Because It's In The Newspapers

[Johnnyt]

"Yen Makabenta, president of Raya Sports, has led the emergence of the Philippines as a host of major pool events, including the World Pool Championship in 2006 and 2007. A former newspaper editor and columnist, he pioneered pool journalism in his country, reporting among others on the rise of the young Efren Reyes."
The above is from his blog on AZBilliards. The few pieces I've read on what's going on over there makes it sound like pool is in a big power struggle for one group to have complete control over it.

I don't get into or care about politics in my own county much less the others. As far as I'm concerned their all BS artists and only work for the few that can afford lobbyists. Everyone of them owe so many favors by the time they work themselves up to anything at the state level that they can't be honest if they ever were in the first place.

But in IMHO I believe that Yen Makabenta probably was at least 50% of the reason pool is so big and on TV in the Philippines. I believe if someone wrote daily on pool in the major US newspaper that pool would get a BIG shot in the arm here too. Johnnyt

 

[Johnnyt]

"Yen Makabenta, president of Raya Sports, has led the emergence of the Philippines as a host of major pool events, including the World Pool Championship in 2006 and 2007. A former newspaper editor and columnist, he pioneered pool journalism in his country, reporting among others on the rise of the young Efren Reyes."
The above is from his blog on AZBilliards. The few pieces I've read on what's going on over there makes it sound like pool is in a big power struggle for one group to have complete control over it.

I don't get into or care about politics in my own county much less the others. As far as I'm concerned their all BS artists and only work for the few that can afford lobbyists. Everyone of them owe so many favors by the time they work themselves up to anything at the state level that they can't be honest if they ever were in the first place.

But in IMHO I believe that Yen Makabenta probably was at least 50% of the reason pool is so big and on TV in the Philippines. I believe if someone wrote daily on pool in the major US newspaper that pool would get a BIG shot in the arm here too. Johnnyt

Has Yen Makabenta helped boost pool in the Philippines? Johnnyt

 

[sputnik]

There is no question that Makabenta truly helped in upping the popularity of pool in the Philippines. By bringing WPC home, he spared the millions of pinoys from staying up late on cable TV to watch countrymen show their skills in WPC's abroad. We all appreciate that.

It is also true that Makabenta, early in his writing career, wrote about pool. That too is a contribution.

The question is how are these two factors being used by Makabenta in running BSCP? BSCP should be the biggest beneficiary having a leader with this kind of edge. Internet and newspaper articles, BSCP still can manage to look good. But in the real world of pool in the Philippines, there is failure in BSCP's running its affairs according to its essence of existence.

Billiards and Snooker Congress of the Philippines. In Billiards, he has lost almost all his constituents. Snooker is virtually non-existent in the country. What comprises of the congress and when did it ever convene? Is BSCP doing things for the Philippines or does it merely function as a business outfit? It doesn't take much to see that BSCP is merely being used as an instrument to wheel and deal.

When you say BSCP, the first thing that pops up is Makabenta. When you say Raya Sports, Makabenta pops up again. Does he really have the capacity to run these dual roles with a background as a writer?

There are a lot of signals that the decisions on the business side of BSCP/Raya do not have
good business foundations. Putting all the chips on accreditation and losing almost all the Filipino players still is not a sound business judgement.

BSCP has the 10-ball tournament lined up. In all fairness, perhaps they felt that they had learned from the two WPCs and they are going to cut off this supplier and do their own production and make it more affordable and viable. Indeed, going global with this 10-ball tournament can even perpetuate their existence. If they are lucky with a world 10-ball legacy, BSCP will be dispensable because the only thing that is important with BSCP to the characters behind it is accreditation. They will drop BSCP as they dropped Matchroom Sports and the Filipino players. It is in their pattern.

So BMPAP, as well as all the Filipinos should probably hope that this bunch of ambitious elements succeeds in their 10-ball tournament -- if only to get rid of them as a National Sport Association of the Philippines.

On the other hand, should they really be allowed to go on? BMPAP has come up with its solutions. WPA still still keeps them in the cradle.