16-year-old Chua rules Pasay 10-Ball

Johann “Bubwit” Chua defeated Bugsy stablemate Rene Mar David, 13-6, in the finals to rule the Pasay 10-Ball Open Tuesday night at the Libertad Billiards Hall in Pasay City.

The feat awarded the 16-year-old Chua the P25,000 and, more important, boosted his stock as one of the rising stars in Philippine billiards.

“I'm very proud of this accomplishment. This maybe a just a small tournament but I've beaten a tough field, and I believe that winning a big one is process, which includes winning small tournaments like this,” said the prize find of Bugsy Promotions head Perry Mariano.

David, the 18-year-old two-time World Juniors Championship campaigner and Villar Cup Bulacan leg's Sipag at Tiyaga division titlist, settled for the runner-up purse worth P15,000.

The tournament attracted dozens of veteran and upstarts, which includes internationalists Mario Tolentino and Elvis Calasang, along with other Bugsy boys Benjie Guevarra and Jomar de Ocampo and players from the fast-rising Negros Billiards Stable of businessman Jonathan Sy.

Meanwhile, Romar Villones trounced Steve Villamil, 7-3, in the finals to become the ninth leg winner of the Search for the New Billiards Idol last Saturday at the AMF-Puyat Billiards Center in Farmers Plaza in Cubao, Quezon City.

The win earned Villones, a NBS member, the P10,000 top prize at stake in this pilot grassroots development project of the Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines (BMPAP), supported by Puyat Sports, Bugsy Promotions, NBS and the Association of Clubs, Karaoke and Disco Operators (ACKDO).

Villamil bagged the second prize of P5,000 cash, while losing semifinalists Ricky Gamboa and Arnel Bautista each took home P2,500.

The Billiards Idol will have its 10th leg on August 23 also in Farmers Plaza.