Unsolvable billiards problem?

Perry Mariano has been one of the pioneering patrons of billiards, having supported athletes and tournaments for over 40 years. Now, as the CEO of Lucky Break, he continues to selflessly take care of even the best pool players in the country. He knows why Filipinos are among the most talented billiards players in the world. But this deep seated origin in poverty also works against them in the long run.

“Hunger,” he says in the vernacular. “You wait for hours to play against somebody. If you don’t win, you go home with nothing, and your family starves. That’s just how it is.”

This situation creates a conundrum. Billiards players have to put in the time to slowly improve their game. By force of circumstance, they have to spend hours and hours at billiard halls. Ironically, the urgent need to earn for their immediate survival is also the reason that they cannot advance or educate themselves on how to get a better life.

Perry believes education is the way out of the vicious cycle. If pool players get a proper education, go to school and graduate, they will be able to present themselves better, speak better, dress better, and become more attractive to sponsors. Mariano recalled a time when he approached a luxury car brand, and the distributor asked him who among the current crop of billiards champions would be suitable to drive one of the expensive automobiles. That issue would be solved with education.

However, it has to be a two-pronged attack. Youth with potential should be given scholarships to better their lives while training. There should also be a program to gather rankings for the national pool. Unfortunately, billiards is not a part of any of the major collegiate leagues in the country. And because the youngsters have to spend so much time practicing and earning from play, without any backup, how will they ever go to school?

“Even if you’re one of the best players, and you win millions in one event abroad; when is the next time that will happen?” says Mariano. “You don’t know how long you need to survive on your winnings.”

Perry is a traditionalist. He believes in the original, unadulterated form of the sport. His son Hadley, however, has pushed forward with the establishment of Sharks Billiards Association (SBA). Sharking, which is unacceptable in all other billiards competitions, is the practice of being rowdy, cheering and jeering during matches. It is frowned upon everywhere else. But SBA is entering its third season, and has so far managed to survive.

“I think it will die down,” the elder Mariano adds. “He will be successful, but it just takes time and money. Some people will accept that for now. But I believe in the long run it will gradually tone down. I wish him the best.”

The long-term question is whether the sport will eventually coalesce and become united, or whether it will remain every man for himself. Without a proper infrastructure and continuity program, those with the means will reach some measure of success, while those without will just disappear. Even if you do become successful for the moment, though, how will you stretch that out for long-term prosperity? And how will you pass it on?

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My conversation with legendary PBA referee Bay Ledesma is out now on Basketball Universe PHL. Subscribe now.