Tell 'em like it is, Alex!

[JAM]

Now why would I cringe. After all over a billion people eat chinese food 365 days a year. LOL! And anytime you are in the LA area you and your brother have a standing invite to some of the secret Chinese Restaraunts that only the locals know about.
I'm not so thick skinned as I cant take a joke. And gopi-1 made such a matured and honest response. I just like to say my side of the story. Can we agree that the term JAP is derogatory and insulting.
Getting back to Alex Im sure he has his side too as to what he deems offensive and what is not. I hope they work it out. I do think in Asia there is a different concept of sportsmanship. I dont think that getting on top of a table as Karen Corr and Earl did after defeating their opponents would make a lot of friends. I dont know if you ever watched Iron Chef competition but when Bobby Flay stood up on the kitchen counter in victory that pissed a lot of Asians off as they consider the cutting board a sacred place to a chef.
As far as Philipino food goes Im sure you might find it a rough going. I grew up with my Philipino auntie and her children. You must try the BAGOONG. It is fermented fish guts over rice and BALUT which is half grown chicken embryo. Or Dinaguan. You know stew made out of pigs blood and innards. Yummy!

Yuckie! My brother is a vegetarian, BTW, and eats like a rabbit!

My mother, who grew up in the Depression here in the States, never wasted food. She used to boil sour milk and make cottage cheese out of it, instead of throwing it away. Man, did it smell!

Gimme a T-bone steak any day of the week, and I'm a happy camper, although these days, I can only eat red meat once a week. Gotta watch the cholesterol!

JAM

 

[!Smorgass Bored]

Hey, It Was In "Mean Streets"

This is rich. All this talk about offending nationalities from a bunch of mooks.
Doug
( And I, I ain't no dinky doo....... imo )

 

[yobagua]

Hey "Dinky Doo". Thats what Charlie Sheen called me in Under Pressure. I then pick him up and ram him into a wall. Then he stabbed me in the hand with a screwdriver. Great special effect.

 

[!Smorgass Bored]

Have Some Popcorn With It

Harvey Keitel and Robert DeNiro in the 'mook' scene from Mean Streets.
Doug
( this should probably be in the 'Breakers Pool Tournament' thread )

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKaFoM3UF0I

 

[Hail Mary Shot]

You'd probably cringe if you heard how my brother signs off with me on a telephone conversation.

When I ask him when is the next time I'll see him, he'll reply, "My people will get together with your people, and we'll do Chinese!"

Speaking of Chinese, when Parica stayed at my house for a short spell, I noticed he did not like most American food. I made him a tuna fish sandwich with mayonaise, and he picked at it, like a child who didn't want to eat his meal. He ate the bread and left the tuna fish salad uneaten on the plate. I soon found out that Jose actually does prefer Chinese food.

One time at a Joss tournament at Turning Stone Casino, me and mine were chowing down at the buffet and along comes none other than Francisco Bustamante who decided to sit down and join us for dinner. He had 45 minutes to kill before he had to play in the FINALS. Bustie proceeded to stuff his beak by chowing down on a full meal, consisting of a huge T-bone steak!

He then moseyed on upstairs to play his finals match against Dennis Hatch, and Bustie won the whole shebang!

JAM

Tuna Fish Sandwish? no wonder he didn't liked it. you didn't prepared him a kiddie meal. lol !

Speaking of the Alex Issue. I tried to listen to some audio excerpts made during an interview with Yen Makabenta. as was mentioned, he said that Alex's behaviour during the Singapore leg was unacceptable to the Asian form of pool competition and is a bad example to the growing popularity of pool in Asia. well, atleast that's what they say and what the BSCP believes . as pool culture in the U.S. is much different to the pool culture in Asia. however, if this was true, how come most Asian audience and including Guinness and ESPN found Alex's behaviour as ordinary and acceptable? if there was a solid ground to such an accusation, there would have been a lot of complaints coming from the audience, spectators, including the tournament officials stating Alex's rude behaviour. As was mentioned in the excerpt, it was somehow implicating that Alex's behaviour might have contributed to his loss which I found silly. since both players played excellently during that match and it was anybody's ballgame. you would never know the outcome of such match if both were playing their best. I would have agreed if I felt and most people felt that Alex was really rude, otherwise such allegation would only be based on heresay. this is more of a political or corporate decision rather than a baseless allegation. the BSCP must reiterate and establish their laws, rules and guidelines beforehand if they want their actions to be justified. or else they would getting much of the ire of the players, pool aficionados and audience. such guidelines states of what they mentioned that the players are selected on a rotation basis, which was only mentioned just now and out of nowhere, that the BSCP has the prerogative to change the line-up whenever they felt it was necessary, that "sharking" or "monkeying" during the match deserves an automatic penalty of exclusion from the lineup, that the BSCP is not going to compensate any players for anything, et.al.

