BY CHRISTINE MONCADA

FIRING back at its detractors, the Billiards and Snooker Congress of the Philippines yesterday claimed the players who joined the newly-organized Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines were "duped" into joining the breakaway group by "people who have vested interests in the sport."

At the same time, the BSCP, represented by its top officials, among them Chairman Yen Makabenta and President Ernie Fajardo, denied the allegations of corruption, lack of grassroots program and dictator-like leadership hurled by the BMPAP.

"They (managers) duped the players. They thought it was just going to be a meeting with their managers. Little did they know the event was designed for a vicious attack against the BSCP, and they would be presented to the public and the media as the instrument for that attack," Makabenta said, referring to the launching of the BMPAP last Thursday at a restaurant in Quezon City.

During the launching, the players and manager presented a manifesto signed by 33 players denouncing the BSCP.

Billiards manager Perry Mariano, one of the prime movers of the BMPAP, had promised to attend the BSCP press conference yesterday at the Pantalan Restaurant in Manila but was not around. Reached later in the day, he said: "The truth will come out. Lalabas din ang totoo."

Reigning Doha Asian Games gold medalist Antonio Gabica, one of the players belonging to Mariano’s stable, was present during the press conference, along with 15 other players, among them junior ace Renemar David and veteran internationalists Marlon Manalo and Mark Mendoza. A group of referees also showed up and, like Gabica, expressed their support to the BSCP.

For his part, Fajardo, who allowed Makabenta to do most of the talking, said: "Our only goal is to promote the welfare and improvement of billiards. We will continue to perform our duties as a duly-accredited NSA (national sports association)."

Makabenta, who also heads the Raya Sports outfit that promotes billiards tournaments in the country, including the World Pool Championship for the last two years, described the accusations leveled at the BSCP as black propaganda "stage-managed" by the people who have vested interests on the sport.

"We don’t have to search very hard for the managers’ reasons. This is about the money, first and foremost. There’s also the promise and great danger of game fixing and illegal gambling taking over if the managers have their way," he said.

"This then is why we have been the object of this unrelenting campaign against us–which unfortunately you in the media have unsuspectingly helped to fan."

Before the BMPAP was organized, its prime movers fired the first salvo at the BSCP last month, chiding the billiards group for alleged lack of transparency and failing to account for some P10 million in financial support coming from the Philippine Sports Commission last year.

BSCP officials vehemently denied receiving the said amount, a claim supported by the PSC when its Chairman, William Ramirez, and Commissioner Richie Garcia said government sports agency released only P1.2M that went directly to athletes and coaches in the form of monthly stipends.

Some of the money, according to Fajardo in an earlier interview, was spent on equipment and travel expenses.

Aside from Gabica, among the players who joined the managers in launching the BMPAP last week were former world champions Efren "Bata" Reyes and Ronnie Alcano, along with former world No. 1 Francisco "Django" Bustamante.

"We should not allow ourselves to be held hostage by the managers. Ang mga manlalaro na ito ay pag-aari ng Republika ng Pilipinas at hindi ng mga managers," said BSCP director Tony Baranda. "We in the BSCP came here not only with the best intention but also with a track record."

Makabenta, who has been accused by the BMPAP of conflict of interest, he being the chairman of the BSCP and owner of Raya Sports, claimed he and some BSCP officials had mulled stepping down this year but changed their minds in the light of the controversy.

"In the face of this looming danger before our sport, we all have realized that this is not the time for stepping back or letting go. The menace is real. The future of Philippine pool is on the line. We are more determined than ever to stop this group who would bring our house to ruin," he said.