World 10 Ball Silence

[Hail Mary Shot]

Thanks guys for pointing out my shortcomings. It's good to know I have so many friends out there. Now, what can WE do to get these guys paid? I'm a little far away right now, so maybe some of you closer to the scene of the crime can think of something.

You all seem to know something I don't. So what needs to be done RIGHT NOW besides bashing the promoters on here. Who needs to be alerted to this mess over there? Who can do something about it? What other pressure can be applied besides online statements? We all know something is wrong. Now what can be done to correct this, other than sit on our thumbs and type on here.

that would be the next step to follow Jay. though we cannot blame some people to get carried away with their emotions, but I believe such thrashing is also necessary. I do believe that some people close to Raya and company are scouring this forum and I believe that such threads and comments are necessary to make those people aware that the international billiard community are taking this matter seriously.


I believe this is also a way that Raya should be careful next time when it comes to organizing an event coz people have different reactions when it comes to failure. this is also a way for Raya to experience the awful truth of accepting harsh criticisms.

I can understand why some people have to be harsh coz Raya might get the wrong impression if those people acted more diplomatic, as if saying that it's ok for Raya to pay such debt later even if it lasts a lifetime. they maybe concern that if they act as such diplomatic people, Raya might abuse that trust again, as it had been abused already (early promises).

Raya probably is having a hard time coming up with the funds, especially that it is under heavy scrutiny by the government. that means that any funding movement will be closely tracked and monitored. unless Raya has the appropriate funds coming from legal sources, that wouldn't be a problem.

 

[monski]

Its really difficult to be on the butt end of criticisms specially if you have something to be criticized about. I dont think anybody would like to be there.

Did YM become BSCP Chairman only recently?

I recall that during other Raya events, even in the past 2 WPCs, that things seemed ok. Was YM BSCP Chairman already back then?

BSCP had their events, Raya had their events, the managers had their stables. Players played. People came to watch. I even had the impression that these people were working hand in hand with one another. If I'm not mistaken, some managers were even being considered or offered BSCP posts or directorships.

Then the Pagulayan issue... then other issues soon followed or became public. Accusations. Now we we get info that ... WPC collections will be used to pay WTB payables? I wished these things would have come up much sooner.

I guess what I want to know is ... Is this a result of YM becoming the Chairman of BSCP and his professional/personal differences with other people?

On another matter, we all agree to the concept of having the funds before running an event. However, some posts here sends the message that this problem of having no funds already existed in 2 previous WPCs (if we assume that WPC collections will be used to pay WTB payables). Raya could have been criticized much earlier.

All this info is confusing me...

 

[bandido]

I hope you understand this Edwin. I have no cross to bear with you. If you can do something to help make these payments happen, please do so. Use your network of contacts to put pressure where it is needed. That will be a feather in your cap my friend.

First, let me make things clear. To me, statements such as "have no cross to bear with" doesn't exist for my friends. If discussion becomes heated, that's all they are "discussion" and Friendship is never affected.

So Jay, our friendship is never in question from my end.

 

[bandido]

Maybe there is also a fault with the philippine sports authority or commision or whatever. I don't know why they allow the tournament without a bond of $400,000, the equivalent of total prize money. BSCP and Raya should be sued by the government and cancel their license.

Don't know why? How about don't know how? My suspicion is that it has something to do with who did the ceremonial break. Just my hunch.

This issue will just strengthen GAB's stand at the Senate Hearings where GAB's authority was questioned by BSCP/RAYA. http://www.senate.gov.ph/lisdata/72736490!.pdf

 

[bandido]

I still believe all monies will be paid eventually.

What makes you think this Jay. Don't we deserve the info that you know?

I may have been harsh in my delivery of my messages but take away the "perceived" bitterness and political inclination and re-read my posts. If you have the time re-read from the start of the year 2008 or even from the end of 2007 and you just may understand the story.

 

[bandido]

Can they bring him to court? It's all in back and white, the "promised" date, the payout for 3rd/4th place...

Sure they can and it may even be a more serious offense if they can tie-up how they got to by-pass GABs authority (need for money in escrow in a play-for-pay event). And why they needed to by-pass GAB.

