ALCANO SPEARHEADED THE EXODUS OF PINOY CUE ARTISTS—MARIANO

FILIPINO billiards masters led by former double world champion Ronato “Volcano” Alcano are now leaving the country to teach billiards in the Middle East in the absence of regular competitions and support from the National Sports Associations (NSA) and the government and to seek greener Pasteur in the famous world oil-rich country.

This was bared yesterday by Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines (BMPAP) head Ceferino “Perry” Mariano in an interview of DZSR Sports Radio.

“Marami na tayong mga player na nagtuturo sa ibang bansa kasi wala gaanong suporta ang bilyar sa ating bansa. Wala ding gaanong torneo dito.” said sportsman/ businessman Mariano.

“Sana ‘yung gobyerno natin ay suportahan ‘yung mga organizers natin ng bilyar gaya ng Raya Sports (Mr. Yen Makabenta), Star Billiards Center (Mr. Sebastian Chua), Puyat Sports (Mr. Putch Puyat), Negros Billiards Stable (Mr. Jonathan Sy) at iba pang local organizers at managers,” added Mariano, also the president of the star-studded Bugsy Promotions.

According to Mariano, Alcano spearheaded the exodus of Pinoy cue artists to the Middle East that include 2006 Doha Asian Games 9-ball gold winner Antonio “Ga-Ga” Gabica.

The Calamba hot-shot Alcano, won won the world 9-ball crown in 2007 in Manila and world 8-ball tiara in Fujairah in 2007 are scheduled to conduct a workshop for Students billiards players prepare them for the forthcoming Inter-Collegiate competition later this year. The free month-long billiards summer clinic and training workshop which will start on May at the Bugsy Morato headquarters in Tomas Morato, Quezon City.

Knowing the exceptional talents of the Filipino cue artists, the government of different Middle East countries are directly hiring them to teach their youth to play the sport, with a minimum monthly payment of 3-thousand dollars or 120-thousand pesos.The Filipinos are also allowed to bring their families, who can also look for other jobs there.

Added Mariano, Gabica is in Doha, while Alcano is fixing his papers and will leave for Doha-Qatar within this year.

Other players, who are already in the Middle East include 2006 Doha Asiad 9-ball silver winner  Jeffrey de luna  in  Saudi Arabia,  snooker specialist Joven Alba and  Joven Bustamante in Kuwait.

Meanwhile, some players are transferring to other ventures including the promising junior cue master—Mike “Tsoke” Takayama, who stopped from billiards and instead playing poker. Takayama, recently won a poker tournament enroute worth P2 million BMW brand new car.

Mariano, who managed some of these players, said that this is a sad development which would affect the future stints of the Philippine National team in International Competitions—like the Asian games and South Asian games.

Mariano is hoping that should the country needs them, they would still provide  their services.

BY: MARLON BERNARDINO.