Bata Beats Alcano in Villar Cup Challenge Match

Efren “Bata” Reyes proved that he remains a force to reckon with in the sport where he is considered a legend as he trounced fellow former double world champion Ronnie Alcano in a “dream challenge match” during the First Senate President Manny Villar Cup Davao Leg Saturday night at the Atrium of Gaisano Mall here.

The 54-year-old pool maestro came up with superb performance, highlighted by his patented magical shots, to eke out a 5-1 decision over Alcano in a rotation match to the delight of the close to 7,000 adoring Davaoeno crowd that gathered to witness the event presented by Villards: Tulong sa Pagsulong ng Philippine Sports, in partnership with the Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines (BMPAP).

“I’m very happy that I’ve won as I really want to entertain the crowd, which is one of the best I’ve seen,” said Reyes, who finished joint fifth in the centerpiece Pro Elite Division, won by Roberto Gomez, of this fourth leg of the island-hopping series sponsored by Camella Communities.

“I hope I inspired the Davaoenos into taking this sport, which, as Senator Villar said, is ours,” added the charismatic icon.

In the match, also witnessed by Senate President Manny Villar, Davao City Mayor Rody Duterte, Davao Congressman Vincent Garcia and Nacionalista Party spokesman Gilbert Remulla, Reyes won the lag and, after trading safety shots with his foe, cleaned the opening rack to go up 1-0.

Alcano managed to tie the count at 1-1, but that’s all he could do as Reyes pocketed the next four racks to close out the match.

Villar 9-ball: Corteza, Reyes hurdle foes

Lee Vann Corteza of Davao City and Philippine billiards icon Efren "Bata" Reyes went through different routes in winning assignments at the start of the First Senate President Manny Villar Cup 9-Ball Open Thursday at the Gaisano Mall Atrium.

Former world champion Alex Pagulayan, meanwhile, met his doom right in his first match and ended up the biggest name that exited early in the tournament. Corteza, who hails from Mintal and playing under the stabe of Jonathan Sy, hacked out an impressive 9-2 victory over Jundel Mazon.

Reyes had to dig deep into his bag of tricks before scoring a pulsating a 9-8 win over Richard Purnelosa. Reyes will meet Corteza next in the P800,000 three-day cuefest that offers a whopping P300,000 to the champion. Corteza said he had already beaten Mazon twice in their two encounters, but he downplays his chances against Reyes.

"I lost to Reyes three times already. I just hope I can win tomorrow when we play," Corteza told Sun.Star Davao. Pagulayan fall to Jharome Peña, 6-9, in their first round match. Pagulayan was the first seeded player to bow out of the tournament.

World No. 1 Dennis Orcollo of Surigao lived up to his billing after his convincing 9-1 triumph over Romeo Alcano of Davao City. Alcano was runner-up in the Sipag at Tiyaga qualifying division held at the NCCC Mall B3 Center Tuesday. Former two-time world champion Ronato Alcano of Laguna, meanwhile, booted out William Millares, 9-3, while Warren Kiamco of Cebu whipped Patricio Gonzales, 9-4.

Davao City national billiards lady player Mary Ann Basas bowed to Elmer Haya of Zamboanga, 4-9. Senator Villar opened the fourth leg of the Villards Cup that kicked off in Alabang. It went next to Cebu and Bulacan before stopping in Davao. Other first round matches were still being played as of this writing Thursday.

Reyes survives; Pagulayan tumbles

Pool maestro Efren “Bata” Reyes rallied from two racks down to escape with a 9-8 victory over unheralded Richard Pornelosa at the start of the First Senate President Manny Villar Cup Davao Leg Thursday at the Atrium of Gaisano Mall.

The 54-year-old Reyes had a shaky start, committing a couple of miscues that allowed Pornelosa to seize a 6-4 lead. Reyes, however, came up with a couple of magical shots to tie the count at 6-6 and reach the hill first en route to victory.

“Sometimes you need to be lucky to win,” said Reyes. “That guy (Pornelosa) is really good and he’s really on his way to beating me. I just got lucky.” Up next for Reyes is national titlist Lee Van Corteza, who beat Jundel Mazon, 9-2.

Former double world champion Ronnie Alcano likewise advanced to the Last 16 after trouncing William Millares, 9-3. He will face Villar Cup Alabang leg titlist Warren Kiamco, who beat Patrick Gonzales, 9-4, in this fourth stop of the island-hopping pool series presented by Villards: Tulong sa Pagsulong ng Philippine Sports in cooperation with the Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines.