Does this "need to by-pass" already hint of their knowledge of what's happening now? Pre-meditated?

 

[wahcheck]

oct 31

What makes you think this Jay. Don't we deserve the info that you know?

I may have been harsh in my delivery of my messages but take away the "perceived" bitterness and political inclination and re-read my posts. If you have the time re-read from the start of the year 2008 or even from the end of 2007 and you just may understand the story.

Didn't I just see an announcement that payments will be made on Oct.31?

 

[bandido]

Now, what can WE do to get these guys paid? Now what can be done to correct this, other than sit on our thumbs and type on here.

Did you "zing" past this?

Best thing I can do for them now is to keep them updated with info that we get and recommend a good lawyer that's familiar with the whole story.

At this point I'm just your link here guys.

 

[bandido]

Didn't I just see an announcement that payments will be made on Oct.31?

Yes you did and hopefully it proves true. They have already breached contract when they failed to pay, as announced during the players meeting" 2 weeks after the event. And failed again last Oct.24 (second date promised when they failed to deliver on the 1st date promised).

 

[Neil]

................

 

[bandido]

Trick, or treat??

heh heh, better than April Fool's.

 

[Fatboy]

i love waterfalls,

the $$ will not be paid, look at the facts-save the emotion of holding onto the dream-its gone. reality sucks in this case. when has there ever been $$$ paid this late?? shame.

 

[bandido]

i love waterfalls,

the $$ will not be paid, look at the facts-save the emotion of holding onto the dream-its gone. reality sucks in this case. when has there ever been $$$ paid this late?? shame.

Ever seen an "initial offering" not immediately paid? Anyone?

 

[bandido]

Word of Honor

Here's something in the local paper (The Manila Standard)today. http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=sports8_oct28_2008

Word of honor
RONNIE NATHANIELSZ

WHILE we have no reason to doubt the commitment of Raya Sports executive director JP Fenix that the players, who participated in the recent inaugural World 10-Ball Championships, would be paid on Oct. 30 and 31, what concerns us?and should concern those in government and the private sector, who supported the venture?are the public statements of the winner, Darren Appleton of Britain.

Appleton, who had waited 16 long years to win a world pool title and finally achieved that dream by winning the inaugural World 10-Ball Championship at the Philippine International Convention Center in Manila, said he hadn?t been paid as yet along with all the other players.

Appleton stated: ?Basically, everybody is talking and asking about World 10-Ball payment, as to date nobody has been paid yet. The organizers have not said anything, which is a little annoying.?

Obviously, the statement by Raya Sports, which was posted on the AZ Billiards Web site, either came after they learned of Appleton?s annoyance or it came too late to preempt what the champion said.

Surely, knowing the players? contact details, the least the organizers could have done would have been to reach out to the players and explain the situation, which could very well have been caused by the entities, who pledged to support the event not coming across immediately. Even this possibility should have been forseen by Raya Sports, which is headed by Yen Makabenta who also happens to be chairman of the Billiards and Snooker Congress of the Philippines, which sanctioned the event along with the World Pool Association whose president is Ian Andersen of Australia.

What?s worse is that Appleton claimed the non-payment, which amounts to a substantial $100,000, which is a little less than P5 million, affected his performance in the just-concluded US Open 9-Ball Championships in Chesapeake, Virginia.

?It just took my focus away from playing in the tournament 100 percent and at this level you get punished.?

He said he was hoping he would ?get paid soon for the 10-Ball? so he could ?take a break for a week or two.?

We need to understand that pool players generally travel at their own expense, pay for their hotel accommodation and meals and also are required, more often than not, to pay an entry fee. It simply means that Appleton hasn?t even recovered his expenses as yet.

Perhaps government entities such as the Department of Tourism, Pagcor and others should learn to make sure that the funds they use to support these ventures, which is taxpayers? money, are not just well spent and accounted for but that the country does not suffer from adverse international publicity. Imagine the Tourism Department spending good money only to reap negative comments. It hurts for sure.

