Friday, November 20, 2009

World Ten Ball Championship next big thing after Pacquiao





ONCE again, Manny Pacquiao, the Filipinos’ modern-day hero, provided light to a nation torn apart by bickering in politics and devastated by calamities, pinching-economy and victim of a corrupt system.

The Filipino boxing warrior has once again proved his valor and rewarded the country of yet another worthy performance. Inside the ring, Pacquiao was a sight to behold, ripping punches and combinations that proved to be too much for his Puerto Rican rival to bear.

Pacquiao was in seventh heaven – as he has won his seventh title in seven different weight classes – so as the Filipinos needing a hero in time of distressed.

But what’s the next big thing after Pacquiao?

The entire nation need not to wait for another year to see the People’s Champion climbing the ring and basking in glory.

The World Ten Ball Championship, which the Philippines will be holding for the second straight year, comes in at the perfect place at a perfect time.

Filipinos are thirsting for more and wanting to see more athletes becoming new modern-day heroes and excelling in different fields.

The WTBC will have the biggest gathering of male players around the world, which include the defending champion, the world’s No.1 player, the current money leader, former world champions and champions of different regions.

“What we have right here is the biggest event in billiards,” said Yen Makabenta, president of the organizing Raya Sports and chairman of the Billiards and Snooker Congress of the Philippines (BSCP).

Makabenta is speaking based on facts.

Europe already has a total of 52 players securing seats in the main draw of the WTBC, including defending World Ten Ball champion Darren Appleton of Great Britain, world’s No.1 player Ralf Souquet of Germany, world pool’s money leader Mika Immonen of Finland and former world champions Daryl Peach of Great Britain and Thorsten Hohmann of Germany.

Asia also has a formidable cast from pool powerhouse nations like Chinese-Taipei and the Philippines as well as neighboring countries from Japan, Korea, China, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Middle East.

A total of 12 Filipino players have already secured seats in the main draw of the WTBC led by Jeffrey de Luna, the highest-rated Pinoy player (No.7 in the world) and last year’s surprising semifinalists Demosthenes Pulpul. Other Filipinos entered in the main draw are former world No.1 Dennis Orcullo, double world champion Ronnie Alcano, Warren Kiamco, Marlon Manalo, Lee Van Corteza, Antonio Gabica, former junior champion Jericho Banares, Allan Cuartero, Carlo Biado and Ramil Gallego.

Chinese-Taipei will be led by former World 9-Ball champion Chao Fong Pang, Asian money-game king Yang Ching-Shun, two-time world junior champion Ko Pin Yi, Chnag Yu-Lung, Kuo Po-Cheng, Cheng Tsung-Hua, Lu Hui Chan, Fu Che-Wei and Wang Hung-Hsiang.

The United States will be led by former US Open champion Shane Van Boening, former world champion Johnny Archer, Oscar Dominguez, Shawn Putnam, Stevie Moore, Charlie Bryant, Shaun Wilkie, Corey Deuel and Charlie Williams.

The fact that the Filipinos have a fighting chance to go all the way makes the WTBC even more special for the country.

“All of our top guns are competing,” Makabenta said. “There’s a good chance that we’re going to have another Filipino world champion.”

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Conspicuously missing are several great players like Wu Chia-Ching and our very own Efren “Bata” Reyes and Francisco “Django” Bustamante.

For some reasons, these players were not able to participate. Wu, a double world champion and Chinese-Taipei’s No.1 player before he was disowned, was suspended by the Asian Pocket Billiards Union for turning his back on his country.

He was reportedly offered a mouth-watering offer by Singapore, but was barred from competing in all World Pool-Billiard Association-sanctioned events. Since he cannot compete, the young cue artist has then concentrated on coaching the Singapore billiards team that will play in the Southeast Asian Games pool tournament this year.

Reyes and Bustamante’s case is different.

Playing under the stable of Putch Puyat, Reyes and Bustamante didn’t express intentions to join the WTBC. They cannot be seeded in the tournament as they are not in the top 32 of the WPA rankings, so the two players’ only chance to make it to the only world pool championship for men this year is to join the qualifying stages.

