Statement from BSCP

[Jerry Forsyth]

AZBilliards has just received this statement from the BSCP concerning the current situation in the Philippines:



REPORT ON THE PHILPPINE BILLIARDS SITUATION



by June Diokno

Spokesman and Program Director

Billiards & Snooker Congress of the Philippines

21 July 2004



The Billiards and Snooker Congress of the Philippines (BSCP) wishes to place on record this summary report on the billiards situation in the Philippines for the guidance and information of national clubs and international billiards organizations, the media and the public.

The BSCP was established in 1987 following the EDSA revolution of 1986. It is the member for the Philippines of the Asian Pocket Billiards Union (APBU), and as such is part of the international pool governance system under the World Pocket-Billiards Association (WPA). It is the member for billiards of the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC), through which it is part of the Olympic system. It is also the Philippine member of the Asian Confederation for Billiard Sports (ACBS), the Asian representative in the World Confederation of Billiard Sports (WCBS).
There are 4.5 million Filipinos who play billiards regularly according to an official survey conducted by the Social Weather Stations in 2006. As the national sports association, the BSCP comprises and represents the many stakeholders of billiard sports in the Philippines: players, promoters, billiards firms, parlors, clubs, associations, player managers, referees, billiards aficionados, media representatives, and billiard fans all over the country.
The BSCP is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Its policy-making body is the five-man Board of Directors. The executive function is exercised by a set of officers led by a President, Vice-President, Secretary-General, Treasurer, etc.


The current billiards situation in the country arose because of the brazen attempt of a group - the Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines (BMPAP) -- to take over billiards in the Philippines on the absurd notion that they could do so with a handful of known players in hand. That challenge has been rebuffed in the POC, in the APBU, and in the Philippine billiards community as a whole. Nevertheless, the group has continued to try and disrupt the work of the BSCP through misinformation, wild and unfounded allegations, and events designed to compete with the BSCP calendar. And they have foisted their campaign of misinformation not just inside the country, but on the international front.

To distinguish between fact and falsehood in the present billiards situation, we are therefore issuing this official statement of facts and issues for the information and guidance of members and colleagues in the national and international billiards communities.

1. The Billiards Managers Association of the Philippines (BMAP) has claimed that the BSCP and its leadership have misappropriated public funds for its activities, starting with the allegation in January this year that the BSCP had received and misused P10 million given by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC). This is an outright falsehood. After a thorough accounting of funds allocated for billiards by the PSC, its chairman William Ramirez issued an official statement that the government body never gave the BSCP the alleged P10 million fund or any other funds. All monies given for billiards (amounting to P1.2 million) went directly to players and referees. Not a single cent went to our association. (See attached Inquirer report.) Despite this clear rejection of its allegation, the BMPAP continues to retail this charge to the unsuspecting.

2. The BMPAP has claimed that government sponsorship and support of the 2006 and 2007 World Pool Championships in Manila represents a form of malversation of public funds by Raya Sports as promoter and BSCP as partner organization. This is false and ignorant. The support obtained for the WPCs was fully above board and was integral to the program from the beginning. No less than President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo provided backing and support for the events. Government corporations are some of the biggest advertisers and supporters of sports events in the country. The Department of Tourism has a $50 million budget specifically for the promotion of Philippine tourism abroad. For every peso given in support of the WPCs, Government got way, way more in terms of media values and national goodwill. Indeed, the Philippines became the virtual pool capital of the world by virtue of these efforts.

3. The BMPAP has claimed that in the selection of Filipino players for international competition, the BSCP does not play fair with all players and does not conduct a proper selection process. This is false and a total misrepresentation of the facts. In choosing players for international competition, the BSCP follows a strict process of evaluation and qualification. Besides regularly conducting tournaments, it institutes special qualifying tournaments to select the most suitable representatives for foreign competition.
What happened this year was that a number of players - under contract with the BMPAP managers - severed their relationship with the BSCP with its manifesto of February 2008, and thereby took themselves out of the selection process. The BMPAP boasted that henceforth it would conduct its own selection of players for the WPA events and the Guinness 9Ball Tour. It wrote the WPA, APBU and ESPN to inform them that it was now in charge of billiards in the Philippines. And it even got a government agency, the Games and Amusement Board (GAB), to write international bodies, claiming powers over Philippine sports that it does not have. When these overtures for international recognition were rebuffed, they turned around and started claiming that their players were not being fairly included and treated in the BSCP selection process.

