Pagulayan heads cast in national pool tourney

Former world champion Alex Pagulayan and four other Southeast Asian Games gold medalists banner the 64-man field in the 2006 BSCP National Pool Championship which starts tomorrow at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

Pagulayan, who won three gold medals in the SEA Games last December, arrived in Manila last Friday. He told event organizers that he had come to play for the national title. He earlier registered and paid the entry fee to the NPC.

Joining him in the tournament are four other SEA gold medalists — Dennis Orcollo, Lee Van Corteza, Leonardo Andam and Antonio Gabica. The Billiards and Snooker Congress of the Philippines turned to the five to carry the country’s colors after Efren Reyes and Francisco Bustamante skipped the regional sportsfest last year.

The 64-man field was being completed at press time yesterday at the Star Billiards Center where 47 players are competing for the final 12 slots in the tournament. The qualifying tourney started yesterday afternoon with four rounds of matches..

Pagulayan, also the 20004 world champion and 2005 US Open titlist, is seeded No.1 in the tournament. Orcollo is seeded second. The two — along with Korean Open champion Ronato Alcano, Corteza and Gabica — are considered the face of the new generation of Filipino pool players who are taking over pool leadership in the country.

But they will be up against veterans from the earlier generation, — Jose "Amang" Parica, 2005 US Open runner-up, and Rodolfo "Boy Samson" Luat, recent winner of the Kaohshiung leg of the San Miguel Asian 9-Ball Tour.

Also seeded to compete for the title are Ramil "Bebeng" Gallego, SMC tour Bangkok leg winner, and Mario Tolentino, third-placer in the 2005 Philippine Open.