VILLAR CUP GOES TO ISABELA

(photo caption): Senator Manny Villar with Baguio-Panagbenga leg champion Francisco “Django” Bustamante and Davao leg winner Roberto Gomez.

The country’s top cue artists gather anew to compete for top honors when The Manny Villar Cup hit the road once again, this time in Isabela on April 29 to May 1 at the La Salette High School in Santiago City .

It will be the seventh stop of the prestigious island-hopping series presented by Senator Manny Villar’s Villards: Tulong sa Pagsulong ng Philippine Sports in his effort to help promote the sport in the country, particularly to the Filipino youth.

“As what Senator Villar has been saying, this is his commitment to help further develop the sport which every Filipino can play and where our best players are dominating the international arena,” said Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines (BMPAP) president Atty. Vic Rodriguez.

“By going to different places in the country, this tournament also provides opportunity to aspiring cue artists a chance to hone their skills by playing against our world-class players like Efren “Bata” Reyes.”

Reyes, along with defending champion Francisco “Django” Bustamante, who ruled the Baguio-Panagbenga leg last February, will once again lead cast of players vying for the coveted title and close to one million pesos in cash prizes in this tournament sponsored by Camella Communities and sanctioned by the Billiards and Snooker Congress of the Philippines (BSCP).

“Muli, lubos an gaming pasasalamat kay Senator Villar sa patuloy niyang pagtulong sa bilyar lalo na sa aming mga player, partikular yung mga bata na nagkakaroon ng pagasang sumunod sa aming yapak,” said Reyes.

Besides Reyes and Bustamante, other marquee names competing in the event are former double world champion Ronnie Alcano, former world no.1 Dennis Orcollo, Joven Bustamante, Lee Van Corteza and former leg winners Warren Kiamco (Alabang), Gandy Valle (Cebu), Ramil Gallego (Bulacan), Roberto Gomez and Rodolfo Luat ( Bacolod ), and 2008 Search for the New Billiards Idol Grand Champion Mike Takayama.

Also making it to the 32-man main draw via the BMPAP ranking are Benjie Guevarra, Rene Mar David, Russian Petiza, Elmer Haya, Ricky Zerna, Godofredo Ducanes, Michael Feliciano, Egie Geronimo and William Millares.

Four slots were up for grabs in qualifying tournaments that began yesterday and will ends today at the Bowling Inn in Taft Avenue , Manila .

The remaining slots will be given to the top five finishers in the Sipag at Tiyaga division, a tournament exclusive for Isabela residents, which will be held on April 28 also at the La Sallete High School in Santiago City .

VILL

by: Press release