(Left to right) Valle, Pana, Migellano.
SOUTHEAST Asian (SEA) Games 2009 silver medalist Gandy Valle predicted that the
3rd Sun.Star Superbalita Mindanao Open 9-Ball Challenge title will be won by a
Davao City player.
The tournament is set on Saturday and Sunday at the NCCC Mall Bowling, Billiards
and Bar (B3) Center.
Valle, who guested at the Davao Sportswriters Association (DSA) Forum at the
Tower Inn yesterday, said: "The crown will stay in Davao. Players from Davao just
like me will do our best to defend the title. I've seen other locals practicing in
billiards centers that I went to recently. We are prepared to keep the Davao pride."
Diminutive Valle, a 1998 Bangkok Asian Games gold medalist, won the inaugural
title of the event in 2008 while another Dabawenyo Christopher Alanunay topped
the event last year.
"Should I get knocked out early, I will still root for a Davao City player to win the
tournament. I would gladly give pointers to a Dabawenyo who will enter the
finals," he said.
He said pressure is the only thing that every player should overcome. A less
experienced player or an amateur will likely succumb to it in a crucial match but
one should know how to fight pressure whether the crowd is cheering for him or
not.
Sun.Star Davao Publishing, Inc. general manager Tessie A. Paña, over-all chair of
the tournament, said the company will continue to promote billiards among
Mindanoans as it is one of the few sports where Filipinos can excel in the world
level.
She said, "There is no organization or a company that focuses on promoting
billiards in Mindanao. We want to play an active role in giving Mindanao players a
sporting chance to compete among themselves and be recognized to also play in
national and international competitions."
Co-chair Charles Raymond A. Maxey, meanwhile, urged other companies to follow
Sun.Star Davao's lead in promoting billiards since it is also a sport where Filipinos
are known all over the world aside from boxing.
"Mindanao players just need exposures. They need to be given opportunities to
compete," Maxey added.
Tournament director Menlee Migellano, president of Davao Billiards Inc., on his
part, named Elvis Calasang, Val Pajuay and Leonardo "Dodong Panacan" Didal as
among the rated players also joining the P98,000 cuefest that stakes P50,000 cash
prize to the champion.
Interested players may proceed at the B3 Center today at 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. for the
final day of registration. Fee is P500 inclusive of official playing shirt and bottled
water. Pay only P350 if you submit 10 mastheads of Sun.Star Davao or Superbalita
upon registration.
The event is backed up by NCCC Mall B3, 8990 Housing Development Corporation,
SkyCable and Betan Calibration Technique as major sponsors and Microtel Inn and
Suites Davao, San Miguel Corporation, Santos Land Development
Corporation,Toryano's Chicken Haus, Grand Men Seng Hotel, Home Crest
Residences, Stadium Buffet Restaurant and Sports Lounge, Water Lovers Purified
Drinking Water, Visuals in Motion Advertising and Redrock Dezigns as minor
sponsors.(pr)
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