Current world No. 1 Dennis Orcollo is also through to the next stage as he trounced Davao qualifier Romeo Alcano, 9-1, in the three-day tournament sponsored by Camella Communities.

Former world titlist Alex Pagulayan, winner of the recent Singapore leg of the Guinness Tour, got the upset ax, yielding to Jharome Peña, 9-6. Other first round matches saw Roberto Gomez down Bugsy Promotions stablemate Johann Chua, 9-4, and Elmer Haya eliminate Mary Ann Basas, 9-4.

Reyes avoids upset to advance at Villar Cup

Efren “Bata” Reyes battled back from two racks down to dodge an upset ax and escape with a 9-8 victory over Richard Pornelosa at the start of the First Senate President Manny Villar Cup Davao Leg yesterday at the Atrium of Gaisano Mall here.

The 54-year-old pool icon got off to a faulty start, committing a couple of miscues that allowed his unheralded foe to seize a two-rack lead up to the 10th frame.

But not wanting to make an unceremonious exit, Reyes dug deep into his legendary bag of tricks and came up with a couple of magical shots enough to manage him to tie the count at 6-all.

He then used his overwhelming edge in experience to reach the hill first and get over it to the delight of a jampacked Davaoeno crowd that gathered to witness the country’s top cue artists competing in this fourth stop of the island-hopping pool series presented by Villards: Tulong sa Pagsulong ng Philippine Sports in cooperation with the Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines (BMPAP).

“Sometimes you need to be lucky to win,” said Reyes. “That guy (Pornelosa) is really good and he’s really on his way to beating. I just got lucky the breaks went my way.”

Reyes will next face reigning national champion Lee Van Corteza, who demolished Jundel Mazon, 9-2, in their opening round match.

Reyes tries RP to regain World Cup crown

Philippines, which won the inaugural staging of the World Cup of Pool when bosom buddies Efren “Bata” Reyes and Francisco “Django” Bustamante whipped the American tandem of Earl “The Pearl” Strickland and Rodney “The Rocket” Morris 13-5 in 2006 will try to regain the title this year.

This time around, Bustamante will team up with hotshot Dennis Orcollo to provide a formidable challlenge to 31 other teams from around the world when the tournament opens at Outland in Rotterdam, Holland on Oct. 7. The Filipinos appear to have a comparatively easy assignment in their first match against the Danish tandem of Martin Larsen and Kasper Kristoffersen. Larsen’s best showing so far this year has been a 17th place finish in the EuroTour in Paris while Kristoffersen’s most noteworthy performance was a 9th place finish at the Damas World 8-Ball Championship in Fujairah. Last year’s winners China will be once again represented by the talented duo of He-wen Li and JIan-bo Fu who scored a thrilling 11-10 win over the Finnish pair of Mika Immonen and Markus Juva. Luke Riches of Matchroom Sports which holds the World Cup of Pool franchise reported that Holland’s “A” team has a thrilling match in the opening round as they take on neighbors Belgium.

Nick Van Den Berg and Niels Feijen who are ranked fifth and sixth respectively in Europe, are among the favourites to win the title.

They will be backed by a large, passionate crowd as they begin their campaign against the Belgian duo of Serge Das and Noel Bruynooghe.

Reyes on Sapsal seizes pool title

Sapsal of Barangay 24-C beat Owen Candreho, 5-3, to pocket the First Senate President Manny Villar Cup 9-Ball Open Inter-Barangay Tournament title at the NCCC Mall B3 Center Sunday evening.
Sapsal, who is the brother of Bangkok Asian Games gold medalist Gandy Valle, pocketed the cash prize of P4,000 while Candreho settled for the runner-up prize of P2,000.

A. Mariomon and B. Jomuad who placed third and fourth, respectively, received P1,000 each in the one-day cuefest sponsored by Senator Villar for Davao City residents.
The qualifying tournament for the Villards Cup opened at B3 Monday and will culminate Tuesday. The top two qualifiers will advance to the main draw of the knockout tournament on Thursday to Saturday at the Gaisano Mall of Davao Atrium.

