So does this mean if they pay their dues, then can then fly halfway around the world to play in a Qualifier? Let's see, Efren Reyes in a qualifier, Francisco Bustamante in a qualifier, Dennis Orcollo, Ronnie Alcano, Lee Van Corteza, Roberto Gomez, Warren Kiamco all playing in qualifiers to get into the main draw. Is that correct?
Why does this not seem right to me? Here you have UNQUESTIONABLY seven of the top pool players on the planet who now must play in a qualifier where maybe two players get into the main draw. Such a deal!
I think there's more to the story than this. And it sounds like honey and rhymes with sunny.
No doubt that it's not an ideal solution. As I have proposed on here many times I also proposed it to Ian Anderson that perhaps the WPA needs to have another member category which is a "Professional Player" category. This level of membership would be outside country and only allow players who meet the criteria and have earned the right to be included as professionals and not treated as amateurs.
It is however a workaround that the WPA has instituted so as NOT to start destroying the organization that they are built on.
The point is Jay that they are not BANNED from the WPA events as has been reported. The players can play.
You can look at it any way you want to but it is what it is. Efren Reyes is not banned from playing in the Guiness Tour for example. He CHOOSES not to play because he is sponsored by San Miguel Beer.
The state of affairs in the Phillipines is a sorry one and those who are in the know are fully aware that no one has clean hands regarding all the goings on. There is a lot of money at stake here and that is why both sides are using the players as pawns.
Even IF the WPA said that they would grant exemptions for the Phillipines top players then those players would still need to have their backer's approval and funding in order to attend the events. What are the chances that this would happen if the backers said no?
The way to get exemptions however is to get in the events and build up the rankings points and thus be exempt from having to qualify. It's just the way it is.
Look at it like the WPBA - you can be the best player in the world but if you want to play on the WPBA then you MUST go through their qualifying system. Once qualified and you maintain a high enough ranking then you are in all the time.
But it's useless to complain about not being invited or allowed to play when you won't even remain a member of the organization whose events you wish to play in.
My take on this is that the best players in the Philippines should sign the forms - pay the dues - and then SUE THE LEADERSHIP if they fail to provide a fair method of determining rankings and a clear method of choosing which players receive the allocated spots for international events. Change comes from within.
Let's not forget who was in charge before Makebenta and Fajardo. The point being that this is politics pure and simple and it cannot and will not be resolved by any WPA decision to recognize one group over another. IF the WPA were to do that then it opens up the door for any other group to do the same and demand recognition in every other country.
There is a path for all Filipino players to be able to play in WPA events. It's a crappy path for sure but the WPA has done all it can to give those players a chance to participate.
Leave the WPA out of it when it comes to Filipino pool. The WPA represents pool around the world not just in the Philippines. If the professionals of the world want to deal with the WPA on a equal basis then they need to form their own organization and request a seat at the table representing their members. Then those members won't be subject to the internal politics of any member nation.
