Bata leads RP march

By FRANCIS SANTIAGO

May 8, 2010, 7:19pm

Pool icon Efren “Bata” Reyes made short work of Mika “The Iceman” Immonen, 9-1, Saturday to lead the march of Filipino bets in the 1st Annual Hard Times-Mezz Cues 10-ball open in Los Angeles, California.

Taking cue from his 9-5 opening round triumph against Melinda Huang, the 55-year-old Reyes gave the reigning world 10-ball champ no chance as four other Filipinos advanced to the next round.

Lee Vann Corteza, last year’s world 10-ball runner up, Roberto Gomez, the 2007 world 9-ball finalist, Warren Kiamco and Ramon Mistica similarly scored their second straight victories to underscore the Philippines’ strong charge in the tournament held at the Hard Times Billiards in Bellflower.

Corteza, blanked Steve Chaplin, 9-0, before routing Ismael Paez, 9-1, while Gomez clobbered Ezekiel Morrison, 9-4, in his second game.

Kiamco, playing out of the Negros Billiards Stable, nipped Marcos Rodriguez, 9-5, while Mistica, who is best to remember for beating Filipino pool legend Jose “Amang” Parica in the mid 80’s, beat Chris Tate and Abe Lim with the same score line of 9-2.

Django out of RP team for 2010 Asian Games

source: Reuben Terrado | businessmirror.com.ph

There will be no Francisco “Django” Bustamante in the Philippine team in the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou, China.

Bustamante was shown the exit door early in the Billiards and Snooker Congress of the Philippines (BSCP) Asian Games 9-ball qualification tournament tryouts on Wednesday at the Gameball Billiards Center, Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.

The man with one of the most powerful break shots in the game was handily beaten by Ricky Zerna, 5-13, missing a slot in the Asian Games to be held from November 12 to 27 in Guangzhou, China.

Bustamante was also not fortunate in the 8-ball event, failing to make it deep into the qualifiers.

Zerna made it two in a row against Filipino pool legends, beating Efren “Bata” Reyes, 13-10, to advance to the 9-ball qualifiers of the semifinal round.

But unlike Bustamante, Reyes made it to the Asian Games in the 8-ball team along with Roberto Gomez after going through the qualifiers early this week.

Reyes also took a slot in the English billiards team along with Reynaldo Grandea.

In the 2002 Busan Asian Games, Bustamante and Antonio Lining won the gold medal in the 9-ball doubles event.

Bustamante, who has one of the fastest and strongest break shots in the world, also won the World Cup of Pool twice with buddy Reyes.

In other 9-ball qualifying matches, Southeast Asian Games 8-ball gold medalist Ronnie Alcano defeated Joven Bustamante, 13-10, while Carlo Biado won over former world 9-ball runner-up Roberto Gomez, 13-11, to move into the semifinal round.

Warren Kiamco also boosted his chances of bagging one of two slots available in the 9-ball event after gaining the semifinal round with a 13-5 victory over Jeff de Luna.

Dennis Orcollo has already secured one of the spots.

Marlon Manalo and Leonardo Andam compose the snooker singles lineup, while Manalo, Andam and Benjie Guevarra make up the snooker team.

Rodolfo Luat and Grandea will play carom three-cushion.

In the women’s side, world 10-ball champion Rubilen Amit leads the 8-ball and 9-ball singles team. She will be joined by Iris Rañola in both events.

Mary Ann Basas will compete in the snooker six-ball singles and team events.

Orcollo nips Bata, earns Asiad slot

Source: Manila Bulletin
Dennis Orcollo beat Efren “Bata” Reyes in a gripping finale, 13-12, to earn a spot in the Philippine team to the Guangzhou Asian Games during the qualifying tournament held at the Rizal Memorial Billiards Center last Wednesday in Malate, Manila.

With his win over the sport’s icon, Orcollo will take the place of Antonio Gabica in the 9-ball team.

Gabica won’t defend his crown he won four years ago in Doha, Qatar as he is now employed in Kuwait where he’s reportedly getting a salary of $3,000 per month.

Billiards accounted for one of the four gold medals won by the country during the Doha Games.

Boxing produced two courtesy of Joan Tipon and Violito Payla and wushu bet Rene Catalan.

Also earning a slot in the RP team was Roberto Gomez, who beat Orcollo, 13-11, in the 8-Ball competition.

