The Philippines’ top woman billiards player, Rubilen “Bingkay” Amit, displayed her deadly form with 7-1 conquest over Maureen Seto of Canada to lead opening round winners of the 2010 Amway WPA Women’s World 9-Ball Open Wednesday at the Core Pacific Living Mall Hotel in Taipei, Taiwan.

Amit, playing under the banner of businessman/sportsman Aristeo “Putch” Puyat of Puyat Sports is best remembered as the runner-up finish in the 2007 Amway WPA Women’s World 9-Ball Open, will face Netherland’s Kynthios Orfanidis in the next round.

Orfanidis, lost to Yuan Chun- Lin of Chinese-Taipei, 7-4.

According to Ish Caparras of Puyat Sports, petite Amit will also face Chun- Lin and PC Lin of the host country and heavyweight Karen Korr of Great Britain in their Group E stage match.

Group stage is divided into eight groups with six players in each group. The competition will first use a race-to-7 round-robin format in the US$ 20,000 top prize of the Asian Pocket Billiards Union (APBU) sanctioned-tournament.

The last 24 will employ the single elimination format in race-to-7 matches. The semi- finals matches will be race-to-9 while the final match will be race-to-11.

Winner’s break format will then be applied.

In other results, You Ram Cha of Korea beat Veronique Menard of Canada, 7-4, Xiao Fang Fu of China nipped Lyndall Huley of Australia, 7-2, Line Kjorsvik of Norway defeated Jullie Kelly, 7-4.

Vivian Villareal of USA crushed Carlynn Sanchez of Venezuela, 7-1, Hui Shan- Lai of Chinese-Taipei blasted countryman J W Hyun, 7-0, Chihiro Kahawara of Japan upset Kelly Fisher of USA, 7-6 and Yun Mi Lin of Chinese-Taipei bested Tamara Rademakers of the Netherlands, 7-1. (PNA)
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Nonito Donaire wants to get busy this year.

Just 10 days after his third-round knockout of Manuel Vargas in Las Vegas, the 27-year-old Filipino can’t wait to return to action, and has penciled May 8 as the date of his next fight.

“I’m looking at some fights at 118 (bantamweight),” said Donaire, the reigning interim WBA super-flyweight champion, during Tuesday’s PSA Forum at Shakey’s along UN Avenue.

Donaire came with his wife, Rachel, and looked so excited doing a couple more fights this year. He only fought once in 2008 and twice last year, and certainly wants more for 2010.

He said he wants to challenge Mexico’s Fernando Montiel for the WBO bantamweight crown although he’s not totally closing the door on another fight at his current weight of 115.

“I want Montiel because my goal this year is to win the world title. If it’s a world title, I will fight anybody,” said Donaire, who flew home a few days ago, and has found time to relax.

“I can go back down to 115 but only for a big, big fight,” he said, and that may involve a rematch with Vid Darchinyan or fight Jorge Arce. The problem is there seems to be weak negotiations among the 115 fighters.”

He said in the same session presented by Outlast Battery, PAGCOR, Accel and Shakey’s, there’s a possibility of invading the 122-lb. division and go up against Israel Vasquez or Rafael Marquez.

“I’d fight anybody if it’s for the world title,” said Donaire, who’s been enjoying himself the last couple of days. This week he’ll be busy taping episodes for Manny Pacquiao’s TV sitcom, “Show Me The Manny”.

“They want me to tape some episodes for a month but I couldn’t do it because I need to go back to training. I want a comfortable eight weeks of training. And besides, I want to see Manny’s next fight,” he said.

Donaire said he doesn’t see any changes in his training camp, and that means he’s sticking it out with trainers Robert Garcia and Jonathan Penalosa.

“We have a very good chemistry,” he said. (PNA)
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Jun Bernis matched Jay Bayron’s sizzling five-under 31 card at the front and snatched a one-stroke lead with an eagle-spiked seven-under 65 at the start of the P1 million ICTSI Classic at the Mt. Malarayat Golf and Country Club.

Bernis, the former national champion still chasing his first pro win following a long layoff from an injury, bucked a bogey start at the back on No. 11 with a birdie on the 13th then eagled the par-5 17th to built the momentum for his fiery charge at the front in one of the late afternoon flights.

He rammed in a birdie on No. 1, came through with a three-birdie string from No. 3 then closed out with another birdie on the par-5 ninth to overtake Bayron, who also charged home with a 31 at the front in the morning session and took the clubhouse lead with a 66.

