BY CHRISTINE MONCADA
AFTER observing several days of ceasefire, the Billiards and
Snookers Congress of the Philippines and the Billiards Managers and Players
Association of the Philippines are at loggerheads again, this time on the issue
of the BSCP’s choice of the country’s representatives to the coming 2008
Guinness 9-Ball Tour.
Lawyer Vic Rodriguez, BMPAP president, yesterday said players
are questioning why the BSCP resorted to handpicking players for the Tour,
instead of holding a qualifying tournament for the three slots the association
has been allotted in the six-leg Asian series.
Although Tour organizers have yet to formally announce the
players who will see action in this year’s inaugural stage set on Feb. 29 to
March 2 in Taipei, it has been reported (not in Malaya) that the BSCP has chosen
Marlon Manalo, Antonio Gabica and Jeff De Luna to play in the event.
"What’s their (BSCP officials) basis for selecting the
three?" asked Rodriguez, who was recently elected president of the BMPAP, the
group recognized by the Games and Amusements Board. "Is this their reward for
joining Raya and signing up with its PBDF (Philippine Billiards Development
Foundation)?"
"Yan ngang ‘turo-turo system’ na ’yan ang ikinagalit ng mga
players sa kanila, and yet here they are again. This is another injustice not
just for the players but also for our country," said BMPAP prime mover Perry
Mariano.
The three, who were bottom-dwellers in last year’s series,
according to BMPAP spokesman Edwin Reyes, are set to join former world champion
Alex Pagulayan and Joven Bustamante who are endorsers of Guinness Beer and
therefore given automatic slots to the series.
Rodriguez said they will file a protest with the Tour
organizer through the GAB.
"Filling-up these three slots without holding a qualifier,
which can be completed in a day, is downright unfair and prejudiced," said
Reyes. "Is this fair to all other pro players here? Why no-minate last year’s
bottom-dwellers for the three spots available instead of holding a qualifier to
determine who has it in their heart to represent the country?"
Reyes also noted that under the current WPA rankings, Manalo,
De Luna and Gabica are way below the standings at Nos. 36, 56 and 119th,
respectively.
Currently ranked No. 1 in the world is Dennis Orcollo, with Ronnie Alcano No.
3, followed by No. 6 Joven Busta-mante, No.11 Francisco "Django" Bus-tamante,
No.13 Roberto Gomez, No.28 Warren Ki-amco, No.32 Efren "Bata" Reyes and even the
unheralded Elvis Calasang, who is at No. 34.