“Right now, I feel we can win gold medals in the billiards competitions. We're strong in the men's 8-ball and 9-ball events and we can surprise our rivals in women's billiards," said Ceferino “Perry” Mariano, manager of both Orcollo and Gomez.

The other members of the team will be known when the next qualifying tournament is held on Monday.

BSCP urged to address 'exodus' of local pool players

Source: ABS CBN NEWS
The founder of the Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines (BMPAP) challenged the Billiards and Snooker Congress of the Philippines (BSCP) to help improve the situation of local cue masters who are forced to look for coaching jobs abroad due to lack of tournaments in the country.

Founding BMPAP leader Ceferino "Perry" Mariano said BSCP President Arturo “Bong” Ilagan should address the exodus of local cue players to other countries by helping organize more regional tournaments.

"Alam naman natin may problema sila (BSCP) at ang mga players pero dapat hanapan niya (Ilagan) ng solusyon. Wala nga silang regional tournament kaya masisi ba natin ang mga player na mangibang bansa para magturo gayong wala ngang torneo ang BSCP," he said.

(We know there's a problem between BSCP and the players, but he [Ilagan] should find a solution for that. They have no regional tournaments, so we can't blame them for leaving the country.)

Ilagan said it is a player's decision to move overseas in exchange for a higher-paying job as coach.

“It’s their right to earn more. Besides, even if they stay here, they still need to go through qualifying tournaments for them to represent the country overseas. There are no seeded players here,” Ilagan told The Philippine Star.

Pool players currently working in the Middle East include 2006 Doha Asian Games 9-ball gold winner Antonio “Ga-Ga” Gabica, Asiad 9-ball silver winner Jeffrey de Luna, snooker specialist Joven Alba, and Joven Bustamante.

Ronnie “The Volcano” Alcano, a former world champion, is seriously contemplating on following them.

The local players are reportedly offered a minimum monthly payment of $3,000 (roughly P120,000). The Filipinos are also allowed to bring their families, who can also look for other jobs in the Middle East.

Ilagan said the absence of Gabica or Alcano in the local scene doesn’t mean that the country will be short-handed when it comes to talent.

“We still have most of the good players with us. Efren 'Bata' Reyes is still with us, as well as Django (Bustamante) and the others. We still have 80 to 90 percent of the good players around,” he said.

Mariano, however, said Ilagan is virtually clueless about the present status of billiards in the country.

“Hindi n’ya nga alam kung sino talaga ang magagaling at ang mga paparating na player (He doesn’t know who are the good players, the up-and-coming talents),” he said.

Mariano also claimed the BSCP chief can easily shrug off the issue because he doesn’t know how much local managers have invested to develop the pool talents.

'No worry over cue artists' exodus'

Source: Philippine Star
The president of the Billiards and Snooker Congress of the Philippines is not alarmed by the possibility that some of the country’s finest players might consider going overseas in exchange for higher-paying jobs as coaches.

“It’s their choice,” said BSCP chief Bong Ilagan yesterday.

He was reacting to the possibility that Ronnie Alcano, the former world champion, might follow in the footsteps of former Asian Games gold medalist Antonio Gabica who now works in Kuwait.

Gabica has been there for nearly a year now, receiving a monthly salary probably 10 times as much as the P15,000 monthly allowance the elite national athletes receive from the Philippine government.

Perry Mariano, who manages the careers of some of the country’s top cue artists, said Filipino players are getting offers of at least $3,000 a month for them to serve as billiards coaches in Kuwait, Qatar and Dubai.

Alcano is seriously considering the offers.

Yet, Ilagan said there’s nothing the BSCP can do, and probably as well as the Philippine Sports Commission which provides the monthly allowances of those under the national pool.

“It’s their right to earn more. Besides, even if they stay here, they still need to go through qualifying tournaments for them to represent the country overseas. There are no seeded players here,” said Ilagan.

The BSCP president, the one being recognized by the Philippine Olympic Committee, said the absence of Gabica or Alcano in the local scene doesn’t mean that the country will be short-handed when it comes to talent.

“We still have most of the good players with us. Efren “Bata” Reyes is still with us as well as Django (Bustamante) and the others. We still have 80 to 90 percent of the good players around,” said Ilagan.

Filipino pool masters forced to work as coaches abroad

Source: ABS CBN NEWS
Several billiard masters, including former world champion Ronato “The Volcano” Alcano, are leaving the Philippines in search for greener pastures abroad.