The difference between the World 10-Ball Championships and the World Pool Championships for which the renowned Matchroom Sports of millionaire Barry Hearn owns the franchise is that the hosts for two successive years?Raya Sports?had to put up the money before the tournament began, thus ensuring that players would get paid on time unlike the 10-Ball which was a purely Raya Sports affair.

To be fair to Makabenta and Raya Sports, they didn?t default on payment of prize money after the highly successful 2006 World Pool Championships won by Ronnie Alcanao over Ralf Souquet and the 2007 Championship which was won by Englishman Darryl Peach who bested Roberto Gomez in the finals at the Araneta Coliseum.

In fact, Makabenta was named Man of the Year in pool for hosting the 2006 event by the prestigious World Pool Digest which also applauded Filipino pool fans and described the Philippines as ?the epicenter of pool.?

A similar situation arose in the high-profile International Pool Tour of multi-millionaire Kevin Trudeau where Efren ?Bata? Reyes won $500,000 in one single tournament and although he didn?t receive payment and the IPT was roundly criticized with Rodney Morris threatening to take legal action, Trudeau promised to pay all the players the full amounts due them in installments and he kept his word until everyone was fully paid. We trust Raya Sports will do even better.

 

[sputnik]

Personally, I have kept quiet about the payments since I was told that BSCP had tried to hush local newsmen regarding the late payment (hopefully not non-payment). If we make noise, then it will be easy for their sponsors to deny them the money. So okay, for the sake of the players, hush until the 30th.

But they should not be let off the hook for this irresponsible way that they promote events - inconsiderate of how they will bring down the whole pool community with them.

As for the reason why the players came despite warnings? Object ball end rail center dot, cue ball end rail center dot. Pool players will wager. It's the nature of our sport - the players simply gambled on the prospects of winning money despite the kind of preparations for the WTB. Some guys warned that the player executing the shot cannot even string up three consecutive balls. WPA simply whispered to the gamblers that this player taking the shot can actually execute it without problems.

Who's fault?

 

[jay helfert]

Here's something in the local paper (The Manila Standard)today. http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=sports8_oct28_2008

Word of honor
RONNIE NATHANIELSZ

WHILE we have no reason to doubt the commitment of Raya Sports executive director JP Fenix that the players, who participated in the recent inaugural World 10-Ball Championships, would be paid on Oct. 30 and 31, what concerns us?and should concern those in government and the private sector, who supported the venture?are the public statements of the winner, Darren Appleton of Britain.

Appleton, who had waited 16 long years to win a world pool title and finally achieved that dream by winning the inaugural World 10-Ball Championship at the Philippine International Convention Center in Manila, said he hadn?t been paid as yet along with all the other players.

Appleton stated: ?Basically, everybody is talking and asking about World 10-Ball payment, as to date nobody has been paid yet. The organizers have not said anything, which is a little annoying.?

Obviously, the statement by Raya Sports, which was posted on the AZ Billiards Web site, either came after they learned of Appleton?s annoyance or it came too late to preempt what the champion said.

Surely, knowing the players? contact details, the least the organizers could have done would have been to reach out to the players and explain the situation, which could very well have been caused by the entities, who pledged to support the event not coming across immediately. Even this possibility should have been forseen by Raya Sports, which is headed by Yen Makabenta who also happens to be chairman of the Billiards and Snooker Congress of the Philippines, which sanctioned the event along with the World Pool Association whose president is Ian Andersen of Australia.

What?s worse is that Appleton claimed the non-payment, which amounts to a substantial $100,000, which is a little less than P5 million, affected his performance in the just-concluded US Open 9-Ball Championships in Chesapeake, Virginia.

?It just took my focus away from playing in the tournament 100 percent and at this level you get punished.?

He said he was hoping he would ?get paid soon for the 10-Ball? so he could ?take a break for a week or two.?

We need to understand that pool players generally travel at their own expense, pay for their hotel accommodation and meals and also are required, more often than not, to pay an entry fee. It simply means that Appleton hasn?t even recovered his expenses as yet.

