9-Ball Challenge on in Cebu

CEBU–Antonio Gabica, Dennis Orcullo, Ronnie Alcano and Lee Van Corteza were named top seeds in the fourth Sun Star Super Balita 9-Ball Challenge which fires off today at the SM City Trade Hall.

The tournament is marking its fourth year as the most prestigious billiards event in Southern Philippines as the Queen City of the South welcomes the best players from all over the Philippines to test the region’s best.

"Eto na yata ang pinakamabigat na field sa tournament na ito," said Gabica, winner of the 2004 Fil-9 Open and a veteran internationalist.

"Pukpukan na laban ito at siguradong handang-handa ang mga taga-Cebu na ipagtanggol ang teritoryo nila."

Gabica and Orcullo are the 2002 and 2003 Sun Star Super Balita champions while Corteza was last year’s runner-up to Elmer Haya, who is campaigning in the United Arab Emirates and will be unable to defend his title.

Alcano, touted as the new golden boy of Philippine billiards, won the Manila leg of the 2005 San Miguel Asian Tour earlier this month.

The main draw includes Cebu’s Warren Kiamco and Leonardo Andam, SEA Games gold medalist Victor Arpilleda and promising youngsters Richard "Golden Boy" Aguilar, Jharome Peña and "Jeff Bata" de Luna.

Aguilar, Peña and de Luna are regular campaigners in the TM Philipppine 9-Ball Champions League and are touted as the next stars of the local biliards scene.

They will be competing for 12 slots to join the four seeded players in the Round of 16 on June 21.

The semifinals will be on June 22 and the finals on June 23. Rocketman Enterprises, headed by Ramon Tuason of MBA fame, will telecast the Sun Star Super Balita championships "Hagit Cebu" on IBC as follows: Primer on June 20, Monday (10-10:30 p.m.); Eliminations on June 21, Tuesday (9-10:30 p.m.); Round of 16, June 23, Thursday (9-10:30 p.m.); Quarterfinals, June 24, Friday (9-10:30 p.m.); Semifinals on Sunday, June 26 (9-10 p.m.) and Monday, June 27 (9-10:30 p.m.); Finals on Tuesday, June 28 (9-10:30 p.m.).