Ceferino “Perry” Mariano, Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines (BMPAP) head, told dzSR Sports Radio the absence of regular competitions and support from the government has forced the billiard players to look for coaching stints abroad.

“Marami na tayong mga player na nagtuturo sa ibang bansa kasi wala gaanong suporta ang bilyar sa ating bansa. Wala ding gaanong torneo dito,” said sportsman/ businessman Mariano.

(We have many players doing coaching jobs abroad because of lack of support for billiards here in our country. We also don’t have many tournaments here).

Mariano said Alcano, who won the World 9-ball and 8-Ball titles in 2007, will be joining other Pinoy cue artists in the Middle East where they will work as coaches.

Other players, who are already in the Middle East include 2006 Doha Asian Games 9-ball gold winner Antonio “Ga-Ga” Gabica, Asiad 9-ball silver winner Jeffrey de Luna, snooker specialist Joven Alba and Joven Bustamante.

Gabi is now in Dubai, De Luna in Saudi Arabia, and Alba and Bustamante are in Kuwait. Alcano will be working in Qatar.

The governments of several Middle East countries recognize the exceptional talents of the Filipino cue artists, prompting them to directly hire Filipinos to teach their youth to play the sport.

The local players are reportedly offered a minimum monthly payment of $3,000 (roughly P120,000). The Filipinos are also allowed to bring their families, who can also look for other jobs in the Middle East.

“Sana ‘yung gobyerno natin ay suportahan ‘yung mga organizers natin ng bilyar gaya ng Raya Sports (of Yen Makabenta), Star Billiards Center (of Sebastian Chua), Puyat Sports (of Putch Puyat), Negros Billiards Stable (of Jonathan Sy) at iba pang local organizers at managers,” added Mariano, also the president of the Bugsy Promotions.

(We hope our government extends support to our billiards organizers like Raya Sports, Star Billiards Center, Puyat Sports, Negros Billiards Stable and other pool managers).

By doing so, Mariano said organizers can produce more tournaments where the pool players can compete.

While waiting for his papers, Alcano will be joining a month-long billiards summer clinic in May at the Bugsy Morato headquarters in Tomas Morato, Quezon City. He will be preparing the students for the forthcoming Inter-Collegiate competition later this year.

As some pool masters look for coaching stints abroad, others leave the sport altogether for other pursuits. The promising junior cue master—Mike “Tsoke” Takayama has already stopped playing billiards and now plays poker.

He reportedly won a P2 million-worth BMW in a recent poker tournament.

Mariano said the migration of Filipino billiards players will affect future stints of the Philippine national team in international competitions—like the Asian games and South Asian games.

Pinoy bets bow out of 8-ball finals

Source: Philippine Star
MANILA, Philippines - Filipino cue artists Jeffrey de Luna, Venancio Tanio and Joven Alba bowed to European rivals and kissed their hopes goodbye in the Etisalat WPA World 8-Ball Pool Championship 2010, marking the first time Filipinos were wiped out of the finals of a world tournament.

Russian Ruslan Chinakhov stopped the winning run of De Luna, 10-5, to advance to the finals of the tournament at the Fujairah Tennis Club in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates.

He will face Great Britain’s Karl Boyes who overcame giant-killer Tanio, 10-5, for the title worth $17,000.

Briton Darren Appleton edged out snooker specialist Joven Alba, 10-8, late Friday to deny the Filipinos a stint in the finals of a world tournament for the first time.

De Luna, 2 other RP bets reach Last 8

Source: Philippine Star
MANILA, Philippines - Jeffrey de Luna pulled off twin victories, including a 10-2 rout of compatriot Lee Vann Corteza to barge into the quarterfinal round of the WPA World 8-Ball Pool Championship at the Fujairah Tennis Club in UAE Thursday.

De Luna nipped Indonesia’s Ricky Yang, 10-8, in the Last 32 then dominated Corteza in the next round to move into the Last 8 of the week-long event sanctioned by the World Pool Billiard Association (WPA).

“I hope to keep my momentum,” said De Luna, a silver medalist in the 2006 Doha Asian Games 9-ball event, in Filipino.

Unfancied Venancio Tanio and snooker specialist Joven Alba also advanced to the Last 8 along with Russian Ruslan Chinakhov, Niels Feijen of the Netherlands, Andreas Roshkowski of Germany, Karl Boyes and Darren Appleton of Great Britain, the 2008 WPA World Ten-Ball champion.

