Hazards of travelling to PI (I need you on this one Jay!)

[gopi-1]

I know I will get a lot of flak for posting their mug shots, because I might kill
some of their action back home but the good news is...

I'm here in the US and they're all back there!

Here's some of the faces that you have to remember if you're planning to go
to the Philippines for some R&R. Veer away from them as much as you can
and I know I can't find all their pictures but here's some:



The gatekeepers:

Edgar "Malabon" Acaba

Leonardo "Dodong Dadiangas" Andam

Jimmy "Baba" Cheng

Leonardo "Dodong" Didal

Godofredo "Boy Cotabato" Ducanes

Ruel Esquillo

Ramil "Bebeng Bacolod" gallego

Antonio "Nikoy" Lining

Rudy "Bacolod" Morta

Eduardo "Pikoy" Villanueva

 

[gopi-1]

The young guns, the upstarts and under the radar:

Carlo Biado

Joven Bustamante

Elvis Calasang

Johann "Bubwit" Chua, 15

Renemar "Revo" David

Jomar De Ocampo

Roland Garcia

Elmer "Buddy" Kalaquian

James Al Ortega

Jharome Pena

 

[gopi-1]

Russian "Bobby" Petiza

Jarry "Putol" Pelayo

Gandy "Yang-Yang" Valle

Warren Kiamco

Jeff "Bata" De Luna

Antonio "Gaga" Gabica

Roberto "Superman" Gomez

Dennis "Surigao" Orcullo

 

[jay helfert]

Good photos here! Most of these guys are at One Side and Pool Fusion daily. Except when they are off playing tournaments somewhere. "Buddy" was the young guy who hustled me to play 9-Ball at One Side and refused to play One Pocket or Banks. I've seen this young kid Chua in action against Revo. He may become the best player of them all someday. He plays run-out Ten Ball already on tough Metro tables.

Only a handful of the best players in the USA could handle him right now. Yes, you read that right! I'd like to take this kid to Derby City and let some of the "action" guys take a swing at him.

ALL the players who you see here would be "A" players in the US. Top pro speed here to put it another way. All would be capable of winning tournaments on the various regional tours.

 

[gopi-1]

Good photos here! Most of these guys are at One Side and Pool Fusion daily. Except when they are off playing tournaments somewhere. "Buddy" was the young guy who hustled me to play 9-Ball at One Side and refused to play One Pocket or Banks. I've seen this young kid Chua in action against Revo. He may become the best player of them all someday. He plays run-out Ten Ball already on tough Metro tables.

Only a handful of the best players in the USA could handle him right now. Yes, you read that right! I'd like to take this kid to Derby City and let some of the "action" guys http://forums.azbilliards.com/newreply.php?do=newreply&p=935071
AzBilliards Forums - Reply to Topictake a swing at him.

ALL the players who you see here would be "A" players in the US. Top pro speed here to put it another way. All would be capable of winning tournaments on the various regional tours.

I heard that this 15 year can old play Jay! How do you think he will match
up against Austin Murphy and Landon Shuffet playing 8-9 or 10 balls? He was
undefeated going through the finals Philippine Junior Pool Championship
until he lost in the finals against 18 year old Mark Aristotle Mendoza (11-7).
What do you think his speed at right now? And here's a pic of Mendoza:

 

[jay helfert]

I heard that this 15 year can old play Jay! How do you think he will match
up against Austin Murphy and Landon Shuffet playing 8-9 or 10 balls? He was
undefeated going through the finals Philippine Junior Pool Championship
until he lost in the finals against 18 year old Mark Aristotle Mendoza (11-7).
What do you think his speed at right now? And here's a pic of Mendoza:

Well here's the bad news. Landon and Austin's chances against Kid Chua? Try slim and none. They are not in his league....yet. Maybe someday they will be. Think more along the lines of a Tony Watson, Keith Bennett, or a Tommy D'Alfonso to find a good matchup for this kid. Yes, he's that good.

 

[Renegade]

Russian "Bobby" Petiza


Jarry "Putol" Pelayo

Gandy "Yang-Yang" Valle

Warren Kiamco

Jeff "Bata" De Luna

Antonio "Gaga" Gabica

Roberto "Superman" Gomez

Dennis "Surigao" Orcullo

nice pics, gopi! what are you, their stalker? hehe

Of course, by now, Orcullo, Kiamco, Valle, and even Gabica and De Luna, and especially Gomez, are hardly "under the radar" anymore.....

