Alcano over Kiamco at Villar Cup Day Two

Former double world champion Ronnie Alcano came up with a flawless game to demolished Warren Kiamco, 9-1, and show the way for six other Bugsy boys in barging into quarterfinals of the First Senate President Manny Villar Cup Davao Leg before a jampacked crowd at the Atrium of Gaisano Mall here.

The 35-year-old Alcano, who is searching for his first title since winning the 2007 World 8-Ball Championship, ran out all the racks he broke and took advantage of his opponent’s erratic breaks to score the lopsided victory that moved him to within three wins of hoisting the prestigious plum and the P300,000 top purse at stake in this fourth stop of the island-hopping series presented by Villards: Tulong sa Pagsulong ng Philippine Sports..

“I really want to break out of a slump, and I’ve been working hard for that. I hope this is the start of my rise again,” said Alcano, a stalwart of the star-studded Bugsy Promotions of businessman Perry Mariano.

He will next face stablemate and 2007 World Pool runner-up Roberto Gomez, who defeated Elmer Haya, 9-5 in their Last 16 encounter of this event organized by the Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines (BMPAP) and sponsored by Camella Communities.

Alcano booted out William Millares

Corteza, who hails from Mintal and playing under the stabe of Jonathan Sy, hacked out an impressive 9-2 victory over Jundel Mazon.

Reyes had to dig deep into his bag of tricks before scoring a pulsating a 9-8 win over Richard Purnelosa. Reyes will meet Corteza next in the P800,000 three-day cuefest that offers a whopping P300,000 to the champion.

Corteza said he had already beaten Mazon twice in their two encounters, but he downplays his chances against Reyes. "I lost to Reyes three times already. I just hope I can win tomorrow when we play," Corteza told Sun.Star Davao.

Pagulayan fall to Jharome Peña, 6-9, in their first round match. Pagulayan was the first seeded player to bow out of the tournament.

World No. 1 Dennis Orcollo of Surigao lived up to his billing after his convincing 9-1 triumph over Romeo Alcano of Davao City. Alcano was runner-up in the Sipag at Tiyaga qualifying division held at the NCCC Mall B3 Center Tuesday.

Former two-time world champion Ronato Alcano of Laguna, meanwhile, booted out William Millares, 9-3, while Warren Kiamco of Cebu whipped Patricio Gonzales, 9-4.

Davao City national billiards lady player Mary Ann Basas bowed to Elmer Haya of Zamboanga, 4-9.

Senator Villar opened the fourth leg of the Villards Cup that kicked off in Alabang. It went next to Cebu and Bulacan before stopping in Davao.

Other first round matches were still being played as of this writing Thursday.

Ronato Alcano in Sapsal seizes pool title

Glenn Sapsal of Barangay 24-C beat Owen Candreho, 5-3, to pocket the First Senate President Manny Villar Cup 9-Ball Open Inter-Barangay Tournament title at the NCCC Mall B3 Center Sunday evening.

Sapsal, who is the brother of Bangkok Asian Games gold medalist Gandy Valle, pocketed the cash prize of P4,000 while Candreho settled for the runner-up prize of P2,000.

A. Mariomon and B. Jomuad who placed third and fourth, respectively, received P1,000 each in the one-day cuefest sponsored by Senator Villar for Davao City residents.

The qualifying tournament for the Villards Cup opened at B3 Monday and will culminate Tuesday. The top two qualifiers will advance to the main draw of the knockout tournament on Thursday to Saturday at the Gaisano Mall of Davao Atrium.

Efren "Bata" Reyes, Ronato Alcano, Alex Pagulayan, Valle, Roberto Gomez, Warren Kiamco, Dennis Orcollo, Lee Vann Corteza and Joven Bustamante are among the seeded players in the main draw that offers a total guaranteed cash prize of P800,000.

Pool Players Welcome NBL

The soon-to-be-launched National Billiards League (NBL) has received an overwhelming support from the local pool community, particularly the players who are all excited to begin what they call “the new era of Philippine billiards.”

“We’re all very happy with this development as we know that having this professional league will really lift (Philippine) billiards to new heights, and this will be the start of a new era of Philippine billiards,” said former world champion Alex Pagulayan.