The BSCP's position on this issue is clear. To be included in the selection process, the BMPAP players have to be reintegrated into the BSCP system. As a minimum requirement for this, players who publicly denounced the BSCP leadership for alleged corruption and abuses should individually either retract their charges or file their complaints before the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC). They cannot have it both ways: enjoying the patronage of the BSCP while denouncing it with all kinds of allegations.
The BSCP has no quarrel with the players of the BMPAP. We believe the players are just being used by their managers for their dark purposes. This is why we have refrained so far from applying full sanctions against them. But until they profess full allegiance to the BSCP and respect for its rules and policies, they will not be included in the selection process for international competition.

4. The BMPAP has misrepresented before the international pool community through online forums what happened at the Senate sports committee hearing on May 28, 2008. The hearing was called because of a petition of the BSCP for a determination of whether or not the Games and Amusement Board has the authority to regulate billiards and other sports in the Philippines. Among other things, the following issues were brought to light:
a. GAB's interference in billiards is contrary to the Olympic principle of non-government interference in sports. It has no standing in the international sports community.

b. GAB is arrogating powers that do not exist in the law (presidential decree 471) it is invoking, which does not mention sports, only games.

c. GAB's ruling that all tournaments offering P2,000 or more in prize money must secure a GAB permit is ridiculous and would subject even school competition to its supervision. Its companion ruling that all players playing in such tournaments must get a GAB license is even more absurd and constitutes interference with the rights of players.

d. GAB has singled out billiards for its licensing and permits ruling. Other sports and their athletes have been spared from its strictures.

e. GAB, in the words of hearing chairman Sen. Gregorio Honasan, is placing the Philippines in a ?time warp? by enforcing licensing of athletes while the rest of the world is now living in the era of open sports.
These issues were fully discussed at the hearing and reported by the Philippine media. In describing the hearing in the pool forums, however, BMPAP sought to depict it as a hearing about government support for the 2006 and 2007 WPCs because they got one senator to ask one irrelevant question for them. The inquiry will continue, but meanwhile it is significant that GAB has already desisted from intervening with BSCP events and from demanding that players get a license from it.



5. We want to state for the record that the BSCP and its partner organizations have been instrumental in helping many Filipino players achieve international recognition by providing them with the opportunity to play in major tournaments at home and abroad. Among them are players who are in the fold of the BMPAP. Until the BSCP started its proactive program in 2005, the only Filipino players known to the world were Efren Reyes, Francisco Bustamante and Alex Pagulayan. No other Filipino players were known because of Puyat's policy of exclusion and control over international invitations.

...CONTINUED ON NEXT POST

 

[Jerry Forsyth]

BSCP Statement Part two

Once the BSCP launched its program of promoting international tournaments in the Philippines and helping Filipino players to compete abroad, there was literally an explosion of Filipino players getting recognition internationally. Dennis Orcullo got his first international triumph at the World Pool League in Poland via an invitation gotten for him by BSCP. Antonio Gabica won his Asian Gold Medal for pool because BSCP fielded him in competition. Ronato Alcano got his big break via the 2006 world Pool Championship in Manila. Marlon Manalo got his start through the BSCP system of nurturing talent. Lee Van Corteza got recognition through the many opportunities given him by the BSCP. The list goes on.

In its handling of players, the BSCP does not take any commission from the winnings and bonuses of players who play in its program. This is in stark contrast to the practice of BMPAP managers who take 40% of every peso their players under contract earn. Likewise, the BSCP and its partner organizations have no outstanding financial obligations to players. In BSCP organized and sanctioned tournaments, winning players are paid within days after the conclusion of the event.

The BSCP has not confined its attention and support to just the top players. As an integral part of its program, the BSCP holds regularly women and juniors championships, divisional championships for various levels of players, and training programs for players. It does not forget its mission of service to all stakeholders of the sport, and its responsibility to build a secure future for Philippine pool.