Efren "Bata" Reyes, Ronato Alcano, Alex Pagulayan, Valle, Roberto Gomez, Warren Kiamco, Dennis Orcollo, Lee Vann Corteza and Joven Bustamante are among the seeded players in the main draw that offers a total guaranteed cash prize of P800,000.

Pool Players Welcome NBL

The soon-to-be-launched National Billiards League (NBL) has received an overwhelming support from the local pool community, particularly the players who are all excited to begin what they call “the new era of Philippine billiards.”

“We’re all very happy with this development as we know that having this professional league will really lift (Philippine) billiards to new heights, and this will be the start of a new era of Philippine billiards,” said former world champion Alex Pagulayan.

After finding a television partner – Solar Sports – that would broadcast the games for the league’s inaugural season, NBL’s main proponents Philippine billiards godfather Aristeo “Putch” Puyat and fellow managers Perry Mariano and Jonathan Sy are now negotiating with several companies for sponsorship to the teams to be formed.

Last Saturday, they met with the players from the Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines (BMPAP) to formally inform them of the development and invite them to join the league. They also introduced the newly-appointed NBL commissioner in businessman Martin Misa.

“We’re formally inviting you to join the NBL, a dream that we all share for a long time, which is now coming into reality,” said Puyat during the gathering attended by the country top cue artists, led by Efren “Bata” Reyes, as well as the sport’s up-and-coming stars.

“NBL will be exclusive for you BMPAP members, who have been with us in our crusade to put out sport in the right direction,” added Puyat.

The NBL is slated to start late this year with eight teams of six players each in the fold.

Meanwhile, the players present in the meeting reiterated their stand of not joining any event “that has anything to do with Mr. Yen Makabenta” and his Raya Sports, including the planned World 10-Ball Championship, until all the issues that caused them to break away from the groups affiliated with him are resolved.

“The main reason why BMPAP bolted away from the groups affiliated with Mr. Makabenta is because of his dual role as chairman of the Billiards and Snooker Congress of the Philippines (BSCP) and President of Raya Sports, which clearly constitutes conflict of interest,” the players said in a statement.

Besides Reyes and Pagulayan, also in the meeting were former double world champion Ronnie Alcano, 2007 World Pool runner-up Roberto Gomez, Warren Kiamco, Rodolfo Luat and Joven Bustamante, among others. Reigning world no.1 Dennis Orcollo and Francisco “Django” Bustamante, who are campaigning in the United States, sent their representatives.

They said that having nothing against BSCP and they are willing to reestablish their ties with the association “if all the issues are resolved.

Villar Cup Davao Leg

DAVAO CITY – The biggest names in Philippine billiards – and in the world as well – invade the country’s largest city when the First Senate President Manny Villar Cup, now the nation’s leading pool series, holds its fourth leg on August 21 to 23 at the Atrium of Gaisano Mall here.

Led by no less than the sport’s icon Efren “Bata” Reyes, the who’s who in the local pool circuit will showcase their wizardry before the Davaoenos, who will be celebrating their much-anticipated Kadayawan Festival.

“I’m very honored to bring here in Davao our world-class cue artists and take part in your celebration of life and thanksgiving to the Almighty,” said Senate President Manny Villar during the tournament’s press launch Thursday at Gerry’s Grill in Gaisano Mall.

“Again, this is part of my commitment to help promote the sport, which we Filipinos are the no.1 in the world. I hope that by bringing the Villar Cup here, it would encourage our people, especially the youth, not only here in Davao but in the entire Mindanao as well, to take the sport and stay out of trouble,” he added.

Villar was joined in the special forum of the Davao Sportswriters Association by Reyes, along with fellow former world champions Alex Pagulayan and Ronnie Alcano, 2007 World Pool runner-up Roberto Gomez, former Asian Games gold medalist Gandy Valle and three-time Southeast Asian Games titlist Warren Kiamco.

All of them, along with other established and up-and-coming pool stars, are seeing action in the tournament presented by Villards: Tulong sa Pagsulong ng Philippine Sports in cooperation with the Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines (BMPAP) and sponsored by Camella Communities.

Valle and Kiamco are two of the previous Villar Cup winners with the former winning the Cebu leg last June and the latter ruling the inaugural Alabang leg in May. Ramil Gallego bagged the Bulacan edition last month and will be defending the crown here.

Besides the Pro Elite division, the Villar Cup Davao leg will also have the Sipag at Tiyaga category and the “Villards sa Barangay” edition.