 

[eaglesfan44]

Jay does this kid play better than say Tony Chohan or Amar Kang when Amar actually played?

 

[CebuanoNiNoy]

Jec-jec Limen

You forgot Jec-jec Limen who defeated Wu Chia Ching last night here in Dumaguete 9-3.

Here's the not so clear picture with Wu (standing) and him seating on the background.

I'll try to get picture of him tonight.


There is also "Abu" and how about the players outside Manila who are not making their way yet to the capital.

 

[jay helfert]

Jay does this kid play better than say Tony Chohan or Amar Kang when Amar actually played?

No, but they couldn't give him any weight either. Of course he might beat either of them in a tournament match.

 

[Roy Steffensen]

Johann Chua was at One Side in Feb when I was there. In to One Side walked a German who we hadn't seen before, with a cuebag. (German's are normally pretty good players, atleast they've got a lot of them.)

Johann Chua walked up to this guy, who he had never seen before, and asked him if he wanted to gamble some 9-ball. The German hesitated but then Johann said "I'll give you 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, but I get the first break. We play for 500 only"

The German agreed, and lost 7 - 0. (Not only B&R from Johann, but good safeties and also some luck, but still a 7 - 0 victory)

 

[gopi-1]

Johann Chua was at One Side in Feb when I was there. In to One Side walked a German who we hadn't seen before, with a cuebag. (German's are normally pretty good players, atleast they've got a lot of them.)

Johann Chua walked up to this guy, who he had never seen before, and asked him if he wanted to gamble some 9-ball. The German hesitated but then Johann said "I'll give you 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, but I get the first break. We play for 500 only"

The German agreed, and lost 7 - 0. (Not only B&R from Johann, but good safeties and also some luck, but still a 7 - 0 victory)

Was it winner's break? Or Chua gets to break every game? WOW! Giving
up 4 balls aside from the 9 is pretty gutsy, he must've done his homework
well against this German guy, or the tips that he got from the railbirds
about the German's speed was really accurate. Don't believe that BS about
Johann hadn't seen that German guy before Roy, you should know better!

They don't operate that way! These local railbirds/sweaters a goood! They
spot an easy mark, find a good horse, offers the unsuspecting guy the
nuts (that's what he thinks!

) pool their money to cover the bet, and voila!
We have a game! Haven't you noticed that there's always a Filipino texting
on his phone every minute? That's how they pass vital infos if they find an
easy mark! ZUkkkers!

 

[gopi-1]

You forgot Jec-jec Limen who defeated Wu Chia Ching last night here in Dumaguete 9-3.

Here's the not so clear picture with Wu (standing) and him seating on the background.

I'll try to get picture of him tonight.


There is also "Abu" and how about the players outside Manila who are not making their way yet to the capital.

I can't find a decent pic of Jec-Jec Ninoy, that's why I said some, not all. Abu
is probably Panilo Damu-ag. I know I had a pic of Abu somewhere...

 

[gopi-1]

I found Abu's pic...

Panfilo "Abu Linkok" Damu-ag Jr.

 

[gopi-1]

And since nobody is interested in the main page, I'll just post the updates
of the Negros 9-Ball Open here, sort of post-WPC tournament in the Philippines...




Feijen crushed Alcano in Negros 9-Ball tilt!

Dumaguete City, Philippines --- Neils Feijen of the Netherlands crushed
2006 World Pool Champion Ronato Alcano of the Philippines, 9-4, late
Wednesday at the start of the Negros Oriental International 9-Ball
Championships at the Dumaguete Convention Center in Dumaguete City,
Negros Oriental here.

The 30-year-old Feijen swept to an early 6-1 lead after winning the
opening lag in the race-to-9, alternate break format in the first TV table
matches which will be aired on Solar Sports on Nov.22-29.

"I play very good, my shot is awesome and fantastic and the ball always
favor in my side," said Feijen who dismay in the World Pool Championships
because the implementing to use the soft-break format.

"I prepared to use the power break or hard break format and had an
excitement to the game than the soft-break format," added Feijen who lost
to Filipino Roberto Gomez, 11-0, in their quarter-final match using the
soft-break method in the 2007 Philippines World Pool Championships which
won by Daryl Peach of England.

