 Players like Carlo Biado will have a chance to become the new billiards idol |
Up and coming pool players get the chance to barge into the elite circle through the Bugsy's Search for the New Pinoy Billiards Idol, a series of tournaments that unfurls late this month.
Organized by the Bugsy Promotions and sponsored by the Association of Club, Karaoke and Disco Operators (ACKDO), Puyat Sports and the Negros Billiards Stable, the project will be a twice-a-month affair and is open to all cue artists except, of course, those who are already in the so-called “Class O” or all-star level.
“This is part of our commitment to help keep Philippine billiards to its world-class status,” said Bugsy top honcho Perry Mariano of the event sanctioned by the newly-formed Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines (BMPAP) and to be supervised by the Games and Amusements Board (GAB).
“More than that, it will also provide the players a chance to fill their pockets with the cash prizes at stake. Hindi man malaki pero at least and'yan ‘yung posibilidad na kumita sila,” he added.
Each tournament will offer a champion's purse of P10,000 with the runner-up receiving P5,000, and the two semifinalists P2,500 apiece. The entry fee is only P200.
But for its inaugural leg, which is slated on February 23 and 24 at the New Farmer's Plaza in Cubao, Quezon City, the prizes will at P20,000 for the winner, P10,000 for the losing finalist and P5,000 each for the other two Final Four qualifiers.
“Then at the end of the year, we will gather all the winners for a one major tournament,” Mariano furthered.
For more details contact Gandy Valle at 0916-958-9897 or Jojo Santos at 0915-700-8000.
Meanwhile, the BMPAP completed its organization process by coming up with a set of officers led by Isaac Belmonte as its chairman, Atty. Vic Rodriguez as the president and Efren “Bata” Reyes as vice-president.
The rest of the officers are Jonathan Sanchez as treasurer, Gandy Valle as secretary, Mikee Ablan as Sergeant-at-arms, Atty. Michael Gonzales as legal advisor and Edwin Reyes as spokesman with Roberto "Bobby" Aguirre, Ronato Alcano, Joseph Arruejo-Santos, Francisco “Django” Bustamante, Vicente Castaneda, Lee Van Corteza, Lindsey Santos David, Demi Dizon, Anthony Go, Warren Kiamco, Pablo Hernandez, John Lagman, Menlee Miguellano, Martin Misa, Ollie Ongtauco, Alex Pagulayan, Diosdado Santiago , Milton Tan and Ramon Tuason as the board of directors.