The Sipag at Tiyaga division, which will be held on August 18 and 19 at the B3 Billiards Center of the NCCC Mall, is open to all non-elite professional players from all over the country, while the Villards sa Barangay, slated on August 17 at the same venue, is a tournament exclusive for Davaoeno amateur players.

Sanctioned by the Games and Amusements Board (GAB), the Villar Cup is also supported by Puyat Sports, Bugsy Promotions and Negros Billiards Stable.

B3 is practice venue for top cue masters including Efren "Bata" Reyes

NCCC Mall B3 (Billiards, Bowling & Bar) Center will be the practice venue for Efren "Bata" Reyes, Alex "The Lion" Pagulayan, Dennis "Robocop" Orcollo, Ronato "Volcano" Alcano and other seeded players seeing action in the First Senator Manny Villar Cup 9-Ball Open Davao Leg.

Reyes and company will have their practice from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on August 20 at B3 before they wow the Davao fans with spectacular shots during the tournament proper set August 21 to 23 at the Gaisano Mall of Davao Atrium.

Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines (BMPAP) secretary-general Gandy Valle bared this to Sun.Star Davao Monday evening.

"The players would like to practice the night before the tournament opens. NCCC Mall B3 Center is the best and the most qualified venue for the practices. It is air-conditioned and it has standard tables. It also accessible to Dabawenyos who want to see their idols on practice," Valle said.

B3 is also hosting the Villar Cup Sipag at Tiyaga Inter-Barangay category for Davao City residents on August 17 and the qualifying tournament on August 18 and 19 where the top two qualifiers will earn slots to the main draw of the P800,000 open cuefest.

The inter-barangay event offers P10,000 to the champion while the qualifying champion bags the P20,000 top purse. The runner-up pockets P9,000, while the third and fourth placers will each receive P3,000 each.
In the main competition, the champion might take home P300,000 cash or more.

Valle, the Villar Cup Cebu Leg champion, and fellow Davao City player Lee Vann Corteza are also seeded in the main draw along with the champions in the Alabang and Bulacan legs and reigning World Pool Championship runner-up Roberto Gomez, among other must-see cue artists.

Efren "Bata" Reyes on P800T up for grabs in Villar Cup

A Guaranteed total cash prize of P800,000 will be up for grabs in the star-studded First Senate President Manny Villar Cup 9-Ball Open Davao leg set August 21 to 23 at the Gaisano Mall of Davao Atrium.

Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines (BMPAP) secretary-general Gandy Valle made the announcement during the Davao Sportswriters Association (DSA) Forum at the Tower Inn.

Valle, who guested with Davao Billiards Association (DBA) president Menlee Migellano, said the office of Senator Villar has yet to send a breakdown of the prizes, although he revealed that the champion will take home not less than P300,000. The runner-up and the next top players will also receive huge prizes.

Valle said they will also hold an inter-barangay competition on August 17 for all-Davao players and a qualifying tournament on August 18 and 19 at the NCCC Mall B3 Center. The qualifying tournament is open for those who want to earn a slot to the main event to be held at the Gaisano Mall.

Migellano said the inter-barangay champion will pocket P10,000 while the qualifying champion will bag P20,000 and book a slot in the Villar Cup Open along with the runner-up who will get P9,000. The qualifying third and fourth placers, meanwhile, will go home with P3,000 each.

Valle, a former Bangkok Asian Games doubles gold medallist, confirmed the participation of pool sharks Efren "Bata" Reyes, current World No. 1 Dennis "Robocop" Orcollo, Alex "The Lion" Pagulayan, reigning World Pool runner-up Roberto Gomez, Davao City's Southeast Asian (SEA) Games back-to-back medallist and New York champion Lee Vann Corteza and former two-time world pool champion Ronato Alcano, among other big names.

"Only Francisco 'Django' Bustamante can't make it to the Davao leg because he has a campaign abroad on the same schedule as our tournament here. The leg champions in Alabang, Cebu and Bulacan will also come and put up a stiff challenge," said Valle, who won the Cebu leg of the prestigious cuefest.

Valle downplayed his chances to winning the Davao leg title citing the huge cast of veterans entered in the knockout, race-to-nine, alternate-break format meet. "I'll just focus on my game," he said.

Villar is the guest speaker in the opening rites on August 21 and he will also be on hand to award the prizes on August 23.