But Bayron, who beat Marvin Dumandan by one stroke to rule the Forest Hills leg of the inaugural Philippine Golf Tour, had to settle for second as Bernis, who finished joint 10th with reigning Philippine Open champion Elmer Salvador in the recent The Country Club Invitaional, the kickoff leg of this year‘s Philippine Golf Tour, took charge with that 65.

Bayron also anchored his solid round on three straight birdies from No. 7 as he turned what had appeared to be a mediocre start of 35 into a sizzling finish on a hot and windy day.

Unheralded Elmer Saban, who had three missed cut stints in 10 legs last year and wound up 31st in the Order of Merit ranking, birdied three of the first five holes at the back for a 33, finishing with a fiery four-under 68 and humbling the rest of the revered names on the local circuit.

Another obscure bet, Arnold Villacencio also shot a 68 in a late flight to grab a share of third while Benjie Magada also came charging home with a 69 to tie Marvin Dumandan and Mars Pucay in fifth with 69.

Dumandan, runner-up to Danny Zarate here last year, made a 33 at the front but faltered with a double-bogey 6 on the final hole for that 69 while Pucay, who missed the cut at the Avantha Masters of the Asian Tour in India last week, also rallied with a 33 at the front to put himself in early contention in the 54-hole event, the second leg of a 12-stage circuit organized by the PGT Inc. and sponsored by International Container Terminal Services, Inc.

Salvador, who bested the cream of the country’s pro crop to rule the RP Open here last December, flashed some kind of resiliency as he recovered from a 37 start to card a 70 for joint eighth with veteran Rey Pagunsan and Marlon Dizon.

Winner of two legs on the PGT circuit, including the Order of Merit crown, Salvador came through with three birdies in the last six holes to stay within striking distance of Bayron and keep his title bid in the event backed by MJ Carr Golf Management, Jaguar, Land Rover, Studio 23, Balls TV and Golf Punk.

Dante Becierra, member of the ICTSI-TCC team, and Sonny Villaber, fired identical 71s to emerge the leading amateurs in the event as they joined Tony Lascuna, Ruben Sasutil, Cookie La’O, Ferdie Aunzo, Michael Bibat and defending champion Danny Zarate.

Artemio Murakami matched par 72 to share 19th place with Jerome Delariarte, Ramil Bisera, Christopher delos Santos and amateur Rufino Bayron.

Frankie Minoza struggled with a 74 on a 37-37 round but remained in the upper half of the starting field of 97 that included the country’s leading amateurs.

Lascuna, an Asian Tour regular, blew a superb 32 at the back with four bogeys against a birdie in the last nine holes, settling for a 71 for a share of seventh with Zarate, who had two birdies against a bogey for 34-37 card.

Zarate used a seven-under 65 in the first round last year then outduelled Dumandan in the last two rounds to snap an 11-year title drought.

While the big guns played true to form, Juvic Pagunsan proved to be a big disappointment as the top Filipino performer in last year’s Asian Tour shot himself in the foot with an 83 and in danger of missing the cut.

Juvic, who was disqualified after missing his tee-time in the second round of last year’s RP Open, had a 9 on the par-5 17th, a 7 on the par-4 3rd, a double-bogey and four bogeys against two birdies in perhaps his worst round in years. (PNA)
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The Philippine Patriots want no less than the title when they face Indonesia’s Satria Muta BritAma in the best-of-five finals of the first ASEAN Basketball League (ABL) starting on Friday at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.

“Nobody remembers the runner-up. That’s why we want to become the champions of the first ABL tournament,” said Patriots head coach Louie Alas who graced Tuesday’s PSA Forum at Shakey’s along UN Avenue.

“It’s going to be a tough series. But definitely, we’re going to win,” he said.

Jason Dixon and Gabe Freeman, the pair of hard-working imports for the Patriots, arrived at the session presented by Outlast Battery, PAGCOR, Accel and Shakey’s way ahead of their coach and teammates Jerwin Gaco and Rob Wainwright.

They did the early talking.

“Of all the teams we’ve played, coach Louie says Indonesia is the better team. And I seem to agree,” said Dixon, a 6-foot-10 center, who is close to a double-double average in the inaugural tournament among ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) teams.

