Gomez, Luat seek 3-peat in Villar Cup

MANILA, Philippines - Roberto Gomez and Rodolfo Luat seek to become the first three-time champions of The Manny Villar Cup, when the prestigious island-hopping series unfurls with its 10th edition tomorrow at the Activity Center of NCCC Mall in Davao City.

Gomez, the 2007 World Pool Championship runner-up, will also be gunning to repeat his title conquest in last year’s Kadayawan leg of the event presented by Sen. Manny Villar’s Villards: Tulong sa Pagsulong ng Philippine Sports and sponsored by Camella Communities.

“Davao is a special place for me as it’s the place where I won my first Villar Cup, and I will do all my best to win it again there,” said the 30-year-old Zamboangeño, who defeated former Asian Games gold medalist and Davao bet Gandy Valle in the finals of that leg.

Gomez then became the first double winner of the Villar Cup when he ruled the Isabela leg last March.

His feat was only duplicated last month by Rodolfo Luat, who followed up his Bacolod leg triumph in November 2008 with the victory in the Iloilo leg.

“I think winning the Villar Cup twice in a row is a very tall order, but I will try my best to do that,” said the 51-year-old veteran internationalist.

Gomez and Luat are facing uphill climb in their quest as they are set to once again encounter tough opposition from the rest of their fellow world-class Filipino cue artists led by pool icon Efren “Bata” Reyes.

Besides Reyes, the other topnotch pool masters competing in the event coorganized by the Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines are former world champion Ronnie Alcano, former world No.1 Dennis Orcollo and former leg winners Warren Kiamco (Alabang), Ramil Gallego (Bulacan), Francisco “Django” Bustamante (Baguio-Panagbenga), Lee Van Corteza (Calabarzon) and Valle (Cebu).

“In behalf of Senator Villar, we would like to thank the Davaoeños for once again allowing us to be part of their celebration of the Kadayawan Festival,” said BMPAP president Vic Rodriguez.

Besides the Villar Cup, Senator Villar and the BMPAP will also hold the Regional Villards Championships for Davao and Soccsksargen on Thursday, which will also serve at the qualifying tournament for the Manny Villar Cup-Philippine National Villards Championship slated next month.

Moreover, the top six finishers in the event to be held at the B3 Billiards Center also at NCCC Mall will qualify as wildcard entries in the Villar Cup Kadayawan main draw.

Also vying for the close to a million in cash prizes are the crop of up and coming stars led by two-time world juniors campaigner Rene Mar David, Joven Bustamante, Ricky Zerna, Mike Takayama and Iloilo leg runner-up Elmer Haya.