Former two-time World Juniors campaigner Rene Mar David booked a slot to the First Senate President Manny Villar Cup Cebu Leg after scoring back-to-back victories in a special qualifying tournament for topnotchers in the Search for the Billiards Idol Friday at the New Farmers Plaza in Cubao, Quezon City.
The 18-year-old David, now playing for Bugsy Promotions of businessman Perry Mariano, first trounced stablemate Emil Martinez, 7-1, and then proceeded to subdue Chris Bombita, 7-4, to lead three others in securing a ticket to P1-million tournament slated June 20 to 22 at the Atrium of SM City Cebu in Cebu City.
“I'm so happy that I made it. This is my biggest accomplishment since I joined the BMPAP (Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines),” said David. “That's why I'm very thankful to them (BMPAP) for accepting me, and now I realized this is the right organization to join if I want to become a good player.”
Joining David in filling the four slots put at stake for the top 16 overall finishers in the inaugural season of Billiards Idol were fellow Bugsy boys Russian Petiza and Johann “Bubwit” Chua, as well as Manolo Tanasas of Negros Billiards Stable.
Petiza, who made a name following his fifth-place finish in the San Miguel Beer-Quezon City 9-Ball Championship last March, defeated in succession Mike Takayama, 7-2, and Jomar de Ocampo, 7-4, while Chua beat Mark Mendoza, 7-5, and Joey Pardales, 7-2. Tanasas turned back Benjie Guevarra and stablemate Godofredo Ducanes via a similar 7-4 decision.
The four qualifiers will join seeded players Efren “Bata” Reyes, Francisco “Django” Bustamante, Alex Pagulayan, Ronnie Alcano, Dennis Orcollo, Roberto Gomez, Gandy Valle, Joven Bustamante, Rodolfo Luat, Lee Van Corteza, Warren Kiamco, Carlo Biado, Jharome Pena, Jundel Mason, Ramil Gallego, Ricky Zerna, Elmer Haya, Rubilen Amit, Mary Ann Basas and Benson Palce.
The rest of the slots in the 64-man field in this tournament, coorganized by BMPAP and Sunstar Superbalita, supported by Bugsy Promotions, Puyat Sports and Negros Billiards Stable, and sponsored by Camella Communities, will be field through a series of qualifiers in Bacolod (4 slots), Tuguegarao (2), Pangasinan (2), Davao (2) and Cebu (30).
Other who competed in the Villar Cup Cebu Leg Billiards Idol Special Qualifier were Egie Geronimo, Panfilo Damuag, Roberto Dy, Patrick Gonzales and William Millares.
Geronimo and Martinez, along with Richard Pornelosa and Michael Feliciano, booked a ticket to fly to Cebu to join the qualifying tournament there after coming victors in an exclusive tournament for Bugsy Promotions players Friday night at the Bugsy's Lair in Quezon City.