Dixon said the key to victory is how to stop the Indonesia imports, including Nakiea Miller.

“I have to prepare for him because I know he’s going to use his speed against me. But it’s no different that the other games. It’s always the same intensity. Indonesia is not a helter-skelter team and it’s very disciplined,” he said.

“They key is stopping their imports. That will be my job. That’s what I get paid for,” said Dixon.

“I don’t want to disrespect the Indonesian team but personally, I think we’re going to win this series, three-to-one,” he said, who vowed to give the championship to the team co-owned by businessmen Mikee Romero and Tonyboy Cojuangco.

Freeman, a PBA best import awardee when he played for San Miguel Beer last year, was more daring with his projection even if he has yet to play a single game against the Indonesians as he just came in as a replacement.

“I don’t want to lose any game. I didn’t come here to lose. So, I say we’ll sweep them. I don’t want to lose. I hate losing,” said Freemen, who said he loves basketball so much that, “I sleep, drink, eat and shower it.”

Freeman has played only five games so far for the Patriots and he doesn’t intend to play more than three games in the finals.

“If we do things right…,” he said.

The opener of the series will be played at Ynares Sports Center in Pasig, while Game 2 is set at The Arena in San Juan.

Games 3 and 4 will be held in Indonesia, while the series goes back to Manila if and when a fifth and deciding game is necessary. (PNA)
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You can’t win them all.

That’s what happened to the RP billiards team headed by former World 9-ball and 8-ball champion Ronato Alcano, last year International Predator 10-ball ruler Dennis Orcullo, former snooker champion Marlon Manalo, two-time BSCP National Pool title-holder Lee Vann Corteza, Japan based Antonio Lining and Southeast Asian games 9-ball gold medalist Warren Kiamco.

The Filipinos had to settle for second place late Sunday against Great Britain with a runner-up purse of US$ 50,000 in the first-ever World Team Pool Cup Championship held at the Hall 13 Hannover Exhibition Grounds in Hannover, Germany The British team of reigning World 9-ball champion Daryl Peach, 2008 World Ten-Ball Champion Darren Appleton, Karl Boyes, Mark Gray and Imram Majid received the top prize of US$ 100,000 by using steel nerves for a smashing 4-1 win against the Philippines.

Other losing-semifinalists Greece and Russia, on the other hand, received US$ 30,000 each in the 48-nation tournament, the first of its kind and sanctioned by the World Pool Billiard Association (WPA), with a total purse of US$ 400,000 (roughly P19.2 million) using a point-system scoring patterned after the famous Davis Cup in international tennis.

The Filipinos, with the backing of Billiards and Snooker Congress of the Philippines (BSCP) headed by its president Sebastian “Baste” Chua and its chairman Florentino “Yen” Makabenta, Raya Sports, Bugsy Promotions and Negros Billiards Stable, had a great start with a 6-1 thrashing victory over the Britons in the first game of 8-ball Scotch doubles event. But the Britons bounced back to win the second game of 8-ball Scotch doubles event, 6-1, to level the count at 1-all in the race-to-4 affair.

Then Gray, Boyes and Appleton, made it 4-1 for Team Great Britain to snatch the over-all championships’ trophy. Gray downed Lining, 8-2, in the 1st 9-ball game, Boyes edged Corteza, 8-7, in the 2nd 9-ball game and Appleton toppled Orcollo, 7-1, in the 2nd 10-ball game.

Actually, Alcano was already leading 2-1 against Peach in the first 10-ball game but it was halted after Appleton won in the 2nd 10-ball game. “The RP team did their best but fell short in the finals. Britain just played much better. However, we’re proud of our competitors for doing well in the tournament,” said Bugsy Promotions president Ceferino “Perry” Mariano, who is also the founder of Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines (BMPAP).

“The RP pool team gives the whole nation something to cheer about and I personally congratulate them for their feat,” said Negros Billiards Stable (NBS) president Jonathan “Bacolod” Sy. (PNA) LDV/LOR

Pool shark Ronato Alcano has erupted and everybody at the Hall 13 Hannover Exhibition Grounds is watching the crucial battle of Alcano and Russian hopeful Ruslan Chinahov.

The 48-nation tournament, the first of its kind and sanctioned by the World Pool Billiard Association (WPA), stakes a total purse of US$ 400,000 (roughly P19.2 million) and uses a point-system scoring patterned after the famous Davis Cup in international tennis where the champion team gets the lion’s share of US$ 100,000 (roughly P4.7 million) in the race-to-4 affair.