After finding a television partner – Solar Sports – that would broadcast the games for the league’s inaugural season, NBL’s main proponents Philippine billiards godfather Aristeo “Putch” Puyat and fellow managers Perry Mariano and Jonathan Sy are now negotiating with several companies for sponsorship to the teams to be formed.

Last Saturday, they met with the players from the Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines (BMPAP) to formally inform them of the development and invite them to join the league. They also introduced the newly-appointed NBL commissioner in businessman Martin Misa.

“We’re formally inviting you to join the NBL, a dream that we all share for a long time, which is now coming into reality,” said Puyat during the gathering attended by the country top cue artists, led by Efren “Bata” Reyes, as well as the sport’s up-and-coming stars.

“NBL will be exclusive for you BMPAP members, who have been with us in our crusade to put out sport in the right direction,” added Puyat.

The NBL is slated to start late this year with eight teams of six players each in the fold.

Meanwhile, the players present in the meeting reiterated their stand of not joining any event “that has anything to do with Mr. Yen Makabenta” and his Raya Sports, including the planned World 10-Ball Championship, until all the issues that caused them to break away from the groups affiliated with him are resolved.

“The main reason why BMPAP bolted away from the groups affiliated with Mr. Makabenta is because of his dual role as chairman of the Billiards and Snooker Congress of the Philippines (BSCP) and President of Raya Sports, which clearly constitutes conflict of interest,” the players said in a statement.

Besides Reyes and Pagulayan, also in the meeting were former double world champion Ronnie Alcano, 2007 World Pool runner-up Roberto Gomez, Warren Kiamco, Rodolfo Luat and Joven Bustamante, among others. Reigning world no.1 Dennis Orcollo and Francisco “Django” Bustamante, who are campaigning in the United States, sent their representatives.

They said that having nothing against BSCP and they are willing to reestablish their ties with the association “if all the issues are resolved.

Villar Cup Davao Leg

DAVAO CITY – The biggest names in Philippine billiards – and in the world as well – invade the country’s largest city when the First Senate President Manny Villar Cup, now the nation’s leading pool series, holds its fourth leg on August 21 to 23 at the Atrium of Gaisano Mall here.

Led by no less than the sport’s icon Efren “Bata” Reyes, the who’s who in the local pool circuit will showcase their wizardry before the Davaoenos, who will be celebrating their much-anticipated Kadayawan Festival.

“I’m very honored to bring here in Davao our world-class cue artists and take part in your celebration of life and thanksgiving to the Almighty,” said Senate President Manny Villar during the tournament’s press launch Thursday at Gerry’s Grill in Gaisano Mall.

“Again, this is part of my commitment to help promote the sport, which we Filipinos are the no.1 in the world. I hope that by bringing the Villar Cup here, it would encourage our people, especially the youth, not only here in Davao but in the entire Mindanao as well, to take the sport and stay out of trouble,” he added.

Villar was joined in the special forum of the Davao Sportswriters Association by Reyes, along with fellow former world champions Alex Pagulayan and Ronnie Alcano, 2007 World Pool runner-up Roberto Gomez, former Asian Games gold medalist Gandy Valle and three-time Southeast Asian Games titlist Warren Kiamco.

All of them, along with other established and up-and-coming pool stars, are seeing action in the tournament presented by Villards: Tulong sa Pagsulong ng Philippine Sports in cooperation with the Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines (BMPAP) and sponsored by Camella Communities.

Valle and Kiamco are two of the previous Villar Cup winners with the former winning the Cebu leg last June and the latter ruling the inaugural Alabang leg in May. Ramil Gallego bagged the Bulacan edition last month and will be defending the crown here.

Besides the Pro Elite division, the Villar Cup Davao leg will also have the Sipag at Tiyaga category and the “Villards sa Barangay” edition.

The Sipag at Tiyaga division, which will be held on August 18 and 19 at the B3 Billiards Center of the NCCC Mall, is open to all non-elite professional players from all over the country, while the Villards sa Barangay, slated on August 17 at the same venue, is a tournament exclusive for Davaoeno amateur players.

