BMPAP To Hold ‘True’ National Championship

In its all-out effort to keep the Philippines' status as the Mecca of Pool, the Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines (BMPAP) will hold a series of regional tournaments in all of the country's geographical zones next year en route to the first “true” national championships.

“This is part of the BMPAP's commitment to further develop the sport we Filipinos are on top of the world,” said BMPAP president Atty. Vic Rodriguez.

“The BMPAP will do whatever it takes to keep our status in billiards, and part of that is by strengthening our grassroots base,” he added.

Based on its initial concept, the BMPAP will stage regional championships in all 17 regions simultaneously in January with the top four players in each region qualifying to national championships the following month.

“There we will have the real national champion, and everybody will have the chance to be that guy,” said Bugsy Promotions head Perry Mariano of the event, his brainchild. He added that the tournament will only have a token entry fee to allow maximum participation, “unlike before, where only those with managers are participating because of exorbitant entry fee.”

Since its inception in February, the BMPAP has conducted a number of small to large scale tournaments starting with the First San Miguel Beer-Quezon City 9-Ball Championship in March.

It has also partnered with Senate President Manny Villar for the staging of the Villar Cup, also known as Villards: Tulong sa Pagsulong ng Philippine Sports, which is set to unfurl with its second leg in Cebu on June 20 to 22. Its kickoff edition in StarMall Alabang in Muntinlupa last May was a highly successful one.

The BMPAP has also been holding the Search for the New Billiards Idol, a series of tournaments held twice a month and open to all aspiring cue artists. It has concluded its first season of seven legs and is set to open the second season late this month with the plan to hold have some stops in the provinces.