Tanio nipped Jalal Al Saresi of UAE, 10-6, and 2007 WPA World 8-ball titlist Ronnie Alcano, 10-4; Alba trounced Oliver Medanilla, 10-3, and Antonio Gabica, 10-8; Chinakhov beat current WPA World World Ten-Ball Champion Mika Immonen of Finland, 10-5, and Yukio Akakariyama of Japan, 10-7; Feijen crushed Basher Hussain of UAE, 10-5, and edged reigning WPA World 8-Ball Champion Ralf Souquet of Germany, 10-9; Boyes beat Masaki Tanaka of Japan, 10-3, and Stephan Cohen of France, 10-6; and Appleton defeated John Morra of Canada, 10-4, and Pin Yi Ko of Chinese-Taipei, 10-4.

De Luna, 2 other Pinoys book quarters seat in World 8-Ball

Source: ABS CBN NEWS
Power breaker Jeffrey “The Bull” de Luna made his presence felt in the Etisalat World 8-Ball Pool Championship 2010 by securing a quarterfinals seat late Thursday.

De Luna, the 2007 Manny Pacquiao International 9-Ball Champion, defeated Lee Vann “The Slayer” Corteza in the Round-of-16 at the Fujairah Tennis Club in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates.

The score was 10-2 in favor of De Luna.

Before beating Corteza, De Lunab defeated Indon Ricky Yang, 10-8, in the Round-of-32 of the week-long event sanctioned by the World Pool Billiard Association (WPA).

“Sana tuloy-tuloy ‘yong momentum,” said De Luna, who won a silver medal in the 2006 Doha Asian Games 9-ball.

He will be joined in the Final Eight by compatriots Venancio “Tukao” Tanio and snooker specialist Joven Alba.

Other quarterfinalists are Ruslan Chinakhov of Russia; Niels “The Terminator” Feijen of the Netherlands; Andreas Roshkowski of Germany; Karl Boyes and Darren Appleton of Great Britain.

Tanio nipped Jalal Al Saresi of UAE, 10-6, and former World 8-ball titlist Ronato “Volcano” Alcano, 10-4.

Alba, on the other hand, trounced Oliver Medanilla, 10-3, and Antonio Gabica, 10-8.

The Final Eight match-ups scheduled late Friday will be between De Luna and Chinakhov; Tanio and Boyes; Feijen and Roshkowski; and Alba and Appleton.

3 RP pool bets in Final 8

Source: Manila Bulletin
Three Filipinos survived the grueling test to reach the Final 8 of the World 8-Ball Pool Championship on Thursday, but the country’s best hope, Ronnie Alcano, shockingly bowed out of contention at the Fujairah Tennis Club in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates.

Jeffrey De Luna, who came from the loser’s bracket, continued his winning roll as he led the RP bets’ march in the quarterfinals by pounding out twin victories at the expense of Indon Ricky Yang, 10-8, in the round-of-32 and compatriot Lee Vann Corteza, 10-2, in the round-of-16.

Little-known Joven Alba and Venancio Tanio joined De Luna, the 2006 Doha Asian Games 9-ball silver medalist, in the next stage of the WPA-sanctioned event, by pulling the rug from under the heavyweights.

A snooker specialist, Alba rolled back two compatriots, Oliver Medanilla, 10-3, before dismantling former Asian gold medalist Antonio Gabica, 10-8.

Tanio, a dark horse who also emerged from the loser’s side, frustrated the host’s Jalal Al Saresi, 10-6, before he outsmarted former double world champion Alcano, 10-4.

Alcano’s defeat put an end to his bid of becoming a repeat champion after his conquest in this same event in 2007. Alcano subdued Scott Higgins of Great Britain, 10-3, to reach the Last 16.

Completing the Last 8 cast of the tourney that dangles $28,000 (roughly P1.26 million) to the winner are Ruslan Chinakhov of Russia, Niels Feijen of the Netherlands, Andreas Roshkowski of Germany and Karl Boyes and Darren Appleton of Great Britain.

Alcano, Orcollo, Corteza take 8-ball opening wins

Source: Philippine Star
MANILA, Philippines - Former double world champion Ronnie Alcano, Dennis Orcollo and Lee Vann Corteza dominated their respective rivals to kick off the Philippines’ bid in Etisalat World 8-Ball Pool Championship at the Fujairah Tennis Club in Fujairah, UAE last Monday.

