Pacman International 9-Ball Open updates!

[gopi-1]

Congrats Jeff "Bata" De Luna for winning the inaugural Pacman International 9-Ball Open!

He beat a star-studded line-up that includes Efren, Django, Van-Van, reigning world 8 and
9 ball champion Ronnie Alcano and a host of international pool players like Mika Immonen,
Karl Boyes, Marcus Chamat, Darren Appleton and others.

He had the toughest path among the quarterfinalists as he had to contend with the Rocket,
Rodney Morris (9-6) in the quarters, Rodolfo "Boy Samson" Luat (10-6) in the semis and
Dennis "Robocop" Orcullo in the finals (11-9). This bodes well for Jeff as his confidence level
is on a high heading towards the biggest tournament of the year next week. The World Pool
Championships for 2007 is the Holy Grail of pool and I hope Jeff's good fortune and form will
carry him for 2 more weeks.

Jeff made a good account of himself last year as he finished in the top 16 in his very first try.
His break is his best weapon and it made a lasting impression among the pool fans and co-
players as well. He could be the counterpart of Taiwanese teen sensation Wu Chia Ching (18)
or the current toast in the US pool circles and current US Open champion Shane Van Boening
(24). Jeff is 23 years old and his future looks really bright. His table antics is much like Alex
Pagulayan, his monstrous break is comparable to Django, his pocketing accuracy is almost as
good as Marlon Manalo, the only thing missing or lacking is Efren's "diskarte". I know that in
good time he will acquire all skills necessary to be the best and maintain it for a long period
of time.

Here's a game of Jeff last year just to jog your memories guys!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8iaPl77tex4

 

[gopi-1]

Jeff De Luna wins P1-M in Pacman 9 Ball Tournament


By Marlon Bernardino
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 28 Oct 2007

The 23-year-old De Luna, member of the star-studded Bugsy Promotion,
beat 2007 Billiards Congress of America (BCA) Enjoypool.com 9-ball winner
Dennis Orcullo in an all-Filipino finale, 11-9, late Saturday to win the crown
in the double-elimination tournament that featured 128 elite players from
around the world.

The man known in the billiard circle as "The Bull" or "Jeff Bata" netted P1
million ($22,696), his biggest ever prize in his pro billiard career after
getting a P850,000 cash incentives from the local government by winning
the silver medal in the 2006 Doha Asian Games 9-ball competition in Qatar.

"So far ito na ang pinakamalaking premyo na natanggap ko sa aking pro
billiard career. Y'ung sa Asian Games ay P850,000 ang natanggap ko sa
local government matapos manalo ako ng silver medal sa 9-ball
competition." said De Luna, one of the country's representatives in the
Kabayan World 9-Ball Challenge: Philippines vs. Rest of the World on Nov.
12-13 in Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro.

"Saka timing ang pagkapanalo ko sa Manny Pacquiao International 9-Ball
kasi walang-walang pera kami ng asawa kong si Ian kung saan ang dalawa
naming anak ay may sakit at kailangan madala sa Hospital agad," De Luna
referring his son Alexander and daughter Alexandra who are sick.

De Luna, who won the opening lag, had a reaction his game against Orcullo
"Grabe, hindi talaga bumibitaw si Dennis (Orcullo) siguro kung siya ang
nakauna o dikitan kami ay baka talo ako," explained De Luna who took a
6-0 commanding lead before Orcullo came back and close the match at 6-4
count. Orcullo faltered in the 20th rack to allow the unbeaten De Luna to
nail an 11-9 win.

The 28-year-old Orcullo, on the other hand, received runner-up prize of
P500,000 ($11,348) in this P2 million total pot tournament sponsored by
Filipino boxing champion Manny Pacquiao in close cooperation with Solar All
Access and Manny Pacquiao promotion.

De Luna earlier ousted former US Open 9-Ball runner-up and SMB Asian
9-ball tour winner Rodolfo "Boy Samson" Luat, 10-6, in the semi-finals to
book a finals slot.

