Pinoys eye five more slots in World Pool

Billiards and Snooker Congress of the Philippines chairman Yen Makabenta expressed optimism that Filipinos will take at least five of the 12 seats available in the main draw of the World Pool Championship when the qualifying event gets underway today at the Star Billiards Center in Quezon City.

Thirteen Filipino players have already qualified for the 128-man main draw which starts Nov. 14 at the Philippine International Convention Center.

"We have a great mix of veteran and upcoming players trying to earn a spot in the World Pool," said Makabenta, the man responsible for bringing the world pool to the Philippines.

Antonio Gabica, who will also don the country’s colors in the coming Asian Games in Doha, Qatar, is among the favorites to advance in the group.

The other noted local cue artists casting their lots in the qualifying are Warren Kiamco, Leonardo "Dodong" Andam, Antonio "Nickoy" Lining and Lee Vann Corteza.

All are World Pool veterans and gold medal winners in South East Asian Games.

More than a hundred foreign players are expected to join the qualifying, which will end on Nov. 1.

"So far ‘yung mga Japanese and Taiwanese ang nakikita nating malakas na kalaban sa qualifying," noted Makabenta.

BSCP president Ernesto Fajardo has a more daring prediction.

"More than half of the remaining slots pwede nating makuha," he said. "Our young players like Revo (David) and Mike (Takayama) are capable of making it to the main draw."

He also mentioned the names of rising stars Roberto Gomez and Elmer Kalaquian and recent San Miguel Beer Philippine 9-Ball Open runner-up Leonardo Didal among the strong contenders.

There are already 13 seeded Filipinos in the main draw following the inclusion of Santos Sambajon. The Taiwanese had a record 19 entries last year.

Matchroom Sports announced that Sambajon, a Filipino player residing in the US, will take the sport vacated by Shawn Putnam, who cannot make the trip to Manila because of ill health.

David, the country’s first ever representative to the World Junior 9-Ball Championship, was also present in the weekly sports forum sponsored by Accel and aired live over DZSR Sports Radio 918khz.