Alcano, one of the top players of Bugsy Promotions, routed Radoslaw Babica of Poland, 8-1, to arrange a second round duel with local bet Mohammed Hosani in Group I. Hosani nipped John Mora of Canada, 8-7.

Orcollo, on the other hand, defeated compatriot Oliver Medanilla, 8-2, to set up a clash with Corteza in Group 4.

Corteza trounced Majid Sultan, 8-5.

Raymund Faraon, Joven Alba, Antonio Gabica and Ruben Bautista also hurdled their respective opening round assignments.

Corteza top bet in UAE 8-ball tourney

Source: Philippine Star



Lee Van Corteza, one of the most successful Filipino players last year, will compete in the biggest billiards event, the Etisalat World 8-Ball Pool Championship set April 4-10 at the Fujairah Tennis Club in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates.

Corteza is on a roll since winning the 2009 BSCP National Pool Championships and Villar Cup last December.

He is among the early favorites in the 64-man tournament which offers $28,000 to the champion.

“I hope to do well in this event,” said Corteza, who lost to Mika Immonen of Finland during the finals of 2009 World Ten Ball last November in Pasay.

The other Filipinos expected to join the $100,000 event are former world champions Efren “Bata” Reyes, Ronnie Alcano and Alex Pagulayan, Francisco “Django” Bustamante and Dennis Orcollo.

Also competing are world’s top 10 players led by World No. 1 Mika Immonen of Finland, World No. 2 Ralf Souquet of Germany, World No. 3 Darren Appleton of England, World No. 5 Ricky Yang of Indonesia, World No. 6 Thorsten Hohmann of Germany, World No. 7 Niels Feijen of The Netherlands, World No. 8 Marcus Chamat of Sweden and World No. 9 Karl Boyes of United Kingdom.

Top RP bets seek World 8-ball glory

Four Filipino cue artists, led by former double world champion Ronnie Alcano, will see action in the 2010 Damas World 8-ball Championship which starts April 4 to 10 in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates.

Joining Alcano are former world No. 1 Dennis Orcollo, world 10-ball finalist Lee Van Corteza and former national champ Marlon Manalo.

The pride of Calamba, Laguna, Alcano, who is seeking his second 8-ball title, and Orcollo, are set to leave for UAE on Easter Sunday, according to their manager Perry Mariano.

Alcano won his first world 8-ball title by beating Orcollo in the final, 11-8, in 2007, or a year after he annexed the world 9-ball title in Manila.

“I think both players have a great chance to win considering their domination in 2007,” said Mariano, adding that the tournament will feature a 64-man field, with the champion taking home $28,000 (roughly P1.26 million) from the total $100,000 (roughly P4.5 million) cash prize.

Like Alcano and Orcollo, Corteza and Manalo gained automatic berths in the seven-day meet on the strength of their high rankings in the WPA. Corteza is currently ranked fourth in the world while Manalo is 10th.

Meanwhile, another Filipino, Joven Bustamante, a distant relative of Francisco “Django” Bustamante, was bidding to secure a slot in the qualification phase which started early today, Maundy Thursday

Bustamante rules 2010 Japan 9-Ball Open

rancisco “Django” Bustamante nipped Efren “Bata” Reyes, 9-7, in an all-Filipino final on Sunday to win the 23rd Japan 9-Ball Open and pocket the top purse of 1.5 million yen (roughly P675,000) in Tokyo, Japan.

En route to the finals, Bustamante, a native of Tarlac, outplayed another Filipino, Jeffrey de Luna while Reyes subdued Japanese Toru Kuribayashi.

It was the second Japan 9-Ball Open title for Bustamante, who ruled the event in 2002.

Other Filipinos who emerged champion in the annual tournament which attracts more than 400 participants from all over the world were Ramil “Bebeng” Gallego (2009), Dennis “Robocop” Orcollo (2008), Alex “The Lion” Pagulayan (2007), Antonio “Nickoy” Lining (2006) and Reyes (2005).

Last November, Bustamante defeated Lining, 11-7, in another all-Filipino final to win the championship of the 2009 All Japan 9-Ball Championship at the Hotel New Archaic Hall in Amagasaki-shi, Hyogo, Japan for a prize of two million yen (roughly P800,000).

Pinoy cue artists to play in Damas World 8-Ball

Source: Manila Times
Four Filipino cue masters plan to see action in the 2010 Damas World 8-ball Championships scheduled from April 4 to 10 in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates.

