Gomez draws inspiration from daughter

Newly crowned First Senate President Manny Villar Cup 9-Ball Open Davao City leg champion Roberto "Superman" Gomez of Zamboanga City offered his victory to his one-year-old daughter Samantha.

"Para sa anak ko ito. Inspirado akong maglaro at manalo dahil sa kaniya. Masayang-masaya ako sa panalong ito. Malaking pasalamat ko at binigyan ako ng Diyos ng magagandang breaks (This is for my child. I'm inspired to play and win because of her. I'm very happy with this victory. I thank God for giving me good breaks)," Gomez told Sun.Star Davao after crushing Gandy Valle, 11-4 in the finals Saturday night at the Atrium of Gaisano Mall.

The 29-year-old Gomez, a runner-up in the 2007 World Pool Championship in Manila, said it was great to play against Valle, 31, whom he cited as a player who can really clean up the table. "But I just really got lucky with my breaks while he struggled with his," Gomez said. Valle, an Asian Games gold medalist Valle who ruled the Villards Cup Cebu Leg in June, trailed early in the match, 1-5, as he succumbed to costly safety errors and miscues.

Gomez also capitalized on Valle's three straight dry breaks to control the match when he led at 10-4. In the 15th rack, Valle threw in the towel while Gomez was set to shoot the black 8-ball to the applause of the spectators. Later, Valle admitted he couldn't make good his breaks. "I really had bad breaks. It was his game all throughout. I'm happy for him," he said.

Valle's wife Rosyl added: "I'm happy that he (Valle) made it to the finals although he didn't win the title. Well, he has already won the Cebu leg. It's good somebody else won the Davao leg." Gomez bagged the P300,000 top prize, while Valle received P120,000 from Senator Villar, who personally awarded the prizes.

Former world champion Alex "The Lion" Pagulayan, meanwhile, entertained the crowd with his antics and trick shots albeit a handful of tries to perfect them after the championship match. Efren "Bata" Reyes also wowed the appreciative crowd with his magical shots as he defeated two-time world champion Ronnie Alcano, 5-1, in their 15-ball rotation exhibition match witnessed by Villar, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte and former Cavite congressman Gilbert Remulla.

"Masayang-masaya po ang experience na makapaglaro dito sa Davao kasama ang mga pinakamagagaling na Filipino players sa mundo. Nagpapasalamat po kami sa oportunidad na binigay sa amin ni Senator Villar na makalaro dito at mapanood ng mga taga-Davao (It's a good experience to be able to play with the best players in the world right here in Davao. We're thankful to Senator Villar for giving us the opportunity to play here and be witnessed by Dabawenyos)," Reyes said.

The next stop of the Villards Cup: Tulong sa Pagsulong ng Philippine Sports, sponsored by Senator Villar in cooperation of the Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines (BMPAP), is set in the Visayas.

Valle, Gomez forge title clash for Villar Cup top plum

Local pool idol Gandy Valle thwarted Carlo Biado’s fiery rally to win, 10-8, on Saturday and forge a title duel with Roberto Gomez in the First Senate President Manny Villar Cup Davao leg at the Atrium of Gaisano Mall here.

The in-form Gomez, the 2007 World Pool runner-up, bested current world No. 1 Dennis Orcollo, 10-7, in the other semifinal of the event that lured the country’s top cue artists to this city celebrating its Kadayawan Festival.

The 31-year-old Valle and Gomez will clash in the race-to-11 finals slated last night, with the winner bagging P300,000 plus trophy.

His win over Biado put Valle at the threshold of becoming the first two-leg winner of the island-hopping series presented by Villiards: Tulong sa Pagsulong ng Philippine Sports in partnership with the Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines (BMPAP).

“I’m very happy to go this far in this very tough field,” said Valle, winner of the Cebu leg last June. “The pressure of playing in front of my fellow Davaoeños is so big, and I’m very glad I was able to handle it. I just hope I could continue to do so in the finals,” added Valle, who trounced Joven Bustamante, 9-5, in the quarterfinals Friday night.

Valle is likely to encounter rough sailing against Gomez, who also downed former double world champion Ronnie Alcano, 9-7, in the quarterfinals of the event backed by Camella Communities and supported by Puyat Sports, Bugsy Promotions, Negros Billiards Stable and Gaisano Mall.

Starting hot, Valle took four of the first five racks. He, however, bungled a relatively easy shot on the red-3 in the sixth frame, allowing La Union’s Biado to recover.

World 9-ball finalist Gomez wins Davao stop of Villar Cup

Roberto Gomez defeated Gandy Valle 11-4 to win the Davao City leg of the Manny Villar 9-ball Cup Saturday night at the Gaisano Mall.

Gomez received P300,000, while Valle pocketed P120,000.

Gomez lost the lag but he took the opening rack after Valle missed a tough-angled shot of the red-3. That ignited Gomez’s run, where he scored seven of the first nine racks to take a 7-2 lead and coast to the title.

Before he faced Valle, Gomez had to endure a tough grind. He opened his campaign by beating two-time world juniors campaigner Rene Mar David 9-4 before downing another rising star Elmer Haya, 9-6, in the second round.

That set Gomez up for a quarterfinals encounter with former double world champion Ronnie Alcano, whom he narrowly beat 9-7.

In the semis, Gomez just had enough nerves in the end game to escape with a 10-7 win over world no.1 Dennis Orcollo.

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.

Roberto Gomez 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.

RP pool masters off to Qatar for 9-ball tournament

Manila, Philippines – Former World Pool champs Efren "Bata" Reyes, Alex Pagulayan, and Ronnie Alcano will lead the Philippine contestants going to Doha for the 2008 Qatar 9-Ball Championship, which starts on Friday, June 27, at the Qatar Billiards and Snooker Federation Hall.

The other contestants are current world no.1 Dennis Orcollo, former world no.1 Francisco "Django" Bustamante, 2007 World Pool runner-up Roberto Gomez, defending national champion Lee Van Corteza, veterans Warren Kiamco and Ramil Gallego, upcoming stars Joven Bustamante and Benjie Guevarra, and recent Villar Cup Cebu leg champ Gandy Valle.

The tournament offers total prizes worth $150,000, according to a statement issued on Wednesday by the Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines (BMPAP).

"I hope I could carry a momentum from my Villar Cup triumph," Valle said.

Reyes, Francisco Bustamante, Orcollo, and Corteza are all seeded to the main draw. But Valle, Pagulayan, Alcano, Gomez, Kiamco, Gallego, Guevarra, and Bustamante still need to earn their spots in the 96-person main draw through the two-day qualifying tilt starting on Friday.