6. The BMPAP was founded on the idea of establishing a professional pool team league in the Philippines. They held a big press conference to announce it, and projected the month of July for the start of competition. The pro team league induced many players to sign up because of the promise that all will earn regular salaries from their respective teams instead of having to win in competition. Aging players liked the idea of retiring into such a welfare system. The plan has not gotten off the ground, however. It is now July 2008 and there has been no mention anymore of the team league. No private firm has signed up. Meanwhile, players who enlisted are now asking about their promised bonanza. They feel they have been duped.

7. Boycotting tournaments and competition managed by the BSCP has been a long-standing tactic of Aristeo Puyat, one of the three BMPAP founding managers. He has employed it in the Asian Games and Southeast Asian Games by refusing to allow Efren Reyes and Francisco Bustamante to play for the country unless he can dictate on the composition of teams and the fielding of players. He has used it against rival promoters for years, believing that if his contract players do not play the tournaments will not get sponsorship and fan support. He has not allowed Reyes and Bustamante to play in the BSCP national championship for several years now. This year, he and the BMPAP have employed the boycott against the Philippine Pool Tour of the BSCP, despite the attractive prizes and international competition. And now, they have talked about a boycott of the 2008 WPA World Ten Ball Championship.

While the boycott tactic may have worked for Puyat in the past, it has been unsuccessful in the face of the proactive agenda of the BSCP and several new promoters during the past three years. Bigger and more exciting events are now taking place all over the Philippines regularly. Boycotting players are not missed by the fans. BSCP's position on a boycott is that no player is bigger than the sport. A boycott is the player's loss, not the promoter's.

8. With the collapse of its pro team league scheme, the BMPAP has shifted its focus to holding its politically sponsored tournaments to rival BSCP-organized and sanctioned tournaments. It has hitched its wagon to the presidential ambitions of Sen. Manny Villar, who is eager to use pool as a means to project his candidacy and enhance his popularity. Together they have come up with the Villar Cup - a series of tournaments to be staged in various parts of the country.
We in the BSCP wish the Villar Cup well, but it is clear that the BMPAP does not wish us the same. The BMPAP has mounted its tournaments on exactly the same dates as the tournaments being staged by the BSCP and its partner organizations. When the BSCP Philippine Pool Tour was launched in Mandaluyong City on May 6 to 11 (Mandaluyong Mayor's Cup), the Villar Cup was unveiled on exactly the same dates in Alabang, Muntinlupa. When the second PPT leg was staged in Puerto Princesa City (Puerto Princesa Mayor's Cup) on June 20-22, the Villar Cup materialized in Cebu City. Its object apparently is to show that they are an association at par with BSCP and to prevent their players from participating in the PPT.
All this BSCP can live with. Our association is comfortable with the support it is getting for its programs and events from the private and public sectors, and from billiards clubs and fans all over the country. Every PPT event enjoys the support of city governments of hosts. It meets high international standards for both equipment and technical management have commercial sponsors. Its field of players include some of the best players in the world. And they are fully televised nationally and internationally by the country's biggest network. The same cannot be said of the BMPAP events, which have yet to see one single foreign player see action in any of them.

9. As a matter of policy, the BSCP does not sanction tournaments that are organized and run by billiards managers. We believe there is an inherent conflict of interest between the billiards manager's interest in his players winning and his obligation as promoter to be fair to all participants. The instances when billiards managers-promoters have not played fair with players are legion. The BSCP has received numerous complaints from players about practices of favoritism in seedings and bracketing which have rendered difficult for independent players to win in manager-organized tournaments.

This conflict of interest question is present in the Villar Cup being organized by BMPAP because it is run by the three BMPAP managers (Aristeo Puyat, Perry Mariano and Jonathan Sy). The managers' players are being granted undue advantages through outright entry into the last 16 or last 32 rounds of tournaments, while independent players have to fight through a process of elimination. It is no wonder that only the managers' players win these events, and many independent players shy away from joining them.

Finally, with respect to the appeal of WPA president Ian Anderson for the BSCP and BMPAP to put aside their differences in order to ensure the staging and success of the World Ten Ball Championship in September and the World 9-Ball Championship in November, the BSCP board and officers wishes to convey to Mr. Anderson and the WPA their readiness to cooperate. We are ready and willing to discuss with the other side ways and means to forge a consensus and set aside differences.