Honestly speaking, the Sharking and Monkeying allegation was not very convincing of an alibi.

 

[JAM]

Tuna Fish Sandwish? no wonder he didn't liked it. you didn't prepared him a kiddie meal. lol !

Poor Jose picked at the plate, not wanting to insult me, but he couldn't eat that tuna fish salad. Next night, we went out and ate Chinese!

...Honestly speaking, the Sharking and Monkeying allegation was not very convincing of an alibi.

And now the BSCP adds that Alex took excessive bathroom breaks, causing delay of game, AND that he was hiding from the BSCP which is why they couldn't get a hold of him to let him know he wasn't going to Shanghai. In fact, they BSCP had the nerve to say Alex was "afraid" of competing in some upcoming events.

It's like a nightmare. It just keeps getting worse and worse!

JAM

 

[Hail Mary Shot]

Poor Jose picked at the plate, not wanting to insult me, but he couldn't eat that tuna fish salad. Next night, we went out and ate Chinese!



And now the BSCP adds that Alex took excessive bathroom breaks, causing delay of game, AND that he was hiding from the BSCP which is why they couldn't get a hold of him to let him know he wasn't going to Shanghai. In fact, they BSCP had the nerve to say Alex was "afraid" of competing in some upcoming events.

It's like a nightmare. It just keeps getting worse and worse!

JAM

Politics at it's best !

 

[monski]

Tuna Fish Sandwish? no wonder he didn't liked it. you didn't prepared him a kiddie meal. lol !

Speaking of the Alex Issue. I tried to listen to some audio excerpts made during an interview with Yen Makabenta. as was mentioned, he said that Alex's behaviour during the Singapore leg was unacceptable to the Asian form of pool competition and is a bad example to the growing popularity of pool in Asia. well, atleast that's what they say and what the BSCP believes .

Wow. Now I'm confused. Wasnt it in recent history that many of the filipino players were being sharked by the audience on their way to winning medals (Asian games or one of those events)? I didn't like it but it got some adrenalin going!

Asian form of pool competition?

Have a code of conduct if that's what is necessary. But I hope there's no dipping of interest if one is put in place. Personality, Talent with emotion brings sports to a different level... Woods' clenched fist, Jordan's tongue, Ronaldinhos intensity and so many more examples. That's what the audience want so it better be in the "package" if they want to bring in sponsors.

as pool culture in the U.S. is much different to the pool culture in Asia. however, if this was true, how come most Asian audience and including Guinness and ESPN found Alex's behaviour as ordinary and acceptable?

Yep, there were no complaints specially from espn or the organizer as previously posted.

if there was a solid ground to such an accusation, there would have been a lot of complaints coming from the audience, spectators, including the tournament officials stating Alex's rude behaviour. As was mentioned in the excerpt, it was somehow implicating that Alex's behaviour might have contributed to his loss which I found silly. since both players played excellently during that match and it was anybody's ballgame. you would never know the outcome of such match if both were playing their best. I would have agreed if I felt and most people felt that Alex was really rude

Good point

this is more of a political or corporate decision rather than a baseless allegation. the BSCP must reiterate and establish their laws, rules and guidelines beforehand if they want their actions to be justified. or else they would getting much of the ire of the players, pool aficionados and audience. such guidelines states of what they mentioned that the players are selected on a rotation basis, which was only mentioned just now and out of nowhere, that the BSCP has the prerogative to change the line-up whenever they felt it was necessary, that "sharking" or "monkeying" during the match deserves an automatic penalty of exclusion from the lineup, that the BSCP is not going to compensate any players for anything, et.al.