The Lanky Alcano from Calamba City, Laguna, one of the top players of the star-studded Bugsy Promotions, did not budge an inch to Russian foe Chinahov, 7-1, after securing a 7-1 demolition win to send Team Philippines into the finals of the World Team Pool Cup Championship in Hannover, Germany late Saturday.

Alcano, the former World 9-ball and 8-ball champion, helped the Nationals score a 4-1 victory over Russia by defeating Chinahov in the semifinals of the 1st 10-ball.

With the win, the Nationals will square off against Great Britain in the final round on Sunday (Manila time).

Bannered by reigning world 9-ball champion Darly Peach and former world 10-ball champion Darren Appleton, Great Britain eliminated Greece, 4-2, in another semifinal duel.

Alcano, unshaken by a loss in his previous outing teaming up with ex-snooker champion Marlon “Marvelous” Manalo in the 1st 8-ball Scotch doubles event by score 6-3.

“I was awakened by Marlon and mine’s loss in the 8-ball Scotch Doubles,” said Alcano in a long distance call to his long-time benefactor Bugsy Promotions president Ceferino “Perry” Mariano.

“I realized we can never be overconfident because anybody can beat anyone in an event of this magnitude,” added Alcano, a former US Open 9-ball finalist.

Perry Mariano, founder of the Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines (BMPAP) added, “In spite of Russia’s winning ahead of us, I am sure Alcano and the rest will eventually prevail. As Yen (Macabenta) said, our bench is deep with strong and quality players,” added Mariano, who follows the game live through the internet.

Billiards and Snooker Congress of the Philippines (BSCP) chairman Florentino “Yen” Makabenta said, “We expect a tough battle against Great Britain, but I’m deadly sure our boys will triumph in the end.”

Negros Billiards Stable (NBS) president and co-founder of BMPAP Jonathan “Bacolod” Sy said, “Let’s pray harder for our victory because it will add to the country’s coffer of honors.” He is a long-time benefactor of Lee Vann Corteza and Warren Kiamco.

After the Filipinos backed up by the BSCP, Raya Sports, Bugsy Promotions and Negros Billiards Stable’s loss in the 1st 8-ball Scotch doubles event, the pair of Southeast Asian Games gold medalist Warren “Warrior” Kiamco and former world no.1 Dennis “Robocop” Orcollo, rebounded by winning their match by score 6-4 to level the count of 1-all in this race-to-4 affair.

Then two-time BSCP National Pool Championships ruler Lee Vann “The Slayer” Corteza and Japan-based Antonio “Nickoy” Lining, made it to 3-1 for the Philippines with similar 8-4 victories over Roman Pruchai and Egor Plishkin, respectively, in the 9-ball game, before Alcano stepped up by beating Chinahov for 4-1 total output.

Actually, Orcollo was leading 2-0 against Konstantin Stepanov in the second 10-ball game but was halted after Alcano triumphed in the 1st 10-ball game.

On the road to the finals, the undefeated Filipinos nipped England II (4-0), Czech Republic (4-1), Norway (4-2), Poland (4-2) and Russia (4-1) to arrange a titular showdown with Great Britain, who downed Norway (5-1), lost to Sweden (4-2), then blanked Israel (4-0) and Germany (4-0), and edged China (4-3) and Greece (4-2), respectively. (PNA)
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A determined and gutsy Dennis “Robocop” Orcullo put another awesome performance to spearhead Team Philippines to a thrilling 4-2 victory over Norway towards the quarterfinal round of the first-ever World Team Pool Cup Championship late Thursday (Manila Time) at the Hall 13 Hannover Exhibition Grounds in Hannover, Germany.

Reigning International Predator 10-ball champion Orcollo toppled Norway’s hopeful Tommy Wolf (7-1) in the third and last featured 10-ball competition to prevent a possible playoff match to underscore his status as the country’s top 10-ball player.

“Had Tommy beaten Dennis, there could have been a tie and then another tie-breaker,” said Bugsy Promotions president Ceferino “Perry” Mariano, who added that the Filipino cue artists should never be overconfident.

