Villar Cup side event unfolds at StarMall EDSA

The country’s upcoming pool players vie for top honors in the Sipag at Tiyaga division of the first Senate President Manny Villar Cup Bulacan leg, which gets going today at the AMF-Puyat Billiards Center at StarMall EDSA.

The four-day tournament also serves as the prelude to the much-awaited Pro Elite category featuring the country’s top players, headed by Efren “Bata” Reyes and Francisco “Django” Bustamante, in the series presented by Villards: Tulong sa Pagsulong ng Philippine Sports, which fires off Friday at the Events Center of SM City in Marilao, Bulacan.

Benson Palce, Villar Cup Alabang leg’s Sipag at Tiyaga division champion, is expected to lead the 96-man field playing in a knockout format in this event organized by the Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines, sponsored by Camella Communities and backed by Puyat Sports, Bugsy Promotions, Negros Billiards Stable (NBS) and ER Cues.

Others competing are Michael Feliciano, Egie Geronimo, Johann Chua, Mike Takayama, Jomar de Ocampo, Russian Petiza, and Benjie Guevarra, along with Mark Mendoza, Panfilo Damuag, Ricky Zerna and Jech Limen, and William Millares and Joey Pardales.

Players from Cebu, led by William Chua, Marvin Gentapa and 10-year-old JJ Savage, as well as those from Davao, Bacolod and Pangasinan are also seeing action.

The top two players will clash for the crown.

Deadline for listup is at 11 a.m. today with hostilities to start at 1 p.m. Entry fee is P300, according to tournament directors Ish Caparras and Verna Mariano.

For details, contact the BMPAP secretariat at (0917)-5105677, (0918)-9670572, (0916)-9589897 or (0918)-4888624.