Honestly speaking, the Sharking and Monkeying allegation was not very convincing of an alibi.

Maybe the BSCP felt "offended" by how Alex was negotiating/not negotiating, talking/not talking to them. Hence, wanted to make an example. Alex on the other hand, perhaps having his own pride maybe felt that BSCP wanted to exert pressure on him and did not feel comfortable talking. These are just maybes and perhapses.

IMO both parties have their hubris or pride and are not calm as of this moment. I say let the pride go for the advancement and benefit of the sport. We are getting close, swallow it and lets move forward. Let's Get it ON!!!

 

[crosseyedjoe]

Poor Jose picked at the plate, not wanting to insult me, but he couldn't eat that tuna fish salad. Next night, we went out and ate Chinese!



And now the BSCP adds that Alex took excessive bathroom breaks, causing delay of game, AND that he was hiding from the BSCP which is why they couldn't get a hold of him to let him know he wasn't going to Shanghai. In fact, they BSCP had the nerve to say Alex was "afraid" of competing in some upcoming events.

It's like a nightmare. It just keeps getting worse and worse!

JAM

Next time, they're gonna accuse him of claiming to be a bigger legend than Efren Reyes.

 

[BallBuster]

ALEX replies

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/sports/view_article.php?article_id=81265


BARE EYE
Alex Pagulayan contests his ouster


By Recah Trinidad
Inquirer
Last updated 05:36am (Mla time) 08/08/2007


MANILA, Philippines -- Bob Guerrero, premier pool commentator, asked if Alex Pagulayan had been properly warned about his conduct before he was scratched out of the Guinness Pool Tour.

Guerrero posed the question the day after a statement from the Billiards and Snooker Congress of the Philippines (BSCP) on the Pagulayan case was printed in this column.

We asked BSCP chair Yen Makabenta if Pagulayan had indeed received prior warning before he was junked.

Said Makabenta: ?He was, but his attitude was the country needs him more than he needs us. So there.?

Soon there came text messages that made Pagulayan appear odd and irresponsible.

Predictably, we received an explanation from Pagulayan himself, faxed from the office of Puyat Sports, over the weekend.

We are able to present Pagulayan?s side only now:

* * *

Dear Mr. Trinidad,

Please allow me to answer the unfair and unfounded accusations hurled upon me by the officials of the BSCP that have permanently damaged the reputation I built over the years.

1. I gave my best in the Singapore leg of the Guinness 9-Ball tour hoping to win honors for our country. In my semifinal match against Ibrahim Bin Amir of Malaysia, I suffered a series of bad cue ball situations and, as I always do, talked to myself, to which the crowd responded with laughter -- appreciatively, I would humbly say. In one situation where I could not make a clear shot, I still remember saying to myself something to the effect, ?Who says this game is easy,? which evoked laughter from the gallery.

I kept talking to myself as I always do in most of my tight matches. Talking to oneself or even talking to the gallery is done by so many top players in international events and is not considered a misconduct.

I talked to myself to calm my nerves for which I did not get any warning or reprimand from the referee and neither from the organizers during and after the event.

My opponent, Ibrahin Bin Amir, did not lodge any complaint about any attempt on my part to shark or distract him.

Modestly speaking, I am of the belief that the gallery was amused seeing and hearing me make comments about my play, which was not going too well. BSCP president Mr. Ernesto Fajardo, who was there, called me after the match but did not call my attention to any misconduct. If I was out of line ? he should have reprimanded me and I would have accepted what he had to say.

2. When I reached Manila, the BSCP made announcements of the Philippine lineup for the Shanghai leg and my name was not on the list and so with that of Lee Van Corteza. Many quarters, including some sportswriters, were asking why myself and Corteza were dropped when we had accumulated the highest points next to Ronnie Alcano and had the best chances of accumulating enough points to enter the championship round. After a few days, Corteza and myself were informed that we would be in the Philippine lineup for the Shanghai.

