Former two-time world juniors' campaigner Rene Mar David trounced Adbullah Hilali, 7-3, to show the way for dozens of opening round winners in the Sipag at Tiyaga division of the First Senate President Manny Villar Cup Bulacan Leg yesterday at the AMF-Puyat Billiards Center in StarMall EDSA.
The 18-year-old David, a member of the star-studded Bugsy Promotions of businessman Perry Mariano, hardly broke a sweat in dismantling the little-known Hilali, as he got off to a strong start and never gave the latter a chance.
A total of 120 aspiring cue artists registered for the event presented by Villards: Tulong sa Pagsulong ng Philippine Sports, forcing the organizers to do away with its earlier pronounced limit of a 96-man field.
Joining David in advancing to the second round of the competition were Resty Labastida, who edged Jesus Dacoro, 7-6; Elvis Perez, who demolished Cocoy Villafuerte, 7-2; Elmer Kalaquian, who manhandled Rashed – one of the 10 Qataris who entered the tournament, 7-1; Mar Rodriguez, who downed Demosthenes Pulpul, 7-4; Butch Parcarey, who subdued Michael de los Santos, 7-2; and Jep Palencia, who beat Alvin Baquiag, 7-3.
The rest of the participants are still playing at presstime.. Among them are Bugsy boys Michael Feliciano, Egie Geronimo, Johann “Bubwit” Chua, Mike Takayama, Jomar de Ocampo, Russian Petiza, and Benjie Guevarra, along with NBS's Mark Mendoza, Panfilo Damuag, Ricky Zerna and Jech Limen, and FE Promotions' William Millares and Joey Pardales.
The top two players after four days of competitions will earn a trip to SM City in Marilao, Bulacan to dispute the prestigious Villar Cup Sipag at Tiyaga trophy and P70,000 top purse at stake in this third stop of the island-hopping series organized by the Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines (BMPAP) and sponsored by Camella Communities.
This tournament serves as a prelude to the much-anticipated mixing up of the cream of Philippine billiards' crop, led by pool icon Efren "Bata" Reyes, in the Pro Elite category, which starts on Friday at the Events Center of SM City Marilao.
