WPBL To Host Charitable Match For Philippine Typhoon Relief

Warren Kiamco
The World Professional Billiard League will host THE WPBL All Star Charity Billiards Challenge for Philippine typhoon relief at the WPBL Arena Friday February 14, 2014 at 6:30 pm. Proceeds from the pay-per-view match as well as the entire WPBL playoffs will benefit those affected by the devastation that Typhoon Haiyan unleashed on the island country in Southeast Asia on November 7, 2013. 
 
Billiards rank amongst the most popular sports in the Philippines, which has produced many of the industry’s legends. The category five super storm impacted more than 25 million lives including those of pool players and their families with winds exceeding 200 mph. The WPBL benefit will feature three of the world’s best Filipino players:  Dennis Orcollo (12th worldwide), and Carlo Biado (3rd worldwide) and acting as the team captain is the WPBL’s #1 ranked player Warren Kiamco.  Team “Philippines” will take on the WPBL’s top players including team captain Darren Appleton (7th worldwide), Thorsten Hohmann (1st worldwide), and John Morra (4th WPBL).  
 
The charitable PPV match will be featured live on the WPBL website for $9.99 or $29.99 for 10 days/11 matches of Bonus Ball action including both the WPBL Championship Match and the WPBL ALL Star Charity Billiards Challenge. A portion of the proceeds from the WPBL playoffs and challenge match will be used for the donation to the Rising Asian Pacific Americans Coalition for Diversity (RAPACD 501c3) and designated for aid in the Philippines.  
 
RAPACD was founded by Filipina Salve Vargas Edelman and is an organization based in Las Vegas, Nevada whose motto is to “Engage, Educate, Empower and Inspire”.  The charity is located at the RAPACD Cultural Center at 3337 and 3339 West Washington Street (between Baker St. and Washington Ave.) Las Vegas, Nevada and inside the historic Lorenzi Park. Their primary mission is to represent, serve, and advocate on behalf of the Asian Pacific American community within the Las Vegas area. Previously Vargas-Edelman has coordinated a medical mission which provided aid to thousands in need in the Philippines.  With the devastation unleashed as a result of Typhoon Hiayan also known as typhoon Yolanda, the RAPACD Director said:  “As a Filipino Community Leader, it is my duty and responsibility to mobilize the entire community, and to collaborate with other Asian Pacific Islanders Community Leaders to donate and collect balikbayan boxes (corrugated shipping box) which contain gently used clothes, medical supplies, nonperishable food, canned good, toiletries, shoes, etc.”.  Vargas Edelman’s Charity has collected over 60 boxes and are still collecting!  Proceeds from the WPBL event will be used to ship the boxes and purchase more needed items like vitamins, food, blankets, etc., which will be distributed directly to the indigent families!
 
The league’s top player Warren Kiamco who is a member of the 1st place New York Pride and native Filipino, was honored to be selected to play in this event saying “I am proud to represent both the WPBL and my country to help in the typhoon relief” Kiamco is also joined on the Pride by HOF team captain Earl Strickland and Larry Nevel. League President Larry Chiborak stated “the devastation throughout the country is overwhelming…these are our friends who are suffering, and we are honored that the WPBL can assist those who have had to endure this tragedy”.
 
To purchase the WPBL All Star Charity Billiards Challenge or the entire 10 day/ 11 match Championship Package please visit www.WPBLtv.com. Additionally, all previously recorded regular season matches are available to view for free via the WPBL website under the “Schedule” tab. Please follow the WPBL as the playoffs draw near, additional announcements and updates will be made frequently. For a complete listing of broadcast matches, standings, merchandise and more visit the WPBL website.