Joey Pardales edged Bobong dela Cruz, 9-8, in the finals to rule the eighth leg of the Search for the New Billiards Idol held over the weekend at the AMF-Puyat Billiards Center in Farmers Plaza in Cubao, Quezon City.
The feat, a breakthrough for the 21-year-old mainstay of FE Promotions of Sta. Maria Bulacan councilor Fe Ramos, earned him the P10,000 top purse and, more important, boosted his tag as one of the rising stars of Philippine billiards.
Pardales joined Mark Mendoza, Roberto Dy, Jomar de Ocampo, Benjie Guevarra, Russian Petiza, Egie Geronimo and stablemate William Millares in the elite list of winners in this series of tournaments organized by the Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines (BMPAP).
Prior to beating Dela Cruz, Pardales, a resident of Paco, Manila, downed in succession Bugsy boys Petiza (7-6), Mike Takayama (7-3) and De Ocampo (7-5) to enter the semifinals, where he squeaked past Godfredo Ducanes of Negros Billiards Stable, 7-6, to barge into the finals of this tournament supported by Bugsy Promotions, Puyat Sport, NBS, ER Cues and Association of Club Karaoke and Disco Operators (ACKDO) and sanctioned by the Games and Amusements Board (GAB).
The victory also earned Pardales a slot to Pro-Elite category of the First Senate President Manny Villar Cup Bulacan Leg slated from July 25 to 27 at the Events Center of SM City Marilao.
Dela Cruz settled for the runner-up purse of P5,000. He made it to the finals by defeating Manolo Tanasas (7-3), Kenneth Garcia (7-5), Ricky Zerna (7-5) and Arnel Bautista (7-5).
Pardales is The New Billiards Idol
July 16, 2008