STATEMENT OF JP FENIX
Raya Sports Managing Director
23 September 2008
As the qualifying round of the WPA World Ten Ball Championship (WTBC) starts today (September 23), certain billiards managers and their players are desperately trying to call attention to their decision not to join the competition. Just as this tactic did not work against past pool tournaments and other sports, so it will fail again.
The spirit of sports and the joy of competition have always been and will always be stronger than the delusions of players and the schemes of managers. No one is bigger than any sport.
To the shock of the Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines (BMPAP), the WTBC is unfolding in Manila with the enthusiastic support of players and associations from all over the world. It has attracted a record number of countries and players to a world championship event. The most notable players are coming, including the reigning men?s and women?s world champions. Preparations for the games are meeting with strong support from partners and sponsors. And the event will be broadcast all over the country and around the world when the main tournament starts on Monday, September 29.
In stark contrast, BMPAP had to cancel its own much-ballyhooed world championship event in November which it had announced with much fanfare some months back. As a result, it has lost credibility before the world?s and the nation?s pool communities.
Instead of apologizing to the public for its false promises and press releases, the group has been doing everything to disrupt and derail a genuine world championship event that is taking place in our country ? the WTBC. It would ruin the fun for everyone and even embarrass the nation to cover its failures.
This pathetic effort will be dismissed and ignored. The inaugural World Ten Ball Championship will take place with the best players in the world competing and fans all over the country and the world watching. And we will make history together in Manila.
****
For more information on the World Ten Ball Championship go to www.worldtenball.com
Raya Sports Managing Director
23 September 2008
As the qualifying round of the WPA World Ten Ball Championship (WTBC) starts today (September 23), certain billiards managers and their players are desperately trying to call attention to their decision not to join the competition. Just as this tactic did not work against past pool tournaments and other sports, so it will fail again.
The spirit of sports and the joy of competition have always been and will always be stronger than the delusions of players and the schemes of managers. No one is bigger than any sport.
To the shock of the Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines (BMPAP), the WTBC is unfolding in Manila with the enthusiastic support of players and associations from all over the world. It has attracted a record number of countries and players to a world championship event. The most notable players are coming, including the reigning men?s and women?s world champions. Preparations for the games are meeting with strong support from partners and sponsors. And the event will be broadcast all over the country and around the world when the main tournament starts on Monday, September 29.
In stark contrast, BMPAP had to cancel its own much-ballyhooed world championship event in November which it had announced with much fanfare some months back. As a result, it has lost credibility before the world?s and the nation?s pool communities.
Instead of apologizing to the public for its false promises and press releases, the group has been doing everything to disrupt and derail a genuine world championship event that is taking place in our country ? the WTBC. It would ruin the fun for everyone and even embarrass the nation to cover its failures.
This pathetic effort will be dismissed and ignored. The inaugural World Ten Ball Championship will take place with the best players in the world competing and fans all over the country and the world watching. And we will make history together in Manila.
****
For more information on the World Ten Ball Championship go to www.worldtenball.com