There were two qualifying stages held in November. The first stage was held early this month where Lee Van Corteza and Carlo Biado won spots in the main draw of the WTBC. The event was significant because it’s the first time in a long players from the stable of Jonathan Sy and Perry Mariano’s Bugsy’s Promotions participated in the tournament. The second is still ongoing (Nov.19-23).

It will be remembered that the two managers had differences with the Billiards Snooker Congress of the Philippines headed by Sebastian Chua and Yen Makabenta, whose group is recognized by the WPA, the world’s governing body of pool.

The warring groups patched up their differences in time for the WTBC to strengthen the Filipinos chances of winning the prestigious crown.
Unfortunately, the Puyat stable didn’t join the bandwagon of making peace with Makabenta’s group and both the legendary cue artists – Reyes and Bustamante – chose not to participate in the major pool event for the second straight year.

As for Alex Pagulayan, well, it seems he has already given up the sport and reportedly found himself a new diversion – playing poker.

Sunday, November 8, 2009

A nostalgic night with friends




IT was 10 a.m. on a laidback Saturday morning when somebody rang my mobile phone. Normally, I start my weekends late morning and the ring was more than enough to get me off to bed – first, to let me know that a regular NBA game is now shown on BTV and CS9; second, to keep me reminded that I have several tasks at hand, be it articles on Manila Standard Today or GMANEWS.TV or a press release for Raya Sports; and third, to clear my head and determine who the hell is calling me up and waking me from sleep.

Who’s this? That’s the first two words I uttered just like a fly coming out of my mouth. Calling on the other end was a friend from way back – Benjo de Leon, whose young looks 17 years ago reminded me so much of ER Ejercito, son of the late great movie and television personality who made it big in the country by starring in different roles from action, comedy, drama and even adult flicks (he he he).

Ah yes, Benjo was a fine gentlemen. We only talked quite a number of times in more than a decade as our ambitions took most of the time of a well-valued friendship that remained strong come hell or high water.

He was, of course, a family man now, with two kids, a lovely wife and a colorful career in one of the biggest beverage company owned by one of the nation’s richest men. Benjo, the way things look like, is a successful man – a successful family man.

“Pare, si Benjo ito,” said the mild-mannered gentleman from Proj. 8 Quezon City. “Puwede ka ba mamya? Magkita-kita tayo nina Tinyente and Christopher Ramos.”

“Ok, cge pare. See you later,” I said.

“Magkita-kita na lang tayo sa Jollibee Munoz ng 4 p.m.,” added Benjo.

Jolibee Munoz? Ah, that place brought back fond memories of our adventures as a graduating student from Judge Juan Luna. I wasn’t a part of the cream of the crop just like Benjo and his classmates, which include Tinyente and Christopher. But I belonged to Section Two (Bonifacio) while they were from Rizal.

Tinyente, by the way, is Christopher Cruz, my closest friend from the barkada known as WBCJ. WBCJ was like the glamour boys of Class 91-92. It has a combination looks, smarts and abilities. They were chick magnate, outstanding classmen and role model rolled into one. Wilbur Serra was the W and he has definitely find peace living in Great Britain where popular football player David Beckham became one of his clients. Benjo was the B and his accomplishments speak for itself. There were actually two Cs – Cruz and Ramos.

Cruz is currently a Marine officer who wants to serve – and die for the country (You weep for Santiago while I cursed the marine, as mentioned by Jack Nicholson) . Ramos is a successful businessmen who turned every piece of iron to good measure and create a well-engine machine.

J is Junel, who is now missing in action and clearing his head now from personal miseries.

How do I stumbled on these bunch of guys was definitely a long story, but I’m really privileged to be part of the barkada. I’m a year older than them as I was a transferee and honest to say that I repeated a year when I went to JJLHS in 1989 from Far Eastern University.

Two years later, I managed to squeeze my way to the WBCJ group and became their friends even after high school.

