QC INVASION: TEAM WORLD RULES

(photo caption): Senator Manny Villar presented the trophy and medals to the members of Team World, who won over Team Quezon City-Philippines in their Grand VILLARDS showdown. Also in photo is Quezon City Council Majority Floor Leader Ariel Inton, who represented Mayor Sonny Belmonte.

Team Quezon City-Philippines reached the hill first but could not get over it, squandering three opportunities to do it to allow Team World to escape with a 9-8 win and rule the Q.C. Invasion: Quezon City-Philippines vs the World Grand VILLARDS Showdown Thursday night at the jampacked activity center of Trinoma Mall in Quezon City .

After playing catch-up in the first two days, the Filipinos came out smoking in the final day to steal the driver’s seat from the foreign invaders and looked on their way to winning this event presented by Senator Manny Villar’s VILLARDS: Tulong sa Pagsulong ng Philippine sports and the Quezon City government led by Mayor Sonny Belmonte and Councilor Ariel Inton.

After Warren Kiamco lost to Thorsten Hohmann, 7-4, in the finals day’s first match, the home squad raked in four consecutive victories – Francisco “Django” Bustamante edged Raj Hundal, 7-6; Efren “Bata” Reyes subdued Rodney Morris, 7-5; the foursome of Bustamante, Alex Pagulayan, Dennis Orcollo and Roberto Gomez prevailing over the quartet of Hundal, Yang Ching-shun, Mika Immonen and Wu Chia-ching, 7-6; and Gomez blasting Charlie Williams, 7-3 – for an 8-6 lead in their race-to-nine duel.

But just at it seemed that the Philippines will once again stamp another proof of the country’s dominance of the sport, everything went awry.

Orcollo blew an early lead and fell into the upset ax of Williams, 7-5, and the team of Reyes, Alcano, Kiamco and Lee Van Corteza likewise squandered a 5-2 advantage and bowed to the squad of Morris, Williams, Hohmann and Fu Jianbo, 7-6, to make it a hill-hill battle for the $40,000 top purse at stake in this three-day cuefest organized by the Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines (BMPAP) headed by Atty. Vic Rodriguez.

Same thing happened in the deciding match. The quartet of Pagulayan, Gomez, Alcano and Kiamco also posted an early lead but ended up succumbing to the group of Morris, Wu, Williams and Hundal, 7-5.

And the ‘World’ ruled this prestigious event sponsored by Camella Communities with Solar Sports, RPN-9, the Philippine Star and BusinessMirror as media partners.

“They (Team World) are more experienced in team competition, especially the Americans and the Europeans, who have the Mosconi Cup,” said Pagulayan. “We’ll try to bounce back next time.”

Senator Villar, who led the awarding ceremonies, praised the locals’ gallant stand. He said “I’m very proud of our team for showing courage and big fighting heart.”

“And I will continue to support our players and the whole Philippine billiards for this is one of the fields that consistently brings pride to our nation,” added Villar.

The Filipinos did not go home empty-handed as they received the consolation prize of $20,000.

BY: Tournament Staff

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