On this basis, I prepared myself for the Shanghai leg and did not accept offers to play in some billiard events and exhibitions.

3. The report quoting me as saying there was a meeting between BSCP chair Yen Makabenta and myself is incorrect. However, on Wednesday, July 18, Mr. Yen Makabenta called me by phone proposing that I join a 3-month TV Billiard program he was launching. I told him then that committing myself for three months might be difficult on account of my other engagements. I also asked about the terms of compensation he can offer to which he did not give any answer. We did not arrive at any agreement during that call, neither did he mention anything about any misconduct in the Singapore event. He proposed to meet the next day, Thursday, to discuss the subject further but I could not accede due to prior commitments. That was the last talk I had with Mr. Makabenta.

4. I was in Cebu last July 28 playing in the Sun Star event when I received calls from friends inquiring if I knew that I was dropped from the Philippine lineup for Shanghai allegedly due to serious misconduct in the Singapore leg. This was the first time I learned of that accusation. Meantime, a text brigade sent messages likening me to a clown and even a cross between a chimpanzee and orangutan, accusing me of serious misconduct unworthy of being a pool player representing our country. The messages came from cell phone number 09158309257/58.

The chair and president of BSCP talked to me after the event and they did not bring up the matter with me.

5. The BSCP calls me ungrateful for winning P1 million in the event in their billiards program. I was invited to these events and I gave my time, effort and skills from years of practice to help make it a really good event.

While I accept and do not dispute their authority to select those who will play in the Guinness 9-ball, I submit that BSCP officials do not have the right to tarnish and destroy the reputation of billiard players based only on their own whimsical judgments and neither do they have the right to use the National Sports Association to coerce players to play in their ventures. I hope that they will always follow the time-honored principle of giving an accused his day in court even if he is just a humble billiards player.

Sincerely yours,
Alex Pagulayan

 

[JAM]

Dear Mr. Trinidad,

Please allow me to answer the unfair and unfounded accusations hurled upon me by the officials of the BSCP that have permanently damaged the reputation I built over the years.

1. I gave my best in the Singapore leg of the Guinness 9-Ball tour hoping to win honors for our country. In my semifinal match against Ibrahim Bin Amir of Malaysia, I suffered a series of bad cue ball situations and, as I always do, talked to myself, to which the crowd responded with laughter -- appreciatively, I would humbly say. In one situation where I could not make a clear shot, I still remember saying to myself something to the effect, ?Who says this game is easy,? which evoked laughter from the gallery.

I kept talking to myself as I always do in most of my tight matches. Talking to oneself or even talking to the gallery is done by so many top players in international events and is not considered a misconduct.

I talked to myself to calm my nerves for which I did not get any warning or reprimand from the referee and neither from the organizers during and after the event.

My opponent, Ibrahin Bin Amir, did not lodge any complaint about any attempt on my part to shark or distract him.

Modestly speaking, I am of the belief that the gallery was amused seeing and hearing me make comments about my play, which was not going too well. BSCP president Mr. Ernesto Fajardo, who was there, called me after the match but did not call my attention to any misconduct. If I was out of line ? he should have reprimanded me and I would have accepted what he had to say.

2. When I reached Manila, the BSCP made announcements of the Philippine lineup for the Shanghai leg and my name was not on the list and so with that of Lee Van Corteza. Many quarters, including some sportswriters, were asking why myself and Corteza were dropped when we had accumulated the highest points next to Ronnie Alcano and had the best chances of accumulating enough points to enter the championship round. After a few days, Corteza and myself were informed that we would be in the Philippine lineup for the Shanghai.

On this basis, I prepared myself for the Shanghai leg and did not accept offers to play in some billiard events and exhibitions.

3. The report quoting me as saying there was a meeting between BSCP chair Yen Makabenta and myself is incorrect. However, on Wednesday, July 18, Mr. Yen Makabenta called me by phone proposing that I join a 3-month TV Billiard program he was launching. I told him then that committing myself for three months might be difficult on account of my other engagements. I also asked about the terms of compensation he can offer to which he did not give any answer. We did not arrive at any agreement during that call, neither did he mention anything about any misconduct in the Singapore event. He proposed to meet the next day, Thursday, to discuss the subject further but I could not accede due to prior commitments. That was the last talk I had with Mr. Makabenta.

