BUGSY BOYS SWEEP VILLAR CUP QUALIFIERS

Bugsy boys once again underscored their tag as the best billiards stable in the country as three of its young guns swept the disputed slots to the Senator Manny Villar Cup Panagbenga leg main draw in a qualifying tournament Tuesday at the Bowling Inn in Taft Avenue , Manila .

Richard Pornelosa, Emil Martinez and Jordan Legaspi emerged from the field of 48 aspirants to join the elite crop of cue artists vying in the prestigious island-hopping series presented by Senator Manny Villar’s Villards: Tulong sa Pagsulong ng Philippine Sports and sponsored by Camella Communities.

Pornelosa, a consistent qualifier in the Villar Cup, made it by defeating in succession Jun Caro (7-6), Joan Alisbo (7-3), and Jundel Mazon (7-5).

Martinez also swept his matches, beating Steve Villamil (7-0), Marvin Tapia (7-5) and Legaspi (7-4) to earn a shot at the P300,000 top purse at stake in the tournament that begins tomorrow in SM City Baguio.

Legaspi clinched the third and final qualifying berth by beating Mazon, 7-3, in a playoff match.

Already in the main draw are Efren “Bata” Reyes, Ronnie Alcano, Alex Pagulayan, Dennis Orcollo, Francisco ”Django” Bustamante, Lee Van Corteza, Antonio Lining, Joven Bustamante and last year’s leg winners Warren Kiamco (Alabang), Gandy Valle (Cebu), Ramil Gallego (Bulacan), Gomez ( Davao ) and Rodolfo Luat ( Bacolod ).

Also making it are 10 players from the BMPAP rankings in Carlo Biado, Russian Petiza, William Millares, Benjie Guevarra, Michael Feliciano, Elmer Haya, Egie Geronimo, Ricky Zerna, Godofredo Ducanes and Rene Mar David, as well as 2008 Search for the New Billiards Idol grand winner Mike Takayama.

The BMPAP also awarded the two wild card slots to top Filipina player Rubilen Amit and Canadian Gerry Watson.

The Villar Cup Panagbenga leg is part of the city’s month-long flower festival, where over a million visitors are expected to witness.

By: Press release