THE country hosting the World Pool Championship for the third straight time still hangs in the air due to the lack of sponsors that could help shoulder the expenses.

Billiards and Snooker Congress of the Philippines chairman Yen Makabenta admitted this yesterday, adding the WPC rights may be passed on to other hosts.

"We have an option to host it but everything is still under negotiation," said Makabenta in a press conference at the Visayas Room of Sofitel Philippine Plaza.

"Two days ago we had a discussion with ESPN and Matchroom Sport. The problem really is the cost. They want a little more but we want to pay less than the last time we staged it here," added the president of Raya Sports.

"At the moment, a couple of sponsors are showing interest but that’s not really enough. It’s really about funding," said Makabenta, accompanied by BSCP president Ernesto Fajardo, treasurer Sebastian Chua and spokesman Jun Diokno.

The country hosted the last two editions of the WPC with Filipino Ronato Alcano winning the 2006 crown and Daryl Peach of England preventing a Filipino back-to-back when he beat Roberto Gomez in the 2007 final.

The 2007 WPC did not fare well as far as gate receipts and television sponsorships and in 2006 Makabenta admitted the event lost almost P10 million.

Otherwise, the BSCP’s other events for the year are pretty much clear-cut.

Highlight of the association’s calendar will be the World Pool 10-Ball Championship on Nov. 8-16 in a still to be determined venue and the Philippine 10-Ball Open slated May 5-11 at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza.

The first tournament for this year is the 2nd Philippine Junior Championship on March 20-23 at the Star Billiards Center in Quezon City.

The BSCP Philippine Pool Tour will be held starting April with Quezon City as the first stop. Other legs of this tournament are Puerto Princesa in Palawan, Davao, Cebu, Subic in Olongapo, Boracay and Manila.

A developmental tournament called METROPOOL Students League is also in the offing to be staged July 2-6 at the BSCP Billiards Center at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.

According to Fajardo, the goal of the METROPOOL Students League is to find the 10 best young pool players aged 19 and below.