Perhaps government entities such as the Department of Tourism, Pagcor and others should learn to make sure that the funds they use to support these ventures, which is taxpayers? money, are not just well spent and accounted for but that the country does not suffer from adverse international publicity. Imagine the Tourism Department spending good money only to reap negative comments. It hurts for sure.

The difference between the World 10-Ball Championships and the World Pool Championships for which the renowned Matchroom Sports of millionaire Barry Hearn owns the franchise is that the hosts for two successive years?Raya Sports?had to put up the money before the tournament began, thus ensuring that players would get paid on time unlike the 10-Ball which was a purely Raya Sports affair.

To be fair to Makabenta and Raya Sports, they didn?t default on payment of prize money after the highly successful 2006 World Pool Championships won by Ronnie Alcanao over Ralf Souquet and the 2007 Championship which was won by Englishman Darryl Peach who bested Roberto Gomez in the finals at the Araneta Coliseum.

In fact, Makabenta was named Man of the Year in pool for hosting the 2006 event by the prestigious World Pool Digest which also applauded Filipino pool fans and described the Philippines as ?the epicenter of pool.?

A similar situation arose in the high-profile International Pool Tour of multi-millionaire Kevin Trudeau where Efren ?Bata? Reyes won $500,000 in one single tournament and although he didn?t receive payment and the IPT was roundly criticized with Rodney Morris threatening to take legal action, Trudeau promised to pay all the players the full amounts due them in installments and he kept his word until everyone was fully paid. We trust Raya Sports will do even better.

The pen is mightier than the sword! I hope that articles like this help get the players paid promptly. This will be one huge black mark for Philippine pool otherwise. Unfortunately, a bad outcome here will affect any and all Philippine pool promotions in the future.

This is why I was so upset about the IPT. Their failure to pay affected all pool promoters in the USA adversely. Whether we like it or not, we are grouped together as a whole. Prospective sponsors are only aware of one thing. That a pool promoter went belly up and failed to pay the promised prize money. It makes all pool promotions look questionable even if they have nothing to do with the event in question.

 

[sputnik]

Unfortunately, a bad outcome here will affect any and all Philippine pool promotions in the future.

Whether we like it or not, we are grouped together as a whole. Prospective sponsors are only aware of one thing. That a pool promoter went belly up and failed to pay the promised prize money. It makes all pool promotions look questionable even if they have nothing to do with the event in question.

I understand what you are saying about being grouped together as a whole, but we made it a point to segregate the Makabenta-led BSCP/Raya from the rest of the promoters in the Philippines. We knew that we would have been hastily generalized as a Filipino "kind" of promoter had we remained quiet, and all the noise that we had made before the WTB has made everybody aware of Makabenta's brand. Without alarming and awaking the pool world about our (then) perceived and predicted outcome, you would be 100% correct in your post. Makabenta would have simply returned to the woodworks only to come out with another reckless event. But no, Makabenta is now isolated and sorted out in the whole pool world - sponsors included.

So excuse me Jay, we are looking forward to seeing the last of Makabenta in pool, and his departure will be good not only for the sport but also for the image of Philippine pool.

 

[Roy Steffensen]

Was Pulpul told that he might get 100 000 of the 690 000 pesos on the 31st???? Can you confirm this?

 

[arian dacongan]

partial payment on 30th?? i hope not

Ever seen an "initial offering" not immediately paid? Anyone?

..well..we all hope the players will get paid in full...

but what this 30th & 31st supposed payments would turn out to is "initial payment" or " partial payment" only


i hope not

 

[bandido]

Was Pulpul told that he might get 100 000 of the 690 000 pesos on the 31st???? Can you confirm this?

See post #241. I did mention it released by the 30th, as I was told by his manager, but surprises abound (not). The 100k Pesos was released today but it just brings out more questions.
1. Was it due to the Article above that I posted which will consequently catch the attention of other newsmen?
2. If they, RAYA/BSCP, are really intending to pay-up on the 30th or 31st then why just release 100k to Pulpul and not the whole of the 690K being that the 30th is just 2 days away.
3. Why release now and not on the 30th or 31st as announced?