Veterans Dennis Orcollo, Ronnie Alcano, Efren “Bata” Reyes and Francisco “Django” Bustamante were invited in the tournament by virtue of their impressive campaign over the past years.

“These players are all veterans of many international tournaments and I’m looking forward to their fruitful campaign in that event,” said Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines founder Perry Mariano.

The tournament features a 64-man field and offers a $100,000 total cash prize.

“It’s an honor to be invited in such prestigious event. We will bring our A-game because most of the participants are also veterans,” said Alcano, a former World Pool Association 9-Ball and 8-Ball champion.

'Bata’ named RP billiards team playing coach

Source: GMANEWS

Former world 9-Ball champion Efren “Bata" Reyes has been elevated to the status of national playing coach for the RP billiards contingent starting with the coming Asian Games in November in Guangzhou, China.

RP pool team head coach Boyet Asonto explained that as playing coach, Reyes will help in overseeing the Billiards and Snooker Council of the Philippines’ series of tryouts that will determine the members of the squad to the 16th edition of the Asiad.

Tryouts for the men’s 9-ball singles, 8-ball singles, carom cushion singles, and snooker singles, and the women’s 9-ball singles, 8-ball singles, snooker 6 red balls singles, and snooker 6 red balls team will be held as soon as the BSCP’s request for the reopening of the venue inside the Philippine Sports Medicine building is approved.

Reyes, though, has been seeded to the RP men’s English billiards squad, along with Rey Grandea.

“Meron nang sulat si Mr. Ilagan [BSCP president Bong Ilagan] kay chairman Angping [PSC chief Harry Angping] para magamit muli ang billiards center at pag na-aprubahan yun, pwede nang mag-conduct ng tryouts," Asonto said during Friday’s SCOOP sa Kamayan session.

Reyes, for his part, stressed that no one will be seeded in the teams, both in the men’s and women’s sides, owing to the abundance of world-caliber players.

“Halos lahat naman ng mga players natin ngayon, magagaling na kaya in fairness sa kanila, kailangang mag-tryout. Pati nga ako magta-tryout sa ibang event maliban sa English billiards," said the local pool legend who was guest at the forum along with national training pool members Iris Ranola and Mary Ann Basas.

A total of seven slots will be at stake in the men’s squad and six in the women’s side.

Reyes said both the men’s and women’s teams are capable of bringing home gold medals, although he offered that competitions in the women’s side will be tougher than the men’s play because of the presence of equally-talented campaigners from Korea, China, Taipei and Japan, among others.

“Medyo mabigat ang laban ng mga babae natin, pero ang mga lalake, mas madali kasi Taipei lang ang dapat bantayan," Reyes, who will be flying to Japan next week for a three-week playing and teaching stints, assessed. - GMANews.TV

Bata Reyes, Django join Japan Open

Source: Manila Times
LEGENDARY cue masters Efren “Bata” Reyes and Francisco “Django” Bustamante have confirmed participation in the 2010 Annual Japan Open beginning on March 20 in Tokyo.

Reyes and Bustamante will join six other Filipino players in the tournament which offers a whopping P800,000 cash equivalent to the champion.

Also seeing action are former Japan Open champions Ramil Gallego and Dennis Orcollo along with 2010 Kyoto 9-Ball Open ruler Mark Aristotle Mendoza, 2008 Kyoto 9-ball Open titlist Dondon Razalan, Roel Esquillo and Elmer Haya.

“It will be a very tough match against the top Asian players [Chinese-Taipei, China, Korea and Vietnam] not to be outdone by players from Europe and America,” said the 55-year-old Reyes who recently won the 12th annual Derby City Classic overall championship title.

Reyes and Bustamante are veterans of many prestigious international tournaments including their triumph in the 2009 World Cup of Pool held in Manila. They defeated Ralf Souquet and Thorsten Hohmann of Germany in a nerve-wracking 11-9 decision.

It was actually their second title after topping the inaugural edition in 2006 in Newport, Wales.

“We are expecting tough matches but we will try our best for flag and country,” added Bustamante, a winner in the 2009 All Japan 9-Ball Championship held in Amagasaki-shi, Hyogo, Japan.

Reyes and Bustamante also received major awards in the Philippine Sportswriters Association Annual Awards Night held recently at the Manila Hotel.

Bata, Django face tough competition in Japan Open

Source: ABS CBN NEWS
Pool masters Efren “Bata” Reyes and Francisco “Django” Bustamante are expecting a rough sailing in the upcoming 23rd Japan Open where they will be meeting a tough line of competitors.

