CUE artists led by the likes of Efren "Bata" Reyes and
Francisco "Django" Bustamante who are members of the Billiards Managers and
Players Association of the Philippines will soon be playing in a professional
league patterned after the Philippine Basketball Association.
The league, to be called the Philippine Professional
Billiards League, will be the first of its kind in the world and, according to
its organizers, will provide great opportunities not only to the established
stars but also budding pool players.
"This is it," said Perry Mariano, one of the brains behind
the league. "This will signal the start of a new era in Philippine billiards,
one that would benefit first and foremost the players. This will make the sport
truly a source of pride for Filipinos."
One of the major projects lined up by the BMPAP that was
recognized recently by the Games and Amusements Board, the PPBL will be a
season-long tournament set to be launched within the third quarter of the year.
Mariano, who conceptualized the league along with fellow
managers Aristeo "Putch" Puyat and Jonathan Sy, said they intend to have 10
corporate teams in the fold who will receive regular salaries.
"With the help of our BMPAP chairman Isaac Belmonte, we’re
very confident we could achieve that target. The BMPAP is really serious in
making sure the project pushes through this year," added Mariano.
Players like Reyes, Bustamante, Ronnie Alcano, Alex Pagulayan,
Dennis Orcollo, Roberto Gomez, Lee Van Corteza, Gandy Valle, Joven Bustamante,
Warren Kiamco and Ramil Gallego, among others, will be distributed among teams
through a draft.
BMPAP spokesman Edwin Reyes said the initial plan is to have
eight players per team.
"With 10 teams, there will be 80 players who will have regular income," said
Reyes, adding the corporations joining the league will be requested to fund the
participation of their players in other tournaments, especially those to be held
abroad.
