With good rest (All Saint and All Soul's day), reigning national champion Marlon Manalo and RP junior champion Jerico Banares plunge into action as the much awaited staging of the Billiard Stars Search unfolds, today, November 5 to 9 at the Star Billiards Center in Quezon City.
Other players expected to join Billiard Stars Search are defending champion Elvis Calasang, Antonio Gabica, Jeffrey De Luna, Mario Tolentino, Leonardo Didal, Arnel Bautista, Victor Arpilleda and World Ten-Ball semi-finalist Demosthenes "Plong-Plong" Pulpul.
Also included will be national women's champion Zemonette Oryan and RP's brightest hope 14-year-old Jonas Magpantay.
Calasang emerged as champion of the Class A division in the first staging of the event in July. He defeated Pulpul, the country's newest pool sensation, in the finals.
A notable field will compete for top honors in various categories in the event hosted and presented by Star Billiards Center in cooperation with the Billiards & Snooker Congress of the Philippines, Philippine Billiards Foundation and Raya Sports, the event will use the exciting Ten Ball discipline and implement WPA rules. The format will be double elimination up to the quarterfinals and use a knockout system in the semifinals and finals.
A unique feature of the tournament is the opportunity it provides to players at all skill levels. Players—regardless of age, sex or nationality—can join their respective divisions or levels. There are four division championships up for competition: Division A (Race to 9), Division B (Race to 8), Division C (Race to 7) and Division D (Race to 6).
Entry fee in the event is set at P600 for Class A and P400 for Class B, C and D.
Trophies and cash prizes will be awarded to the top players in each division. Cash prizes will be based on number of entries. As an additional incentive for Division A players, four slots in Stage 2 of the Tagaytay Kabayan Cup in December will be awarded to the top four A players.
