May 25, 2004, Manila: Featuring Filipinos current world no. 1 Francisco Bustamante and Efren “Bata” Reyes plus Fong-Pang Chao from Chinese Taipei both of whom are former World Pool Champions, the San Miguel Asian 9-Ball Tour arrives at Manila on May 29 – 30. STAR Sports will also broadcast all the action LIVE from the Octagon Hall at 14:00, May 29-30 (Hong Kong/ Singapore time).
The Manila leg is the last chance for the 32 participating players to garner qualifying points towards the World Pool Championships in July. After the Manila leg, the top 10 on the Tour Order of Merit will directly qualify into the World Pool Championships. The Tour is the only ranking tour in Asia for players to qualify to the Championships.
Adding to the stakes is the total prize money purse of US$250,000 up for grabs on this regional tour which started in Singapore (February 28-29) and features subsequent stops in Ho Chi Minh City (March 13-14), Hong Kong (April 17-18), Taipei (May 7-9) and Manila (May 28-30). The main draw includes 32 top Asian players from 12 countries/ regions.
Efren Bata Reyes continues his dominance in the Tour as he has won four of the six legs held on the Tour so far. His latest title was in Taipei earlier this month. He beat Busan Asian Games 9-Ball bronze medallist and current world number nine Young Hwa Jeong of Korea in the final 12-10 to clinch his third leg title of 2004 Tour.
Reyes also occupies the top in the players' ranking in the Tour, followed by two-time world champion Fong Pang Chao of Chinese Taipei. Warren Kiamco is ranked third and Hong Kong leg champion Ching Shun Yang is currently at fourth.
The Manila event will be the last chance for Francisco Bustamante to win a qualifying berth in the World Pool Championship, as he currently sits at 11th. Another two Philippine players Antonio Gabica and Lee Van Corteza also face a similar situation with the Manila leg being their last chance to qualify.
Challengers from Chinese Taipei will be led by Fong Pang Chao and Hong Kong leg runner-up Hui Kai Hsia. The other contenders include Hung Lu Kung, Chao Shih Fan, Wu Chia Ching and Chang Jung Lin.
And don't ignore the Korean pair Shin Young Park and Young Hwa Jeong, as well as Japanese ace Satoshi Kawabata. The Tour will also feature the first sibling players in the shape of brothers Au Chi Wai and Au Siu Wai from Hong Kong.
San Miguel Asian 9-Ball Tour, Manila 2004- LIVE on STAR Sports
May 29 14:00 (L) 21:30 (R) Jun 1 Quarter-final #2
May 29 15:30 (L) 21:30 (R) Jun 2 Quarter-final #3
May 29 17:00 (L) 21:30 (R) Jun 3 Quarter-final #4
May 29 22:30 (S) 09:00 (R) May 30 Quarter-final #1
May 30 14:00 (L) 21:30 (R) Jun 4 Semi-final #1
May 30 15:30 (L) 12:30 (R) Jun 5 Semi-final #2
May 30 17:00 (L) 22:30 (R) Final
For all information on the Tour, please check out www.asian9-balltour.com. For the latest schedules and program information on ESPN STAR Sports, catch us on the net at www.espnstar.com.
Sanctioned by the Asian Pocket Billiard Union, the San Miguel Asian 9-Ball Tour is organized by ESPN STAR Sports' Event Management Group (EMG). San Miguel Beer is the title sponsor for the Tour. Iwan Simonis and Aramith supply the official tablecloth and official balls respectively. STAR Sports is the official broadcaster. The 2004 Manila leg is also supported by Puyat Sports as the local coorganiser and Robinsons Galleria as the official venue provider. The 2004 Tour have five legs in Singapore, Ho Chi Minh City, Hong Kong, Taipei and Manila. Besides total prize money of US$250,000, top 10 on the Tour Order of Merit every year will directly qualify into the World Pool Championships.