“It will be a very tough match against the top Asian players (Chinese-Taipei, China, Korea and Vietnam). Not to be outdone are players from Europe and America,” said the 55-year-old Reyes, who was honored in the recent PSA Awards together with Bustmante and billiards champ Ronnie Alcano.

Bustamante agreed with his long-time buddy.

“We are expecting tough matches but we will try our best for flag and country,” said the Tarlac City pride Bustamante.

The Japan Open kicks off on March 20 and will run until March 21 in Tokyo.

Other Filipinos joining the competition are previous Japan Open winners Ramil “Bebeng” Gallego (2009) and Dennis “Robocop” Orcullo (2008); 2010 Kyoto 9-ball Open ruler Mark Aristotle Mendoza; 2008 Kyoto 9-ball Open titlist Dondon Razalan; Roel Esquillo and Elmer Haya.

The competition, sanctioned by the Asian Pocket Billiards Union (APBU), offers 2 million yen (P835,127) to the champion.

Rubilen Amit on a good start in Amway 9-Ball

Source: ABS CBN NEWS
Rubilen “Bingkay” Amit breezed through her first opponent in the 2010 Amway WPA Women’s World 9-Ball Open on Thursday to lead the opening round winners of the tournament in Taipei, Taiwan.

Amit, playing under sportsman Aristeo “Putch” Puyat of Puyat Sports, made a quick work of Canadian Maureen Seto, 7-1, at the Core Pacific Living Mall Hotel.

According to Ish Caparras of Puyat Sports, the Cebuana native Amit will also face Chun-Lin and PC Lin of host country Taiwan in their Group E stage match.

She added that the reigning Women’s World 10-Ball champ will also collide with billiards heavyweight Karen Korr of Great Britain also in the same stage match.

Group stage is divided into 8 groups with 6 players in each group. The competition will first use a race-to-7 round-robin format.

The last 24 will employ the single elimination format in race-to-7 matches. The matches in the semis will be race-to-9 while the final match will be race-to-11. Winner’s break format will be applied.

The tournament, which offers US $20,000 prize to the top winner, is sanctioned by the Asian Pocket Billiards Union (APBU).

Other results show You Ram Cha of Korea beating Veronique Menard of Canada, 7-4; Xiao Fang Fu of China nipped Lyndall Huley of Australia, 7-2; Line Kjorsvik of Norway defeated Jullie Kelly, 7-4; Vivian Villareal of USA crushed Carlynn Sanchez of Venezuela, 7-1; Hui Shan- Lai of Chinese-Taipei blasted countryman J W Hyun, 7-0; Chihiro Kahawara of Japan upset Kelly Fisher of USA, 7-6; and Yun Mi Lin of Chinese-Taipei bested Tamara Rademakers of the Netherlands, 7-1.

Amit begins world 9-ball campaign

Source: Manila Bulletin
Rubilen “Bingkay” Amit hopes to make another first in Philippine billiards when she competes in the 2010 Amway-WPA women’s world 9-ball championship starting this Wednesday at the International Pool Club in Taiwan.

After becoming the country’s first female world champion following her conquest of the inaugural world women’s 10-ball championship here last year, Amit now aims to become the first Filipina to hold two titles at same time when she battles the best in the world in the event that stakes a total cash prize of $70,000 (roughly P3.3 million).

“I'm excited and hope to play best,” the 27-year-old from Mandaue, Cebu City said Monday night after being named the Philippine Sportswriters Association's co-Athlete of the Year. “I've trained hard for this competition."

Amit, who left for Taiwan Tuesday, is not also new to playing in this kind of tournament, having played the same event in 2007 where she lost to Xiao Ting Pan in the final.

Although her first world title came in a 10-ball play, Amit won’t find difficulty playing in a 9-ball tourney considering that 9-ball is actually her cup of tea, having won three gold medals in that event in the Southeast Asian Games.

An accountancy graduate at the University of Santo Tomas, Amit hoisted the world 10-ball trophy last year by routing Liu Shin-mei of Taiwan, 10-4, in the final.

That victory put Amit in an exclusive club of Filipino world billiards champions that include Efren “Bata” Reyes, who won the world 9-ball championship in 1999 and 8-ball title in 2004, Alex Pagulayan, the world 9-ball in 2004, and Ronnie Alcano, who also captured the 9-ball and 8-ball crowns in 2007.