CUE ARTISTS from all over the province of Cebu will have something to look forward to next year after the chief executive of Tuburan town, northern Cebu promised to make the Mayor Aljun Diamante Open 10-Ball Championship billiards tournament a yearly event.
Mayor Diamante announced this development during the event’s recent awarding ceremony at the Cebu Technological University (CTU)-Tuburan Campus after Philippine Amusements and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR)-Visayas officials promised to shoulder the cash prizes for next year.
The maiden edition of the tournament, which saw the participation of double world champion Ronnie “The Volcano” Alcano and was graced by pool legend Efren “Bata” Reyes, offered more than P200,000 in cash prizes mostly coming from the Tuburan LGU and from the mayor’s own pocket with Pagcor-Visayas giving a token amount.
Cebuano Anton Raga pocketed the bulk of the money after he bested Alcano in the Open division to take home a whopping P100,000 cash.
In a chat with reporters after the tournament, Mayor Diamante said he’s very glad that Pagcor decided to help him in staging the event for next year.
“Dako pud ug impact ang pag-ari nila ni Alcano ug Efren Bata Reyes kay na-encourage ang atong mga batang billiard players,” the mayor said. “So next year, bisan dili na ta mag-invite ug mga sikat kay motultul na man ang mga players ani sa tournament.” (The presence of Alcano and Efren Bata Reyes has a huge impact because it encouraged our young billiards players.
So next year, even if we don’t invite famous personalities, players would already know about this tournament.”
Aside from billiards, mayor Diamante has also been known to support other sporting events, particularly in chess, where he helped bankroll the travel expenses of Rhenzi Kyle Sevillano in the latter’s successful campaign in the National Age Group Chess Championships.
Diamante also lent his support to the Tuburan baseball team in its travel to the Palarong Pambansa in Tagum City.