The Nationals swept the 8-ball Scotch Doubles competitions as the pair of World Pool Billiard Association (WPA) 9-ball and WPA 8-ball ruler Ronato Alcano and former snooker champion Marlon Manalo as well as two-time BSCP National Pool Championships winner Lee Vann Corteza and Southeast Asian Games gold medalist Warren Kiamco won their matches by scores of 6-5 and 6-3, respectively.

Then Alcano followed with an 8-2 demolition of Vegar Kristiansen in 9-ball to take RP’s 3-0 lead in the race-to-4 affair.

However, the “never-say-die attitude” of the Norwegians put their team in contention after Malvin Bjelland edged Japan-based Antonio “Nickoy” Lining (8-7) in 9-ball while Mats Schjetne prevailed over Corteza (7-4) in 10-ball to close the match at 3-2 count that went down to the last match, even as Orcollo racked the important win against Wolf (7-1) for a narrow 4-2 escape.

Billiards and Snooker Congress of the Philippines (BSCP) chairman Florentino “Yen” Makabenta is very confident that the Nationals will reach the final round.

BMPAP co-founder and Negros Billiards Stable (NBS) president Jonathan “Bacolod” Sy added: “Let’s hope the ball favors us again. We were nearly beaten by Norway.”

The Filipinos, earlier beat Great Britain II, 4-0, and Czech Republic, 4-1, respectively, to face Norway.

With the win, the six-man Philippine Team meets Poland late Friday (Manila Time) for the semifinals berths.

Poland, led by Radoslaw Babica, blasted Finland (4-0) with reigning World Ten Ball champion Mika Immonen at the helm.

The 48-nation tournament, the first of its kind and sanctioned by the WPA, stakes a total purse of US$ 400,000 (roughly P19.2 million) and uses a point-system scoring patterned after the famous Davis Cup in international tennis where the champion team gets the lion’s share of US$ 100,000 (roughly P4.7 million).

Also cruising to the next stage (Last are Russia, Germany II, Great Britain, China, Switzerland and Greece.

Russia is bannered by Ruslan Chinahov and Konstantin Stepanov downed Denmark (4-2); Germany II, at the helm is former world pool champion Oliver Ortmann defeated Sweden (4-3); Great Britain led by world 9-ball champion Daryl Peach and ex-world 10-ball champion Darren Appleton blanked Germany (4-0) of WPA 9-ball and WPA 8-ball champion Ralf Souquet and WPA 9-ball champion Thorsten Hohmann; China of Li He-wen and Fu Jian Bo thwarted Serbia (4-1); Switzerland of Dimitri Jungo outclassed Japan (4-1) and Greece shocked tournament favorites United States (4-3) in a neck-and-neck battle.

The United States is composed of another world champion Johnny Archer, and former US champions Corey Deuel and Shane Van Boening.

The RP Team Germany trip is backed by BSCP president Sebastian “Baste” Chua, BSCP chairman Makabenta, Raya Sports, Bugsy Promotions and Negros Billiards Stable.(PNA)
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Once again, Efren “Bata” Reyes, perhaps the greatest billiards player of all time, put the Philippines on top of the world through his unusual pool skill and talent.

The United States Billiard Media Association (USBMA) announced on Monday 1 that the 55-year-old Filipino pool maestro was named “Player of the Decade,” beating fellow former world champions Johnny “The Scorpion” Archer of the United States, Mika “The Iceman” Immonen of Finland and Ralf “Kaiser” Souquet of Germany in voting.

Reyes, a native of Angeles City, Pampanga, the top player of Puyat Sports who was also inducted into the Billiard Congress of America Hall (BCA) Hall of Fame in 2003 has amassed nearly US$ 1.7 million in prize money, according to the February 1 report of famous website Azbilliards.

Not included is his latest feat in Indiana with a total earning of US$ 47,500.

Reyes is fresh from winning his fifth straight Master of the Table Crown last Monday during the 12th Annual Derby City Classic at the Horseshoe Casino and Hotel in Indiana, United States.

“He (Efren) is an inspiration for the Filipinos.” said long-time benefactor sportsman/businessman Aristeo “Putch” Puyat, acknowledged Godfather of Philippine Billiards.

Reyes won more than 20 major men’s professional pool titles during the decade, starting with his US$ 30,000 Camel Pro 8-Ball Championship win in 2000.

Of his 22 major victories, the versatile Reyes won four one-pocket crowns, four 8-ball titles and 15 9-ball titles. He also won the Derby City All-Around title five times.