Time flew so fast. We were on board a maroon Lite Ace Daihatsu driven by Benjo – me seated on the front seat and Tinyente took the back seat. The mood was certainly nostalgic – from a Metallica music played on CD, to every conversation that went back to the not-so-distant past to the days and nights of our daily lives as if everyone doesn’t want to miss every detail on what’s happening to each and every one of us.

Traffic caught up on us from Commonwealth going to Batasan, but it seems we’re all ready to endure everything on that day like a Titan who ruled the universe. Finally, we’re in front of a big warehouse in Marikina. This warehouse is owned by Christopher Ramos, who is fondly called by everyone as Bobot (even if Bobot is more synonymous to Edgar Mortiz and Christopher de Leon is called as Boyet he he).

Just few handshakes get ourselves accustomed to one another again as if we haven’t missed every little thing. We were welcomed as well by Bobot’s other half, Michelle Cadatman-Ramos and her mom.

Off to the dinning table, we were greeted by a bucket of Kentucky Fried Chicken. Spicy or original won’t matter that night. What matters most is that friends from way back, now gathered together and bonded for one rare evening – an evening of nostalgic moments that touched off every step of our way from high school from where we are now.

We took a small tour inside the warehouse where we saw multi-cabs, trucks and even Harabas Jeepney reminiscent of Jun Aristorenas back in the 70s. We turned Bobot’s office that has every accessory from scissors, piece of metal to checkpoint device used by security personnel, into an open bar from night to wee hours.
We talked about sports and sundry. We debated on so many things – from politics, sports (like the Arboleda-Katigbac case), the global warming, our careers and our loved ones from past to present.

The timeless conversation was done over bottles of beer. We could only hope time will last, but like the true men of the house that we are now, we knew our priorities. Gone were the days when we will spend countless days and nights together and even spend Christmas away from our families. Our lives have definitely changed now, a part of our life now has made us realized what will separate the men from the boys.

We may greet each other few times in a year, might receive few text messages, e-mails or even chat through Facebook or Yahoo Messenger. But wherever we are, and whatever we do, we all knew deep in our minds, the memories will always last.

Monday, November 2, 2009

WEEKLY HODGE PODGE: TRUTH WILL SET US FREE



MY schedule was toxic the past week and I assume the same will happen any day from now even though it’s a long Holiday.

I guess the safest way for me is to change the Monday Hodge Podge into a weekly Hodge Podge. So here it goes.

THE most credible person shed light during a congressional hearing called by Games and Amusement chair Rep. Amado Bagatsing, former director of the Philippine Long Distance Company whose KABAKA project is also being supported by Smart Communications.

No, it’s not Wynne Arboleda, who assaulted Alain Katigbac during the heated battle of Burger King and Smart Gilas more than a week ago.

Definitely it’s not Katigbac either, who after hurling invectives repeatedly against Arboleda and many other Burger King players who passed by him, couldn’t back up his thrash and now hiding on his lawyer’s big pocket.

It’s not Noli Eala nor Yeng Guiao, who had histories of trading barbs. And certainly not newly-appointed PBA chairman Lito Alvarez, the master trader in the PBA.

The substance the congressmen were looking for came from the pretty courtside reporter from the PBA – Patricia Bermudez-Hizon, who was a first-hand witness inside the Burger King locker room.

At the time when the fiery Burger King mentor was being pinpointed as the one who gave instructions to his players in hurting their younger counterparts from Smart Gilas, the wife of the former league superstar broke down to details what her business was inside the men’s locker room.

A congressman asked whether Bermudez-Hizon has malice (not her presence inside the men’s locker room) but the phrase “put Gilas in their place” that came out in her Twitter.

“I'm allowed by coaches to enter the locker room. I explained the offensive and defensive schemes of Burger King as well as coach Yeng’s motivation to his players that Gilas players will not enter the league and take their spots yet and that they are the ones in the spot, so they should put Gilas in their place,” said Bermudez-Hizon.