4. I was in Cebu last July 28 playing in the Sun Star event when I received calls from friends inquiring if I knew that I was dropped from the Philippine lineup for Shanghai allegedly due to serious misconduct in the Singapore leg. This was the first time I learned of that accusation. Meantime, a text brigade sent messages likening me to a clown and even a cross between a chimpanzee and orangutan, accusing me of serious misconduct unworthy of being a pool player representing our country. The messages came from cell phone number 09158309257/58.

The chair and president of BSCP talked to me after the event and they did not bring up the matter with me.

5. The BSCP calls me ungrateful for winning P1 million in the event in their billiards program. I was invited to these events and I gave my time, effort and skills from years of practice to help make it a really good event.

While I accept and do not dispute their authority to select those who will play in the Guinness 9-ball, I submit that BSCP officials do not have the right to tarnish and destroy the reputation of billiard players based only on their own whimsical judgments and neither do they have the right to use the National Sports Association to coerce players to play in their ventures. I hope that they will always follow the time-honored principle of giving an accused his day in court even if he is just a humble billiards player.

Sincerely yours,
Alex Pagulayan

Tell 'em like it is, Alex

Now that's what I'm talking about! Bravo to Alex for standing up to defend himself against the untruths lodged against him by the BSCA!

JAM

 

[Hail Mary Shot]

Tell 'em like it is, Alex

Now that's what I'm talking about! Bravo to Alex for standing up to defend himself against the untruths lodged against him by the BSCA!

JAM

ehem, actually it's BSCP ! lol !

Since the clowning behaviour was a big deal for the BSCP, that would have been the primary talk of the phone conversation rather than the television series. I wonder why it just simply forgotten or wasn't mentioned during the initial coversation? I guess the tv series was more important ?

 

[Bayawak]

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/sports/view_article.php?article_id=81265


BARE EYE
Alex Pagulayan contests his ouster


By Recah Trinidad
Inquirer
Last updated 05:36am (Mla time) 08/08/2007


MANILA, Philippines -- Bob Guerrero, premier pool commentator, asked if Alex Pagulayan had been properly warned about his conduct before he was scratched out of the Guinness Pool Tour.

Guerrero posed the question the day after a statement from the Billiards and Snooker Congress of the Philippines (BSCP) on the Pagulayan case was printed in this column.

We asked BSCP chair Yen Makabenta if Pagulayan had indeed received prior warning before he was junked.

Said Makabenta: ?He was, but his attitude was the country needs him more than he needs us. So there.?

Soon there came text messages that made Pagulayan appear odd and irresponsible.

Predictably, we received an explanation from Pagulayan himself, faxed from the office of Puyat Sports, over the weekend.

We are able to present Pagulayan?s side only now:

* * *

Dear Mr. Trinidad,

Please allow me to answer the unfair and unfounded accusations hurled upon me by the officials of the BSCP that have permanently damaged the reputation I built over the years.

1. I gave my best in the Singapore leg of the Guinness 9-Ball tour hoping to win honors for our country. In my semifinal match against Ibrahim Bin Amir of Malaysia, I suffered a series of bad cue ball situations and, as I always do, talked to myself, to which the crowd responded with laughter -- appreciatively, I would humbly say. In one situation where I could not make a clear shot, I still remember saying to myself something to the effect, ?Who says this game is easy,? which evoked laughter from the gallery.

I kept talking to myself as I always do in most of my tight matches. Talking to oneself or even talking to the gallery is done by so many top players in international events and is not considered a misconduct.

I talked to myself to calm my nerves for which I did not get any warning or reprimand from the referee and neither from the organizers during and after the event.

My opponent, Ibrahin Bin Amir, did not lodge any complaint about any attempt on my part to shark or distract him.

Modestly speaking, I am of the belief that the gallery was amused seeing and hearing me make comments about my play, which was not going too well. BSCP president Mr. Ernesto Fajardo, who was there, called me after the match but did not call my attention to any misconduct. If I was out of line ? he should have reprimanded me and I would have accepted what he had to say.

