LUAT TOPS BACOLOD BILLIARD FESTIVAL; VILLAR CUP

Rodolfo “Boy Samson” Luat defeated Bacolod Bet Ramil “Bebeng” Gallego, 13-10, in the finals to rule the just concluded The Bacolod International Billiard Festival, First Senate President Manny Villar Cup Bacolod leg late Sunday at the Garden Royale, Bacolod City.

Winning a tournament against the different world’s best players is a very big accomplishment, and “I’m very happy winning this game,” said veteran Boy Samson Luat of the Negros Billiards Stable businessman Jonathan Sy.

The feat made Luat the first winner of this international event hopping series presented by Villards: Tulong sa Pagsulong ng Philippine Sports and organized by the Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines in cooperation with the city government of Bacolod led by Mayor Evelio Leonardia and the Negros Billiards Stable (NBS) of businessman Jonathan Sy and sponsored by Camella Communities and Koppiko. It also earned him the top purse of $15,000.00, or more than a half a million pesos.

The veteran Rodolfo Luat, also the 2006 SMB Asian 9-ball tour champion (Kaohsiung), took advantage of former 2006 Hokuriku Open Champion “amil Bebeng” missed shot in 4th ball at the 18th rack to pull the upset against one of the sport’s all-time greats in their final four encounter. He had earlier beaten Michael Feliciano.

Gallego settled for the runner-up honor and a cash prize of $5,000.The NBS Star of Bacolod made it to the finals by edging the Magician Efren “Bata” Reyes, 11-8, in the Final Four. Before that, he had earlier demolishing Japanese Kenji Taguchi, 11-5. Meanwhile, losing semi-finalists Efren “Bata” Reyes and Michael Feliciano each received $2,500.