Orcullo, meanwhile advanced into the finals after knocking out Sta. Cruz,
Laguna No. 1 player Michael "Fighter" Feliciano, 10-2, in the other side of
the semis. Losing semi-finalist Luat and Feliciano will take home P150,000
each.

Early this month, De Luna beat Ricky Zerna and Panfilo Damuag, 11-7, in
Pool Showdown to amassed a total earnings worth $3,300.00 one for ring
game winner, two match of the week champion ($1,000.00 each) and
$500.00 as added prize for retaining the hot seat (Hari ng Mesa).

The Manny Pacquiao event should serve as good tune-up for De Luna, who
is seeking to improve his last year's WPC quarter-final finish when the 2007
World Pool Championship gets going on Nov. 3-11 at the Araneta Coliseum
in Cubao, Quezon City.


Source:

http://philboxing.com/news/story-13482.html

 

[f210]

Philippines vs the rest of the world

So far ito na ang pinakamalaking premyo na natanggap ko sa aking pro
billiard career. Y'ung sa Asian Games ay P850,000 ang natanggap ko sa
local government matapos manalo ako ng silver medal sa 9-ball
competition." said De Luna, one of the country's representatives in the
Kabayan World 9-Ball Challenge: Philippines vs. Rest of the World on Nov.
12-13 in Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro.
Do you know who are the participants in this tournament?

 

[gopi-1]

So far ito na ang pinakamalaking premyo na natanggap ko sa aking pro
billiard career. Y'ung sa Asian Games ay P850,000 ang natanggap ko sa
local government matapos manalo ako ng silver medal sa 9-ball
competition." said De Luna, one of the country's representatives in the
Kabayan World 9-Ball Challenge: Philippines vs. Rest of the World on Nov.
12-13 in Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro.
Do you know who are the participants in this tournament?

It could be everybody, it really depends on how much cheese are there for
the taking. It should be worth their (rest of the world) while to make them
hang around for another 2 or 3 days. The proximity of the Kabayan World
9-Ball Challenge's date to the WPC makes it easier for the rest of the world
to stay a little longer. How's this line-up for the rest of the world?


SVB
Wu Chia-Ching
Souquet
Strickland
Fong Pang Chao
Feijen
Immonen
Yang
Van Den Berg
Takahashi
Archer
Hohmann
Morris
Alcaide

 

[fanthom]

It could be everybody, it really depends on how much cheese are there for
the taking. It should be worth their (rest of the world) while to make them
hang around for another 2 or 3 days. The proximity of the Kabayan World
9-Ball Challenge's date to the WPC makes it easier for the rest of the world
to stay a little longer. How's this line-up for the rest of the world?


SVB
Wu Chia-Ching
Souquet
Strickland
Fong Pang Chao
Feijen
Immonen
Yang
Van Den Berg
Takahashi
Archer
Hohmann
Morris
Alcaide

For those who have plans on seeing this tournament and would like a bit of R&R before and/or after this event, I recommend Puerto Galera in Mindoro. Beautiful relaxing place that is well reknowned and pocket friendly. I'm a scuba diver and have gone to that place. It's a great place for both topside and water activities. Ask the local operators on how to get to Puerto Galera from Calapan. Best way for me was to take the Fast Ferry from Batangas. The approach to Puerto Galera is simply breathtaking. Have fun and be safe.

 

[crosseyedjoe]

For those who have plans on seeing this tournament and would like a bit of R&R before and/or after this event, I recommend Puerto Galera in Mindoro. Beautiful relaxing place that is well reknowned and pocket friendly. I'm a scuba diver and have gone to that place. It's a great place for both topside and water activities. Ask the local operators on how to get to Puerto Galera from Calapan. Best way for me was to take the Fast Ferry from Batangas. The approach to Puerto Galera is simply breathtaking. Have fun and be safe.

I suggest go even farther to Puerto Azul in Cavite. Puerto Galera is a little untidy for me; however, food is better in Puerto Galera.