2. When I reached Manila, the BSCP made announcements of the Philippine lineup for the Shanghai leg and my name was not on the list and so with that of Lee Van Corteza. Many quarters, including some sportswriters, were asking why myself and Corteza were dropped when we had accumulated the highest points next to Ronnie Alcano and had the best chances of accumulating enough points to enter the championship round. After a few days, Corteza and myself were informed that we would be in the Philippine lineup for the Shanghai.

On this basis, I prepared myself for the Shanghai leg and did not accept offers to play in some billiard events and exhibitions.

3. The report quoting me as saying there was a meeting between BSCP chair Yen Makabenta and myself is incorrect. However, on Wednesday, July 18, Mr. Yen Makabenta called me by phone proposing that I join a 3-month TV Billiard program he was launching. I told him then that committing myself for three months might be difficult on account of my other engagements. I also asked about the terms of compensation he can offer to which he did not give any answer. We did not arrive at any agreement during that call, neither did he mention anything about any misconduct in the Singapore event. He proposed to meet the next day, Thursday, to discuss the subject further but I could not accede due to prior commitments. That was the last talk I had with Mr. Makabenta.

4. I was in Cebu last July 28 playing in the Sun Star event when I received calls from friends inquiring if I knew that I was dropped from the Philippine lineup for Shanghai allegedly due to serious misconduct in the Singapore leg. This was the first time I learned of that accusation. Meantime, a text brigade sent messages likening me to a clown and even a cross between a chimpanzee and orangutan, accusing me of serious misconduct unworthy of being a pool player representing our country. The messages came from cell phone number 09158309257/58.

The chair and president of BSCP talked to me after the event and they did not bring up the matter with me.

5. The BSCP calls me ungrateful for winning P1 million in the event in their billiards program. I was invited to these events and I gave my time, effort and skills from years of practice to help make it a really good event.

While I accept and do not dispute their authority to select those who will play in the Guinness 9-ball, I submit that BSCP officials do not have the right to tarnish and destroy the reputation of billiard players based only on their own whimsical judgments and neither do they have the right to use the National Sports Association to coerce players to play in their ventures. I hope that they will always follow the time-honored principle of giving an accused his day in court even if he is just a humble billiards player.

Sincerely yours,
Alex Pagulayan

I have been following this thread and trying to analyze what happened and I said to myself that I will just wait until this event reach its conclusion.

Alas, I can not keep quiet anymore. The more I read and listen, the more disgusted I get with the whole scenario. As somebody pointed out before, this is a clear manifestation of the vindictive qualities of the powers that be in the Philippines. It is crystal clear that Alex was a victim of someone who is way high up in hierarchy of BSCP. No ordinary peon in that organization would be able to pull this off. It has to be somebody who's got a lot of clout. This particular individual felt he was rebuffed royally by Alex when he asked for compensation for that particular event that they were going to launch.

Although this organization really perked up the pool industry in the Philippines, they should not be dictating their so-called players what to do. They have to remember that these pool players are dependent on them getting games in and out of the country. There should be a balance of power between organization and players. A written contract or shall I say "Statement of Work" should be drawn and signed by both parties to define the parameters of the association and code of conduct among them.

The accusations hurled against Alex does not hold water!!!! It stinks!!!
It just made it a lot more transparent that this move was a payback move because of the lame accusations they lodged against Alex.

Conduct unbecoming!!! Bah!!!

I hope Alex proceeds with his plan to organize players and show these people how to run an organization with fairness and integrity.

bayawak aka tirador
"You got the 8 for life!!!"

 

[Hail Mary Shot]

probably they want that style of playing attitude that the taiwanese are doing.

anyway, I hope that the BSCP would do their job and live by their standards in maintaining crowd control in this year's WPC. since sharking and rude behavior is not permitted, as they say. we might see some audience and players getting the boot out of the venue. in spite of the many distractive activities (camera flashes, unnecessary loud conversations among the audience, ringing cellphones, etc...) done to the players last year, I'm giving the BSCP a break on that one since it was the initial staging and no clear guidelines. it is quite an irony that the Alex case had no clear guidelines from the BSCP as well, until the issue exploded. this is where the BSCP is getting the heat and much more for the silly alibi.