Sanctioned by the Games and Amusements Board (GAB), the Villar Cup is also supported by Puyat Sports, Bugsy Promotions and Negros Billiards Stable.

B3 is practice venue for top cue masters including the Ronato "Volcano" Alcano

NCCC Mall B3 (Billiards, Bowling & Bar) Center will be the practice venue for Efren "Bata" Reyes, Alex "The Lion" Pagulayan, Dennis "Robocop" Orcollo, Ronato "Volcano" Alcano and other seeded players seeing action in the First Senator Manny Villar Cup 9-Ball Open Davao Leg.

Reyes and company will have their practice from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on August 20 at B3 before they wow the Davao fans with spectacular shots during the tournament proper set August 21 to 23 at the Gaisano Mall of Davao Atrium.

Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines (BMPAP) secretary-general Gandy Valle bared this to Sun.Star Davao Monday evening.

"The players would like to practice the night before the tournament opens. NCCC Mall B3 Center is the best and the most qualified venue for the practices. It is air-conditioned and it has standard tables. It also accessible to Dabawenyos who want to see their idols on practice," Valle said.

B3 is also hosting the Villar Cup Sipag at Tiyaga Inter-Barangay category for Davao City residents on August 17 and the qualifying tournament on August 18 and 19 where the top two qualifiers will earn slots to the main draw of the P800,000 open cuefest.

The inter-barangay event offers P10,000 to the champion while the qualifying champion bags the P20,000 top purse. The runner-up pockets P9,000, while the third and fourth placers will each receive P3,000 each.
In the main competition, the champion might take home P300,000 cash or more.

Valle, the Villar Cup Cebu Leg champion, and fellow Davao City player Lee Vann Corteza are also seeded in the main draw along with the champions in the Alabang and Bulacan legs and reigning World Pool Championship runner-up Roberto Gomez, among other must-see cue artists.

Ronato Alcano on P800T up for grabs in Villar Cup

A Guaranteed total cash prize of P800,000 will be up for grabs in the star-studded First Senate President Manny Villar Cup 9-Ball Open Davao leg set August 21 to 23 at the Gaisano Mall of Davao Atrium.

Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines (BMPAP) secretary-general Gandy Valle made the announcement during the Davao Sportswriters Association (DSA) Forum at the Tower Inn.

Valle, who guested with Davao Billiards Association (DBA) president Menlee Migellano, said the office of Senator Villar has yet to send a breakdown of the prizes, although he revealed that the champion will take home not less than P300,000. The runner-up and the next top players will also receive huge prizes.

Valle said they will also hold an inter-barangay competition on August 17 for all-Davao players and a qualifying tournament on August 18 and 19 at the NCCC Mall B3 Center. The qualifying tournament is open for those who want to earn a slot to the main event to be held at the Gaisano Mall.

Migellano said the inter-barangay champion will pocket P10,000 while the qualifying champion will bag P20,000 and book a slot in the Villar Cup Open along with the runner-up who will get P9,000. The qualifying third and fourth placers, meanwhile, will go home with P3,000 each.

Valle, a former Bangkok Asian Games doubles gold medallist, confirmed the participation of pool sharks Efren "Bata" Reyes, current World No. 1 Dennis "Robocop" Orcollo, Alex "The Lion" Pagulayan, reigning World Pool runner-up Roberto Gomez, Davao City's Southeast Asian (SEA) Games back-to-back medallist and New York champion Lee Vann Corteza and former two-time world pool champion Ronato Alcano, among other big names.

"Only Francisco 'Django' Bustamante can't make it to the Davao leg because he has a campaign abroad on the same schedule as our tournament here. The leg champions in Alabang, Cebu and Bulacan will also come and put up a stiff challenge," said Valle, who won the Cebu leg of the prestigious cuefest.

Valle downplayed his chances to winning the Davao leg title citing the huge cast of veterans entered in the knockout, race-to-nine, alternate-break format meet. "I'll just focus on my game," he said.

Villar is the guest speaker in the opening rites on August 21 and he will also be on hand to award the prizes on August 23.