Bermudez-Hizon also added that there were no directives from Guiao to hurt Smart Gilas players, thus squelching accusations against the Burger King mentor and clearing his name, from this mess.

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So Smart Gilas’ games are now just plainly exhibition matches. Good for the teams in the PBA as they can concentrate on helping the national developmental pool members.

Ginebra coach Jong Uichico agreed on the decision of PBA commissioner Sonny Barrios to make Gilas’ games reduced from bearing games to other teams to purely exhibition game.

“If we want to help them, we must deviate ourselves from the we-must-win attitude. In as much as we want to help them, we badly needed the win,” said Uichico after Ginebra’s victory over Smart-Gilas.

A week later, Uichico was humming a different tune. We can’t blame him, his team’s number of victories were sliced down a bit after that new ruling of having Smart-Gilas’ games not to be counted on the team standings.

“I am in favor of making the games of Smart-Gilas to become exhibition matches, but certainly not in the middle of the elimination round,” said Uichico. “Of course, it definitely hurt my team. Instead of having a 3-1 record, we’re down to 2-1.”

Alaska coach Tim Cone was very much vocal right from the start regarding the national team aspirants’ participation.

"I’m not a fan of national team competing on a PBA scheduled-games,” said Cone. “It affects our concentration. Now we can focus on helping them as all their games are down to exhibition matches.”

Like Uichico, Cone had the chance of handling the all-pro national team. He was coach of the Centennial team and also had sad experiences competing as a guest squad in the PBA.

“We played in an import-flavored conference. It was a bad experience and was not a big help for our campaign,” added Cone.

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Cone was on spotlight with selected sportswriters during a fellowship made possible by Alaska bossman Wilfred Steven Uytengsu at the Kamayan Restaurant in Edsa.

The two was very open in sharing the secrets of the team’s success that made their franchise the most dominant team in the country’s premier professional cage league.

“I remember Fred relaying a story about Tim making a lot of suggestions,” said Trillo, who came to Alaska months later than Cone after a colorful career in sportscasting. “Then Fred told Tim, you know, you talk too much Tim, why don’t you coach the squad.”

From there, the legacy started. The trio built a foundation anchored on Sean Chambers, who then became the resident import of the Aces then known as the Milkmen (when the league wants every moniker literally associated with the product, say like Rhum Masters for Tanduay, Hotdogs for Purefoods, Beermen for San Miguel, Turbo Chargers for Shell among others).

Slowly but surely, the influx of talent came in – Bong Alvarez was picked up in 1989 to add youth and excitement then Eugene Quilban was added. Jojo Lastimosa was acquired in a trade with Boy Cabahug in 1991 then two years later, a rookie named Johnny Abarrientos made the squad even more formidable. Then, Alvarez was traded for Bong Hawkins.

By bits and grabs, the Aces formed the nucleus of their squad and get them all together to play within the Triangle Offense of Cone. Amazingly, the Aces won 10 championships in the 90s to become a PBA dynasty.

This season’s batch of Aces have every ingredient of a championship caliber squad. No wonder Alaska is the only undefeated team in KFC-PBA Philippine Cup.

“Through the years, I had my shares of selfish players that I have to deal with it, yet we became successful. I really like the composition of our team this season. Players have become more matured. Like I’ve said during the pre season, I would rather want to establish team chemistry more than making several acquisitions of big-time players,” said Cone, who also put an end to the trade talks involving Willie Miller.

“Miller is definitely our best player. The only bad thing on Willie is that he thinks he could do everything he might be thinking he is a LeBron James or a Kobe Bryant,” said Cone in jest. “But he is truly a likeable person. I’m glad to have him on my team.”

Uytengsu, a former head of the Philippine Amateur Swimming Association, also felt sad Arboleda will be gone for the rest of the season.

“Off the court, he seems to be a likeable person. On the court, he is a hard-nosed defender. Now, he will be remembered for the mistake he has done for several minutes – that kick, punch and punch. It’s too bad it has happened. But some people lived a lifetime in a minute and Arboleda changed his life through that forgettable minutes,” said Uytengsu.