Feijen, who is schedule to play in the Euro Tour on Spain on Dec.9-12 and
Mosconi Cup on Dec.15-17 will meet European no.1 player Konstantin
Stepanov of Russia, who brought downed Leonardo Didal of the Philippines,
9-6, in the $61,400 total pot four day event, jointly organize by Negros
Billiard Stable and Puyat Sports in close cooperation with San Miguel
Corporation, Nokia, and Kopiko.

In the battle of the former world 9-ball champions which offers top prize of
$20,000, Wu Chia-ching of Taiwan prove that he is much better than
Thorsten Hohmann of Germany after a 9-3 demolition win to clash an early
confrontation with another World 9-ball champion Alex "The Lion Pagulayan
of the Philippines who trounced compatriot Arturo Publico, 9-1.

In other matches saw, 2006 Doha Asian games 8-ball gold medalist Satoshi
Kawabata of Japan stamped his class by beating Billiards and Snooker
Congress of the Philippines *BSCP) founding president Edgard Acaba, 9-7,
to meet Japan based Pinoy Ramil "Bebeng" Gallego who edges countryman
Elmer Haya, 9-8.

Meanwhile, RP's 1-2 punch and bosom buddy Efren "Bata" Reyes and
Francisco "Django" Bustamante finally crossed the line last night in the
other TV table matches when the duo's facing each other last night.

"Wala tayong magagawa yan ang lumabas sa main draw eh," said
Bustamante, who failed to sleep for 2 days after his defeat to eventual
winner Daryl Peach of England in their semi-final matches of the recent
2007 Philippine World Pool Championships at the Big Dome in Quezon City.

The 43-year-old 2002 WPC runner-up, said yesterday that he already
accept his setbacks in the prestigious World 9-Ball Tour.

"Marami pa naman ang pagkakataon (WPC) basta foucus lamang tayo
ngayon dito sa Negros International 9-Ball," added Bustamante, prize
fighter of Puyat Sports.

The survivor of Reyes and Bustamante tussle's go up against either Dennis
Orcollo and Elvis Calasang.

2007 WPC runner-up Roberto Gomez will test the mettle of 2006 WPC
runner-up Ralf "Kaiser" Souquet of Germany in another exciting matches
yesterday.

"Masakit pa din 'yung pagkatalo ko sa WPC pero ganyan talaga ang buhay,
baka sa susunod ay ukol na para sa atin," like Bustamante, Gomez also lost
to Peach in WPC finals.

If Gomez luckily won his initial round assignment, he will meet another
heavyweight and current national open champion Lee Vann Corteza in the
next round. The 28-year-old Corteza, the player of Negros Billiard Stable is
expected to beat unheralded Boyet Drillon.

Corey Deuel, a former US Open 9-ball winner is expected to past teen-ager
Mike Takayama and a possible encounter to fellow American and another
world 9-ball champion Johnny Archer who is still playing as of press time
with new comer Chung-Chien-Te of Taiwan.

Marlon Bernardino

Source:

http://www.billiardphilippines.com/v3/modules/news/article.php?storyid=101

 

[gopi-1]

Corteza beat Souquet; Pagulayan crushed Wu Chia Ching

Dumaguete City, Philippines --- Current Philippine National Champion Lee
Vann Corteza overcame a tough challenge from former World 9-ball
Champion Ralf Souquet of Germany, 9-7, in the last TV table matches to
stay on course and remain an early favorite to advance to the next round
in the biggest-ever international standard event in the Visayas, the Negros
Oriental International 9-Ball Championships at the Dumaguete Convention
Center in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental late Wednesday here.

Disappointed with his loss against compatriot Jeffrey de Luna in their
quarter-final encounter at the 2007 Philippine World Pool Championships in
Manila, the 28-year-old Corteza, top player of Negros Billiard Stable (NBS)
has come well prepared going into this competition jointly organized by NBS
and Puyat Sports and will be aired on Solar Sports from Nov.22-29 and
setting his eyes on no less than the Negros crown and the top prize of
$20,000. The runner-up gets $10,000 while the losing-semifinalist will walk
away $5,000 each.