 

[juegabillar]

A "must-read" for all folks out there.....

This two-part article is a "must-read" for all of us concerned with the current situation in the Phillipines. I sincerly hope something can be "worked-out" to remedy the current situation.

 

[arian dacongan]

lies, lies and more lies

so the alex case is their example of strict fairness...

alex case is just the beginning of their concerted effort to put into submission with mal-intention the pro-pool players in the phil.

it is the only one i will mention because it's the one that mostly AZB folks knows about...

..one that does not know what's going on in phil. pool "internally" would probobly buy these lies and misinfromation...

and talking about conflict of interest..are you out of your minds yen and cohorts...one only need to know a little bit of yen/bscp dealings to know and see the biggest conflict of interest is within bscp(yen and cohorts) and raya...

bottomline is... the Phil. pro pool players are fed-up with yen and cohorts and they will never be able to be subdued by yen and cohorts to accomplish their ambition of dictating and corrupting phil. pool scene...

that's the bottomline...no matter how much lies and beutiful their words are...

if i am any business entity or a sponsor or a player.. i will not have anything to do with yen /cohorts as they have no integrity...

players knows that...

 

[arian dacongan]

lies about mr. puyat

no one will believe yen and cohorts about puyat...mr puyat's interest are well known and there was never a doubt about his intention,,,no mal-intention intended,,players and knowledgable pool folks know that...

yen and cohorts continue to believe in these tactics of lies and misinformations... are you all stupid there or what???..you know it's not going to work and you continue to use same corrupt tactics...

like what jam has been saying,,bscp has keep on shooting it's foot....bscp will eventually shoot itself to death...

 

[AuntyDan]

This two-part article is a "must-read" for all of us concerned with the current situation in the Phillipines. I sincerly hope something can be "worked-out" to remedy the current situation.

I tried to read this, I really did, but it's making my eyes bleed. Can someone who knows something about this and doesn't have a personal axe to grind please give us a summary in 20 words or less?

Jerry - When you post this, are you posting it just as a matter of interest (like a press release) or making some statement of support from AZB, as you have an official capacity here? If it is the latter I suggest you put this at the top of the post so it is clear to everyone.

 

[JoeyInCali]

I tried to read this, I really did, but it's making my eyes bleed. Can someone who knows something about this and doesn't have a badly-translated axe to grind please give us a summary in 20 words or less?

"... smoke and mirrors..."

 

[AuntyDan]

"... smoke and mirrors..."

Thanks Joey, that's only three words, which definately helps. But who's trying to deceive who here? Or is everyone involved just out to get the most for themselves and no-one else needs to care what happens?

 

[JoeyInCali]

Thanks Joey, that's only three words, which definately helps. But who's trying to deceive who here? Or is everyone involved just out to get the most for themselves and no-one else needs to care what happens?

Let's put it this way, Puyat Sports have been sponsoring Efren and other Pinoy pros for a long time. Mr. Puyat was not in it for money. He was in it to support Efren and the sport.
When Efren won the world 9-ball, he offered to give Mr Puyat all the money he won from that b/c Mr. Puyat's construction business had a horrible year that year.
BScP claims they do not take any money from the players' purses. If anyone believes that, ok.

 

[arian dacongan]

thanks joey..

that's what i'm talking about,,,

all these statements from yen and cohorts are all lies and misinfromation...

 

[miko]

Let's put it this way, Puyat Sports have been sponsoring Efren and other Pinoy pros for a long time. Mr. Puyat was not in it for money. He was in it to support Efren and the sport.
When Efren won the world 9-ball, he offered to give Mr Puyat all the money he won from that b/c Mr. Puyat's construction business had a horrible year that year.
BScP claims they do not take any money from the players' purses. If anyone believes that, ok.

From what I remember, not until recently, Puyat only supported Efren and Django. Alex was included in Puyat's stable only after he won the wpc. I haven't heard of Puyat developing young, up and coming talents in pool. I can't say he trully supported the sport.

 

[JoeyInCali]

From what I remember, not until recently, Puyat only supported Efren and Django. Alex was included in Puyat's stable only after he won the wpc. I haven't heard of Puyat developing young, up and coming talents in pool. I can't say he trully supported the sport.

