10-Ball billiard tournament aims to discover new talent

From left to right, Eugene Agravante, Councilor Eugene Gabuya, Efren “Bata” Reyes, Engr. Greg Pacres and team manager Dante Dilao held a press conference for the 10-Ball Open Billiard Tournament at Raphael’s Sports Cafe in SM Seaside City Cebu.
Ray Charlie Diaz

The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and the Cebu City Sports Commission (CCSC) hopes to find new talents in billiards with the holding of the first 10-ball Open Billiard Tournament at the Big Boom sa Sugbo Carnival Fair at the South Road Properties (SRP).

The tournament started yesterday and will last until Friday.

Highlighting the event is the presence of billiards legend Efren “Bata” Reyes, the World Pool-Billiard Association (WPA) World Champion and the first non-American winner of the US Open Nine Ball tournament.

“The PSC has sanctioned this activity because we believe that through this, billiards can reach the grassroots level,” Eugene “Bong” Agravante, the regional sports coordinator of Region-7, said during a press conference yesterday at Raphael’s Sports Cafe in SM Seaside City Cebu. “There are a lot talents and we hope this will lead us to discovering the new Efren “Bata” Reyes.”

Reyes admitted that billiards in the country is dying due to lack of sponsorship and support. This is why tournaments like this are important for the sport.

Cebu City Councilor Eugenio Gabuya, chairman of the Committee on Games, Amusement and Sports, said that the PSC and CCSC plans to hold annual circuit-like pool/ billiards competitions within Cebu City that will extend to Cebu province.

“We’d like to hold a Mayor’s Cup to entice enthusiasts and promote the sport. For now, I am encouraging all the billiards enthusiasts to watch or join the big tournament at the Big Boom sa Sugbo,” Gabuya said.

Over 30 players from the city and province have already registered for this billiards tournament.

“We are still expecting more,” Engineer Greg Pacres, the overall billiards tournament coordinator, said.

The top four players in the first three days and the top three in the fourth day will advance to the championship round that will be played on Friday. It is here where finalists can face the seeded Reyes.

The competition will have a handicapping format, giving those playing against Reyes a fighting chance.

Reyes did admit that there are a lot of good players in Cebu.

“I have always known that there are many talented players around the Visayas and Mindanao. Cebuano talent, when it comes to billiards, is not new to me,” Reyes said.

The champion of this tournament will take home P110,000 while P70,000 goes to the second placer and P50,000 to the third placer.
Interested players can still register by calling Pacres at 0920-532-4893.