Corteza, a multiple Southeast Asian Games gold medalist who hails from
Davao City took 6-4 lead after winning the 10th racks in the race-to-9,
alternate break, double elimination format. Corteza, fondly called "The
Slayer" in the world of pool, who post a 9-4 opening match win against
countryman Boyet Drillon will meet another World 9-Ball Champion Mika "
Iceman" Immonen of Finland in the third round of winner's bracket today,
Fiday. Immonen, a frequent Manila visitor had a hard time by disposing
Jech-Jech Limen, 9-6, and Warren Kiamco of the Philippines, 9-7.

Souquet, also the 2006 Philippine World Pool Championships runner-up had
a chance to tie the game at 8-all count but suffered a scratch in his break
in the 16 th racks allowing the Filipino cue artists to escape a 9-7 victory.

Jonathan Sy, who is the brain child to bring the biggest pool event here in
Visayas said "It was my dream someday to hold a biggest tournament here
in Visayas which include the former World 9-Ball Champions and the top
pool player in the land and other top player from neighbors countries along
with the Americans and European cue masters," said Sy, president of the
Negros Billiard Stable who also got the help of the support of Negros
Oriental 1 st district representative Josie Limkaichiong of La Libertad.

The Provincial Government, with the help of the private sector, acquired
the rights to host the event that is also aimed at boosting the efforts to
promote the Province of Negros Oriental. The international event is made
possible through the help of the following major sponsors: NOKIA, KOPIKO
3-In-1 coffee, San Miguel Corporation (SMC) and ALTUS.

Meanwhile, Alex "The Lion" Pagulayan, the 2004 Taiwan World Pool
Championships champion also post his second straight wins against fellow
World 9-Ball Champion Wu-Chia-ching of Taiwan, 9-5, in the second TV
table matches. He also beat fewllow Pinoy Arturo Publico, 9-1, and
schedule to meet today, Friday with ex-US Open winner Corey Deuel of the
United States, who clustered a similar 9-6 victory over teen-ager Mike
Takayama and Chung Chien-te of Taiwan, respectively.

Jonathan Sy, Jarry Pelayo and Lee Vann Corteza



Jarry "Putol" Pelayo and Elmer Haya, both playing of NBS registered a back
to back upset wins against heavy favorite opponents.

The 32-year-old Pelayo, who lost his two finger when he was a little boy
by playing fire crackers shocked two-time Asian Games 9-ball gold medalist
Yang Ching-shun, 9-8, and another Filipino entry Rodolfo "Boy Samson"
Luat, 9-3, while Haya, a pool instructor in Kuwait trounced Japan based
Pinoy Ramil "Bebeng" Gallego, 9-8, and 2006 Asian Games 8-ball gold winner
Satoshi Kawabata, 9-5, in order.

With the win, Pelayo go up against Elvis Calasang while Haya will face
Leonardo "Dodong" Didal in other Filipino third round winner's brackets
encounter today, Friday.

Elvis Calasang



Calasang beat Dennis Orcollo, 9-8, and Francisco Bustamante, 9-2,
respectively while Didal upsets European no.1 player Konstantin Stepanov
of Russia, 9-6, and Niels Feijen of the Netherlands, 9-4.

Bustamante who beat his Puyat Sports stablemate tournament favorites
Efren "Bata" Reyes, 9-2, in their initial encounter needed to win his match
in the loser's brackets to stay in the title hunt in this $61,400 total pot
prize tournaments. RP billiards patron Aristeo "Putch" Puyat is schedule to
arrive here today to give support for the Filipinos campaigner according to
tournament director Rolly "Lando" Vicente.

Marlon Bernardino

Source:

http://www.billiardphilippines.com/v3/modules/news/article.php?storyid=102

 

[gopi-1]

"Bata" oust Orcullo, Alcano, Django falls...

Dumaguete City, Philippines --- Hall of famer Efren "Bata" Reyes,
acknowledged as the greatest pool player of all-time played almost 100
percent on Thursday night to oust compatriot Dennis Orcullo, 9-3, to keep
Filipino hopes flying high in the on-going Negros Oriental International 9-Ball
Championships at the Dumaguete Convention Center in Dumaguete City,
Negros Oriental here.