Luat and Andam?
He supported the Philippine team against the world.
Coronado Lanes holding tournaments?

 

[pro9dg]

What an absolute load of garbage and so transparent.
Nobody twists the players arms to sign with BMPAP companies. I have spoken with almost every top Filipino player on this issue and they have very strong views. They have voted with their feet.
Surely, the WPA will not be fooled by this smokescreen.
Most players outside the Philippines will not be able to afford to attend both events. In the circumstances, I hope that they don't choose the soft option.
They should show some solidarity with theiir Filipino player colleagues and back the Matchroom supported World 9 Ball Championship only.

 

[phoebe choy]

I don't know all the "details" and I don't care too anyway....

But funny how that whole post of mumble-jumble mentioned NOTHING regarding the Alex situation and how he was wronged?????

Seems as if it was a Puyat-bashing if you ask me. I heard that the Yen guy and Puyat have a long history of bad-blood between them so this so called "statement" from the BSCP sounds like a bunch of words...no REAL strength behind any of their allegations or reasonings.

Oh yeah....and funny how at the end of the "statement" they make themselves to be angels and wanting to cooperate and settle things....maybe only now a fire has been lit under their phony asses since Alex is taking them to court!!!!

Go Alex.....do your thing.....they maliciously tried to tarnish your rep, those f-d up text messages, and taking you out of tournaments, and accusing you of cheating and lying.....God I wish I were there.....Alex is the most honorable "player" I know.....I hope you rape um for every penny you can.

BSCP's claim that the "world" ONLY knew of Efren, Busti, and Alex is so fricken hilarious.....and they also try to make you believe that the acheivements of Orcullo, Lee Van, Alcano, etc. are all because of BSCP efforts alone.....PUUUUHLLLEEEEZ!!!!! Players acheivements are their own....how dare they try and take the credit for that from the players.

I am a little disturbed by Jerry and his seemingly "support" for Yen and the BSCP when it is obvious that named Filipino players have been unjustly treated. Naming Efren, Busti and Alex is good enough for me....these three have only brought good things for the game of pool, AND the country of the Philippines.....add the other names and I'm sorry BSCP but you have burned the wrong group of players.

I always support the players first and foremost....so it is just outrageous to hear the tyranny of the BSCP posted on this site....it actually sickens me and makes me feel sad to be half filipino.

 

[JB Cases]

I don't have a dog in this hunt. But this statement strikes me as taking credit for something that they don't have the right to take credit for.

"Ronato Alcano got his big break via the 2006 world Pool Championship in Manila. Marlon Manalo got his start through the BSCP system of nurturing talent. Lee Van Corteza got recognition through the many opportunities given him by the BSCP"

Ronnie Alcano got into the World Championships via a qualifier. He was not given a slot by the BSCP. He earned his standing on the world stage through his own play and the support of his backers. Ronnie Alcano spent a lot of time in the USA playing on the Joss Tour and honed his skills there. I doubt very highly that the BSCP was paying for or paving the way for Ronnie's time in the USA playing on the Joss Tour. I doubt bery highly that they had anything at all to do with Ronnie's visas or anything to do with his pool career until AFTER he won the WPC.

I don't know Marlon Manalo's story but in interviews he never mentioned that he was "nurtured" by any organization. I got the impression from Manalo's interviews that he learned the game through his father's pool room and was essentially a lone wolf in the Phillipine pool scene. He went to America on his own to compete without any financial support ( and presumably without any visa assistance) from the BSCP. I don't know that this is nurturing.

What happend to Alex Pagulayan? Is this an example of nurturing billiards talent? The man was slotted to play in the Guiness Tour representing the Phillipines and he was dumped for charges that the REST OF THE WORLD agrees were completely bogus.

Is this a case where the BSCP giveth and the BSCP taketh away?

 

[JAM]

The BCA seemingly, from what I have read, took the ranking authority from the UPA in the United States.

Somebody in the Philippines, maybe the GAB (Games and Amusements Board), needs to review the "authority" given to the BSCP.

