GABICA, MANALO JOIN NEW BSCP

Doha Asian Games gold medalist Antonio “Gaga” Gabica and long-time national team mainstay Marlon Manalo have joined their fellow top Filipino cue artists in recognizing the new leadership of the Billiards and Snooker Congress of the Philippines even as the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) officially validated the election it conducted last week.

Saying he is very sorry for betraying his fellow players, Gabica humbly apologized for his mistake in joining the group of former BSCP chairman Yen Makabenta and former president Ernesto Fajardo and turning his back in their fight.

“Nagkamali ako,” said Gabica. “Kaya narito ako at humihingi ng paumanhin lalung-lalo na sa inyo mga kapwa ko player.”

“Nakahanda akong tanggapin kung ano mang parusa ang ipapataw ninyo akin. Kahit ano pa man inyo masaya pa rin ako na makasama n’yong muli.”

For his part, Manalo said he recognized the new BSCP leadership, led by chairman Aristeo “Putch” Puyat and president Arturo “Bong” Ilagan, for he believes it is the will of the majority of billiards stakeholders in the country.

“I’ve spent more than half of my life playing for our country and as much as I’m very thankful to Mr. Makabenta and Mr. Fajardo for taking care of me, I must go with this new leadership as it has the blessing of the POC,” said Manalo, who is also one of the country’s top snooker player.

Teary eyed, Manalo even pleaded to Makabenta’s group not pursue with its plan to contest the legitimacy the new BSCP leadership to the court.

“Sir tama na,” he said. “Sundin na lang natin kung ano ang gusto ng nakararami at magtulong-tulong na lang tayo para lalong palakasin ang Philippine billiards.”

Gabica and Manalo joined some two dozen players, led by Efren “Bata” Reyes in paying a courtesy call to POC president Jose “Peping” Cojuangco yesterday morning.

There, the players, accompanied by Puyat, Ilagan, BSCP secretary-general Joaquin Perez de Tagle and Bugsy promotions head Perry Mariano, expressed their gratitude to Cojuangco for his help in resolving the controversy that dragged for more than a year.

In return, Cojuangco urged the new BSCP leaders, as well as the players, to do their best in promoting the sport particularly to the youth.

“Use your popularity to encourage our young Filipinos to get into sport,” Cojuangco told the group that also includes newly-crowned Japan Open champion Ramil Gallego, Roberto Gomez, Joven Bustamante, Gandy Valle, Dennis Orcollo, Warren Kiamco, Rodolfo Luat, Ricky Zerna, Elmer Haya, and top lady players Rubilen Amit and Mary Ann Basas, among others.

by: press release