MANILA, PHILIPPINES---Who will be the future prospect to take over Filipino billiards master Efren “Bata” Reyes and Francisco “Django” Bustamante as the greatest Pinoy genius in the pool table?
If Aristeo “Putch” Puyat, RP billiards patron you will ask, here his opinion's.
“I believe Marlon (Manalo) and Alex (Pagulayan) who possible take over Bata (Reyes) and Django (Bustamante) in the future based in their magnificent showing here and abroads.” said Puyat, who acted the God Father of RP billiards and snooker team, the over-all champion in the just concluded Manila 23rd SEA Games who hauled eight golds, two silver and one bronze.
Ernesto “Ernie” Fajardo, Billiards and Snooker Congress of the Philippines (BSCP) president said. “No question about it! Marlon (Manalo) and Alex (Pagulayan) is the future pillar of the RP billiards team."
Fajardo, on the other hand, optimistic that Team Philippines can perform well in the upcoming 15th Asian Games in Doha, Qatar which slated on December 1 to 15, 2006 after a successful results in the just concluded 23rd SEA Games here in Manila and the triumvirate (Bata, Django and Manalo) doing well in the international competition.
“Base in their magnificent performance/ results of our pool player shown here and abroad I believe we can do greater things in the upcoming quadrennial meet next year in Doha, Qatar."
The 27-year-old Cabagan, Isabela native Pagulayan is the most Filipino bemedalled athlete in the billiards and snooker competition after contributing three gold medal in the 23rd SEA Games.
Pagulayan also the 2004 World 9-ball ruler and 2005 US Open kingpin.
While the 28-year-old Mandaluyong City pride Manalo won the inaugural edition of Texas Hold 'Em Billiards Invitational the other day to received his biggest pay check of US $100,000 (approximately P5.4 million) in the eight man-field, winner-take all events.
The 51-year-old Angeles City bet Bata Reyes ruled the IPT's King of the Hill Invitational 8-Ball Shootout in Orlando, Florida last week to received the champions' purse of US$ 200,000 (approximately 10.8 Million).
Bustamante and Manalo occupied the top three spots in the qualifying round which is dominated by Bata Reyes.
According to Puyat and Fajardo, Chinese-Taipei led by 2005 World 9-ball champion and 16-year-old Wu Chia-Ching is the top favorite team in the 2005 Asian Games in Doha, Qatar. Not to be outdone the power-house of Japan and Korea.
Ten gold at stakes in the billiards and snooker competition in the 15th Asian Games. They are 8-ball and 9-ball pool competition both for men's and women's; snooker single, double and team event, English Billiards single and doubles and three cushion single.