 

[LoReNz]

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/sports/view_article.php?article_id=81265


BARE EYE
Alex Pagulayan contests his ouster


By Recah Trinidad
Inquirer
Last updated 05:36am (Mla time) 08/08/2007


MANILA, Philippines -- Bob Guerrero, premier pool commentator, asked if Alex Pagulayan had been properly warned about his conduct before he was scratched out of the Guinness Pool Tour.

Guerrero posed the question the day after a statement from the Billiards and Snooker Congress of the Philippines (BSCP) on the Pagulayan case was printed in this column.

We asked BSCP chair Yen Makabenta if Pagulayan had indeed received prior warning before he was junked.

Said Makabenta: ?He was, but his attitude was the country needs him more than he needs us. So there.?

Soon there came text messages that made Pagulayan appear odd and irresponsible.

Predictably, we received an explanation from Pagulayan himself, faxed from the office of Puyat Sports, over the weekend.

We are able to present Pagulayan?s side only now:

* * *

Dear Mr. Trinidad,

Please allow me to answer the unfair and unfounded accusations hurled upon me by the officials of the BSCP that have permanently damaged the reputation I built over the years.

1. I gave my best in the Singapore leg of the Guinness 9-Ball tour hoping to win honors for our country. In my semifinal match against Ibrahim Bin Amir of Malaysia, I suffered a series of bad cue ball situations and, as I always do, talked to myself, to which the crowd responded with laughter -- appreciatively, I would humbly say. In one situation where I could not make a clear shot, I still remember saying to myself something to the effect, ?Who says this game is easy,? which evoked laughter from the gallery.

I kept talking to myself as I always do in most of my tight matches. Talking to oneself or even talking to the gallery is done by so many top players in international events and is not considered a misconduct.

I talked to myself to calm my nerves for which I did not get any warning or reprimand from the referee and neither from the organizers during and after the event.

My opponent, Ibrahin Bin Amir, did not lodge any complaint about any attempt on my part to shark or distract him.

Modestly speaking, I am of the belief that the gallery was amused seeing and hearing me make comments about my play, which was not going too well. BSCP president Mr. Ernesto Fajardo, who was there, called me after the match but did not call my attention to any misconduct. If I was out of line ? he should have reprimanded me and I would have accepted what he had to say.

2. When I reached Manila, the BSCP made announcements of the Philippine lineup for the Shanghai leg and my name was not on the list and so with that of Lee Van Corteza. Many quarters, including some sportswriters, were asking why myself and Corteza were dropped when we had accumulated the highest points next to Ronnie Alcano and had the best chances of accumulating enough points to enter the championship round. After a few days, Corteza and myself were informed that we would be in the Philippine lineup for the Shanghai.

On this basis, I prepared myself for the Shanghai leg and did not accept offers to play in some billiard events and exhibitions.

3. The report quoting me as saying there was a meeting between BSCP chair Yen Makabenta and myself is incorrect. However, on Wednesday, July 18, Mr. Yen Makabenta called me by phone proposing that I join a 3-month TV Billiard program he was launching. I told him then that committing myself for three months might be difficult on account of my other engagements. I also asked about the terms of compensation he can offer to which he did not give any answer. We did not arrive at any agreement during that call, neither did he mention anything about any misconduct in the Singapore event. He proposed to meet the next day, Thursday, to discuss the subject further but I could not accede due to prior commitments. That was the last talk I had with Mr. Makabenta.

4. I was in Cebu last July 28 playing in the Sun Star event when I received calls from friends inquiring if I knew that I was dropped from the Philippine lineup for Shanghai allegedly due to serious misconduct in the Singapore leg. This was the first time I learned of that accusation. Meantime, a text brigade sent messages likening me to a clown and even a cross between a chimpanzee and orangutan, accusing me of serious misconduct unworthy of being a pool player representing our country. The messages came from cell phone number 09158309257/58.

The chair and president of BSCP talked to me after the event and they did not bring up the matter with me.