Thereafter, the WPA should look to whichever organization the Government of the Republic of Philippines deems as their representative pool governing body, whether it be BSCP or the other one. I'm getting confused with all the acronyms, but at this juncture, it seems there are two organizational entities in conflict.

That said,

LONG LIVE ALEX PAGULAYAN!
SUPPORT FILIPINO POOL PLAYERS!
SUPPORT ALEX PAGULAYAN!

JAM

 

[miko]

Luat and Andam?
He supported the Philippine team against the world.
Coronado Lanes holding tournaments?

Are Luat and Andam still under Puyat now? I know they were under Puyat when they were still winning tournaments.

 

[miko]

Seems like BSCP is trying to take a lot of credit from the accomplishments of the Pinoy pool players where in fact most of the names they mentioned has already made a name for themselves before BSCP was actively staging tournaments in the Philippines.

Glad Alex is back on the Guinness Tour!

 

[JB Cases]

The BCA seemingly, from what I have read, took the ranking authority from the UPA in the United States.

This is a different issue. The BCA only has the authority to nominate players for WPA events. As such it was using the UPA rankings to do so and decided not to use them for their declared reasons. The BCA is the continental member of the WPA and not the UPA. The UPA can still ranks it's players how it sees fit to do so. The BCA can extend invitations and award spots to WPA tournaments based on whatever criteria it has to adhere to according to the WPA.

Somebody in the Philippines, maybe the GAB (Games and Amusements Board), needs to review the "authority" given to the BSCP.

Thereafter, the WPA should look to whichever organization the Government of the Republic of Philippines deems as their representative pool governing body, whether it be BSCP or the other one. I'm getting confused with all the acronyms, but at this juncture, it seems there are two organizational entities in conflict.

First of all the government has no business in this. If the law in the Phillipines addresses amateur and professional sports then I suppose that whichever groups arise to represent those groups need to adhere to the law or lobby to change it.

The WPA as an entity does not recongnize the BSCP as a member. At least I don't think so. It recognizes only continental members such as the BCA, the EPBF (European Pocket Billiards Federation), and the APBU (Asian Pocket Billiards Union). It is up to the APBU to sort out which organization in the Phillipines that it will accept nominations from for allotted spots in WPA events.

I think that the situation in the Philippines is unique. Nowhere else in the world are there "stables" of professional players. Although the Philippines is producing world class talent it is not the epicenter of pool in the world.

People need to stop seeing this as if it's an earth shattering event. Whatever happens in the Philippine pool scene is unlikely to affect much in the real world of pool outside of the Philippines.

No other investors are anxiously watching what happens before they start their own European and North American "stables". The world press isn't camping out at BSCP headquarters to get a comment from Yen Makabenta.

Only here we are making a big deal of it.

I don't really have much of an opinion one way or the other. I am not sure how any of this benefits the players though as it seems as if they are pawns in this power struggle.

Are the billiard managers really going to let the players decide their own fate if they gain control of the professional scene? Since when do the horses run the farm? Having said that I have NO IDEA what the bylaws f the BMAPP (or whatever it is) are. I have no idea how they will handle the very issues they are protesting against.

One thing I am sure of - "Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely."

 

[arian dacongan]

malicious lies by yen and cohorts on MR. PUYAT

mr. puyat has been and aleays been the greatest supporters of pool players in the phil..esp. with reyes and busty..he is a gentleman and a very honorable man in all his dealings.

yen is the opposite....very calculating,coniving,maliciuous and soo corrupt

mr puyat at some point was offered by reyes his purse(mentioned by i beieved joey, but mr puyat refused,,so reyes offered to carry his name as a patch on his shirt- even that mr puyat had refused for a long time,,,now reyes does-just out of gratitude to his lifetime friend ,mentor and financier..

reyes and busty and alex and others conquered the world by mr. puyats help without mr. puyat making a cent from them...perry mariano is one also that lost a lot of money in sup[port of the pinoy pro players...

they are the ones that have nurtured these players...and beyong nurturing

bscp had never nurtured any player..it's the opposite..they tried to and did screw players from the getgo....

i will talk to marlon about this claim by yen and cohorts of nurturing him...marlon was indeed "alone" in all his achievements as mentioned by phoebe choy previously..

yen and cohorts don't understand that lies is not going to fly specially with the phil. pro players...