VILLAR CUP ISABELA LEG MAIN DRAW STARTS TODAY

Santiago City – The cream of the Philippine billiards’ crop, led by no less than Efren “Bata” Reyes, compete with the rising stars and local hopefuls in the main draw of The Manny Villar Cup, which begins today at the La Salette High School gymnasium here.

Reyes, the 55-year-old pool icon, is looking for his first Villar Cup title after coming up short in the previous six stops of this prestigious island-hopping series presented by Senator Manny Villar’s Villards: Tulong sa Pagsulong ng Philippine Sports.

“Napakahirap talagang manalo dahil ang dami nang magagaling na player ngayon at madami pang gumagaling dahil sa sunod-sunod na tournament gaya nitong Villar Cup,” said Reyes, who was the runner-up in the Alabang leg and a semifinalist in Bacolod .

“Pero gagawin pa rin natin ang ating makakaya para mag-champion at sana ay patuloy pa rin akong makapagbigay ng inspirasyon sa mga kabataan,” he added.

Senator Villar will be on hand to formally declare the games open and hit the ceremonial break of this seventh leg of this series co-organized by the Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines , sponsored by Camella Communities and sanctioned by the Billiards and Snooker Congress of the Philippines .

“Ako ay natutuwa dahil parami nang parami ang sumasali sa torneong ito, at ito ay patunay na tama ang ginagawa kong pagsuporta sa sport na sa aking paniniwala ay angkop na angkop sa ating mga Pilipino,” said Villar, now considered as the godfather of Philippine billiards.

Besides Reyes, other marquee players competing for the coveted crown and a lion’s share of the P800,000 pot at stake are former world no.1 Dennis Orcollo, two-time world champion Ronnie Alcano, and former leg winners Warren Kiamco (Alabang), Gandy Valle (Cebu), Ramil Gallego (Bulacan), Roberto Gomez (Davao), Rodolfo Luat ( Bacolod ) and Francisco “Django” Bustamante.

Also in field are veteran internationalists Lee Van Corteza, Joven Bustamante and Godofredo Ducanes, as well as rising stars Rene Mar David, Mike Takayama, Michael Feliciano, Benjie Guevarra, William Millares, Russian Petiza, Elmer Haya, Ricky Zerna Egie Geronimo, Jomel Sultan, Jharome Pena, Ruben Cuna and Emil Martinez.

The five remaining slots were being contested by dozens of local aspirants as of presstime.

After Isabela, the Villar Cup will travel to Lipa City for its Batangas leg on May 22 to 24 at SM City Lipa.

Senator Villar will also be the chief backer of the regional and national championships the BMPAP is planning to hold starting next month.

(in photo): Villar with the country’s top cue artists.

By: Press release