5. The BSCP calls me ungrateful for winning P1 million in the event in their billiards program. I was invited to these events and I gave my time, effort and skills from years of practice to help make it a really good event.

While I accept and do not dispute their authority to select those who will play in the Guinness 9-ball, I submit that BSCP officials do not have the right to tarnish and destroy the reputation of billiard players based only on their own whimsical judgments and neither do they have the right to use the National Sports Association to coerce players to play in their ventures. I hope that they will always follow the time-honored principle of giving an accused his day in court even if he is just a humble billiards player.

Sincerely yours,
Alex Pagulayan

definitely on alex's side.

 

[yobagua]

I guess it is now up to the people to demand that Alex be put back into the limelight of competition. He made a great response. Sad that stubborness and intolerance of an administrative mentality still lives. Kind of reminds me of all those prosecutors who refuse to let the innocent go even after clear scientific DNA evidence has proven the accused innocent. If the people of the Phillipines coupled with support from people like Efren, Puyat and others fail. I guess we'll have the luxury of having Alex, the humble but great, cueman to ourselves. See you at the Derby Alex!

 

[BallBuster]

probably they want that style of playing attitude that the taiwanese are doing.

anyway, I hope that the BSCP would do their job and live by their standards in maintaining crowd control in this year's WPC. since sharking and rude behavior is not permitted, as they say. we might see some audience and players getting the boot out of the venue. in spite of the many distractive activities (camera flashes, unnecessary loud conversations among the audience, ringing cellphones, etc...) done to the players last year, I'm giving the BSCP a break on that one since it was the initial staging and no clear guidelines. it is quite an irony that the Alex case had no clear guidelines from the BSCP as well, until the issue exploded. this is where the BSCP is getting the heat and much more for the silly alibi.

Yeah and bring in the fabulous basketball commentator Anthony Suntay too.

"Alex positioned his cue ball on the 1 ball, but the one ball is closely guarded by the 5 ball. The 3 ball by the rim is tipped-in by the underhand kick from the 1 ball. The crowd erupted -- what a spectacular shot!!!.. the camera flashed all over. People on the gallery temporarily stopped their animated conversations on their favorite moviestars, politicians, boyfriends/girlfriends, basketball stars to pose for the camera. In unison they shouted -- Go Pi-li-pins!... Alex positions his cue on the next shot, his coldface Taiwanese opponent look at him in the eye as if to anticipate his next move and block his shot... he doesn't have to do that.. Alex was visibly distracted by the little kid crying when his mother took his gameboy when he accidentally let go of the give-away balloon at the venue. His father was laughing furiously at the toilet joke told by his friend wearing cut-off jeans shorts, sleeveless undershirt, chicago bulls cap and drinking his favorite San Miguel Beer. Too bad smoking is not allowed in the front row -- it would have been a blast."

 

[Hail Mary Shot]

Yeah and bring in the fabulous basketball commentator Anthony Suntay too.

"Alex positioned his cue ball on the 1 ball, but the one ball is closely guarded by the 5 ball. The 3 ball by the rim is tipped-in by the underhand kick from the 1 ball. The crowd erupted -- what a spectacular shot!!!.. the camera flashed all over. People on the gallery temporarily stopped their animated conversations on their favorite moviestars, politicians, boyfriends/girlfriends, basketball stars to pose for the camera. In unison they shouted -- Go Pi-li-pins!... Alex positions his cue on the next shot, his coldface Taiwanese opponent look at him in the eye as if to anticipate his next move and block his shot... he doesn't have to do that.. Alex was visibly distracted by the little kid crying when his mother took his gameboy when he accidentally let go of the give-away balloon at the venue. His father was laughing furiously at the toilet joke told by his friend wearing cut-off jeans shorts, sleeveless undershirt, chicago bulls cap and drinking his favorite San Miguel Beer. Too bad smoking is not allowed in the front row -- it would have been a blast."

what the hell is that? why not make it like the commentary in the kentucky derby? that would be more exciting to hear !!! my fave stag died a year ago.

 

[monski]

Had a chance to chat with Alex last night in an event we both attended. I told him that a lot of AZBers are with him and he told me that he deeply appreciates the support.

Also, I had the impression that he's training really hard.