Reyes is also the first Filipino to win the prestigious World Pool (9-ball) Championships tiara in 1999 at Cardiff, Wales. He also took the World 8-ball title in 2004 in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates.

He scored his biggest wins in the International Pool Tour (IPT), won two titles (2005 IPT King of the Hill and 2006 IPT North American Open) and pocketed US$ 765,000.

In the distaff side, Allison Fisher of Great Britain was also named “Player of the Decade,” defeating compatriot Karen Korr and Jasmin Osuchan of Austria for the coveted plum. (PNA)
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Former World Pool-Billiard Association (WPA) 9-ball and 8-ball champion Ronato “Ronnie” Alcano and Japan-based Antonio “Nickoy” Lining toppled their respective rivals to spearhead the Philippines charge against Great Britain II, 4-0, in a high note at the start of first-ever World Team Cup Championship being held at the Hall 13 Hannover Exhibition Grounds in Hannover, Germany Sunday.

Lanky Calamba hotshot Alcano of Bugsy Promotions, stamped on his class against Briton Michael Valentine, 8-6, in the 9-ball competition.

On the other hand, Pinamalayan, Oriental Mindoro’s favorite son, Lining, dealt Chris Meiling and 8-4 whipping.

“It’s a great start for the Philippine team,” said businessman/sportsman Ceferino “Perry” Mariano, president of the star-studded Bugsy Promotions. “We hope they will hold on to their momentum.”

Billiards and Snooker Congress of the Philippines (BSCP) chairman Florentino “Yen” Makabenta added that the Nationals also won in the 8-ball Scotch doubles competitions by scores of 6-5 and 6-4.

Now playing the 10-ball competition, another Bugsy stalwart Dennis “Robocop” Orcullo goes up against Mick Hill while Negros Billiard Stable top player and reigning two-time BSCP National Pool champion Lee Vann “The Slayer” Corteza opposite Craig Osborne in this US$ 400,000 total pot prize tournament which attracted 200 cue artists around 40 teams from 50 countries using point-system tournament patterned after the famous Davis Cup in international tennis.

Marlon “Marvelous” Manalo and Warren “Warrior” Kiamco complete the six-man team Philippines. BSCP vice president and veteran internationalists Edgar “Malabon” Acaba is the team manager. (PNA)
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Ready and confident.

That’s how non-playing member and veteran internationalist Edgar “Malabon” Acaba described the six- man Philippine team that left the country at 11 a.m. Thursday via KLM Airlines to participate in the first-ever World Team Cup Championship that gets underway on Jan. 30 to Feb. 7 in Hall 13 of the Hannover Exhibition Grounds, in Hannover, Germany.

“The competition assures the very best players from around the world will be competing. This event is supported and sanctioned by the World Pool Association (WPA). We are ready,” said RP pool team manager Edgar “Malabon” Acaba, vice president of the Billiards and Snooker Congress of the Philippines (BSCP) under the leadership of its president Sebastian “Baste” Chua and chairman Florentino “Yen” Makabenta.

“Our team will be composed of six crack players, who have played impressively in the World Ten Ball Championship, the Philippine National Championship and other international tournaments. I see our team being installed among the Top 10 favored teams in the tournament,” added Acaba.

The Philippine team will be composed of two-time national pool titlist Lee Vann “The Slayer” Corteza, double world champion (WPA 9-ball and 8-ball) Ronato “Volcano” Alcano, former world no. 1 Dennis “Robocop” Orcollo, former Asian Snooker champion Marlon “Marvelous” Manalo, Villar Cup champion Warren Kiamco and Japan champion Antonio “Nickoy” Lining.

They will play in a tough, point-system tournament patterned after the famous Davis Cup in international tennis.

Acaba said Germany, England, the United States, Japan, Chinese Taipei and China are touted as the favorites, but the teams of Mika Immonen [Finland], Marcus Chamat [Sweden] and Neils Feijen [Netherlands] may not get the support they need to make their teams more formidable.

The battle will be in three disciplines —the 8-Ball, 9-Ball and 10-Ball.

The 8-Ball will be played in a Double Scotch format and bears two points for every team. The 9-Ball and 10-Ball will have a point each.

Added attraction in the US$ 400,000 total pot prize tournament is the participation of “Prince of Brunei”, Al Muhtadee Billah in the 200 player event from 50 countries. (PNA)
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