While BMPAP is still trying to work out a Manila WPC 2008, BSCP's WTBC is all set for September 29 to October 5. BMPAP is admittedly trying to come up with enough funding to buy the event after Matchroom Sports thought that WPC was in good hands for a third straight year in Manila. Unfortunately, by the time Raya Sports backed out, the eager Indonesian prospects thought that things were too late for 2008. Hence, BMPAP has been salvaging the situation, and there is still an air of optimism in purchasing a WPC 2008 from Matchroom Sports. That explains why BMPAP has been mum about the event.
On the WTBC side, it is surprising that the Raya people are mum about the event, despite its near debut of 23 days from this writing. All we see are statements from the WPA about the players that are all set for the event from all over the world. AZBilliards also announced that they are coming over to celebrate the event. The BSCP website is now down and the WTBC website still has its sponsors link under construction. It is puzzling that there have been no press releases about the WTBC in the Philippines in any of the newspapers and over the radio waves. There is really something strange going on with this kind of silence for such a big event. In a 3rd World country like the Philippines, $400,000 is truly a big deal for it not to be promoted this late.
Perhaps BSCP's National Open will give us a hint of what is really going on. In the thread "Philippines' 3rd National Pool Championship" in the Matchroom Forum, the first link to Marlon Bernardino's report said that there was a whopping top prize of P400,000. In the same thread, the next news item of Bernardino said that a mere prestigious trophy awaits the winner. The money disappeared right before the event giving the impression that the organizers have no money.
In the same manner that Yen Makabenta became "Man of the Year" for bringing the WPC to Manila, calling-off the debut of the WTBC might make him "Goat of the Year". He has to come up with the prize money of $400,000 in 16 working days. The people have purchased their plane tickets and have cancelled prior engagements. Money has been spent for qualifiers and the whole world is now excited about it.
If the swift pulling out of the prize money in the National Pool Championship can be a basis for predicting the things to come, the $400,000 might likewise disappear just before the tournament. Word has it that as late as this last Wednesday, they were denied sponsorship by a second beer manufacturer.
I may be wrong, but the symptoms are just really giving the situation away. Makabenta has to come up with the tournament in order not to put to shame the "many stakeholders of the Philippine pool community such as players, promoters, managers, referees and coaches, billiards clubs, billiards manufacturers and distributors, pool hall owners, pool sponsors and fans" that Makabenta claims to represent.
On the WTBC side, it is surprising that the Raya people are mum about the event, despite its near debut of 23 days from this writing. All we see are statements from the WPA about the players that are all set for the event from all over the world. AZBilliards also announced that they are coming over to celebrate the event. The BSCP website is now down and the WTBC website still has its sponsors link under construction. It is puzzling that there have been no press releases about the WTBC in the Philippines in any of the newspapers and over the radio waves. There is really something strange going on with this kind of silence for such a big event. In a 3rd World country like the Philippines, $400,000 is truly a big deal for it not to be promoted this late.
Perhaps BSCP's National Open will give us a hint of what is really going on. In the thread "Philippines' 3rd National Pool Championship" in the Matchroom Forum, the first link to Marlon Bernardino's report said that there was a whopping top prize of P400,000. In the same thread, the next news item of Bernardino said that a mere prestigious trophy awaits the winner. The money disappeared right before the event giving the impression that the organizers have no money.
In the same manner that Yen Makabenta became "Man of the Year" for bringing the WPC to Manila, calling-off the debut of the WTBC might make him "Goat of the Year". He has to come up with the prize money of $400,000 in 16 working days. The people have purchased their plane tickets and have cancelled prior engagements. Money has been spent for qualifiers and the whole world is now excited about it.
If the swift pulling out of the prize money in the National Pool Championship can be a basis for predicting the things to come, the $400,000 might likewise disappear just before the tournament. Word has it that as late as this last Wednesday, they were denied sponsorship by a second beer manufacturer.
I may be wrong, but the symptoms are just really giving the situation away. Makabenta has to come up with the tournament in order not to put to shame the "many stakeholders of the Philippine pool community such as players, promoters, managers, referees and coaches, billiards clubs, billiards manufacturers and distributors, pool hall owners, pool sponsors and fans" that Makabenta claims to represent.
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