The 53-year-old Reyes, top player of Puyat Sports jumped to an early 6-1
lead after winning the opening lag, and was never threatened the rest of
the way in the race-to-9, alternate break, double elimination format of the
TV table match which will be aired on Solar Sports on Nov. 22-29.

"The balls favor in my side, for flag and country I will do my very best,"
said Reyes who needed to past his all opponent in the loser's side to
advance in the cross-over semifinal round.

The 28-year-old Orcullo, a former fisherman from Bislig, Surigao del Sur
break and run in the 8th fame to cut the lead at 6-2 count in the
biggest-ever international standard event in the Visayas, is made possible
through the help of Negros Oriental 1 st district representative Josie
Limkaichiong of La Libertad, NOKIA, KOPIKO 3-In-1 coffee, San Miguel
Corporation (SMC) and ALTUS.

Three balls on the break followed a tough brilliant 7-9 combination put the
Magician on 7-2 racks and four unforced error of Orcullo in the 10 th racks
allowing Reyes to boost his lead at 8-2 racks in this riches $61,400 total
pot tournament jointly organized by Negros Billiard Stable and Puyat
Sports.

Reyes, the 1999 Cardiff World 9-Ball Champion only suffered a scratch in
the 11th racks that gave Orcullo to slice the lead at 8-3 racks in the event
which offers the top prize of $20,000. The runner-up here gets $10,000
while the losing-semi-finalist each receive $5,000.

In the 12th racks, Orcullo committed a dry break as Reyes clean up the
table for a magnificent 9-3 win in this event which featured some of the
world's best that includes a total of nine (9) World Pool Champions headed
by Reyes, Alex Pagulayan, Ronato Alcano of the Philippines, Johnny Archer
of the United States, Ralf Souquet and Thorsten Hohmann of Germany, Wu
Chia-ching of Taiwan, Kunihiko Takahashi of Japan and Mika Immonen of
Finland.

Dumaguete City Regional Trial Court (RTC) judge Rosendo Bandal, an avid
billiard fanatic, a national master and former chess Olympian witnessed the
superb performance of Reyes against Orcollo.

"This is my first time to see Bata Reyes in person," said Bandal, a close
family friend of tournament organizer Jonathan Sy, president of the Negros
Billiard Stable (NBS).

European no.1 player Konstantin Stepanov of Russia had an easy time
disposing Alcano, 9-2, in the loser's side and clustered a come from behind
9-7 victory over Bustamante, the 2002 Cardiff World Pool runner-up.

The 43-year-old Bustamante, who beat Reyes, 9-2, in the opening round
last Wednesday got a comfortable 7-3 lead in the one-loss side but was
stuck at 7 racks with two unforced error.

Stepanov, a quarter-finalist in the 2007 Philippine World Pool Championships
clustered five straight racks to climb at 8-7 lead as Bustamante had a
chance to tie the match at 8-all count but suffered a scratch in the 16 th
racks that provide Stepanov for a 9-7 kill.

Sharing the limelight is Filipino teen-ager Jech-Jech Limen of NBS who
made biggest upsets so far by demolition heavyweight Naoyuki Oi of Japan,
9-5, and Wu, 9-3.

Satoshi Kawabata of Japan, the 2006 Doha Asian Games 8-ball gold
medalist nipped two-time Asian Games 9-ball gold winner Yang Ching-shun
of Taiwan, 9-7, and countryman Takahashi, 9-5, to remain in contention in
the loser's side.

Meanwhile, reigning US Bar Table 9-ball Champion and 8-ball Champion NBS
bet Warren Kiamco of the Philippines defeated Hohmann, 9-7.

Marlon Bernardino

Source:

http://www.billiardphilippines.com/v3/modules/news/article.php?storyid=105

 

[gopi-1]

For behind the scenes and a much faster results and updates, check out
CebuanoNiNoy's thread. The pics are a little bit hazy and blurry, but anything
about pool back home is fine by me! Keep on shooting CebuanoNiNoy!

Here's his thread: http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=79937

 

[kaduku]

A few years ago Johann Chua's father was being given flak for pulling Johann out of school to play billiards full time and was given an academic tutor instead to help him with his schooling. I wonder if he's still under a tutor or if he is/was attending normal schooling.

 

[gopi-1]

Here's a ton of pics from the ongoing Negros 9-Ball Open. Enjoy!