, the players coming
from all over the country will vie for a lion’s share of
the P1 million-plus pot in this two-in-one tournament
serving as the highlight of the Billiards Managers and
Players Association of the Philippines’ (BMPAP)
monthlong celebration of the “Philippine Billiards
Holidays.”
 Reyes,
who is taking his time off from a tight schedule in the
US to participate in this event, banners the field of
top-tier locals competing in the Top Guns Challenge,
which offers a championship purse of P400,000.
The
54-year-old Hall-of-Fame player will mix it up with the
likes of fellow two-time world champion Ronnie Alcano,
current world No. 1 Dennis Orcollo, 2007 World Pool
Championship runner-up Roberto Gomez, former Asian Games
gold medalist Gandy Valle, reigning national titlist Lee
Van Corteza and veteran internationalists Warren Kiamco,
Antonio Lining, Rodolfo Luat and other world-class
Filipino cue artists.
Also
vying in the Top Guns Challenge are rising stars Joven
Bustamante, Carlo Biado, Jharome Peña, Russian Petiza,
Benjie Guevarra, Ricky Zerna, Jundel Mason, Elmer Haya,
Panfilo Damuag, Cebu’s William Chua, 2007 national
juniors champion Mark Mendoza and veteran campaigners
Eduardo Villanueva, Godofredo Ducanes and Roel Esquillo,
along with top lady players Rubilen Amit and Mary Ann
Basas.
On the
other hand, over a hundred hopefuls are expected to
compete in the Search for the New Billiards Idol Sipag
at Tiyaga Edition, wherein a P200,000 top prize and the
equally prestigious Sipag at Tiyaga trophy are up for
grabs.
A simple
opening ceremony ushers the start of this five-day
competition with no less than Senate President Manuel
Villar Jr. doing the ceremonial break and declaring the
games open. He will be joined by BMPAP president and
lawyer Vic Rodriguez, chairman Isaac Belmonte and
managers Aristeo “Putch” Puyat, Perry Mariano and
Jonathan Sy.
“Billiards is one of the sports which we Filipinos can
make our own, and I’m very happy to be part of it
through this tournament,” said Villar. “Seeing more and
more Filipinos getting international fame in billiards,
support for this sport should be encouraged and
enhanced.”
“Billiards now matches the popularity of basketball
among Filipinos, especially the youth and our poor
countrymen. Villar Cup is our own little way of
encouraging our youth to engage in sports, and move them
away from illegal drugs,” Villar added.
Apart
from the two events, the Villar Cup also offers the
much-anticipated encounter between Reyes and Alcano, who
will engage in a race-to-four rotation match on the
final day of this event supported by Puyat Sports, Bugsy
Promotions, Negros Billiards Stable and StarMall.
The
Villar Cup is the second major tournament of the BMPAP
after the highly successful San Miguel Beer-Quezon City
9-Ball Championship in March.
The
finals will be shown on Solar Sports. |
