World Ten Ball - Will the show go on? Will it be cancelled?

[Fatboy]

All I know is that there are multiple people doing all that they can to make sure that no one thinks this event will happen.

Mike

it would be easy for a few people to attempt sabatoge the whole thing, the pyrmid thing 2-4-8-16-32-64.....panic everyone cancels their trip and there are problems, this can happen in any game/sport. The organizers only have to post-up and show the players they do have the prize $$$ etc. If I was running a event I would do that just to be sure nobody could effectivly sabatoge my gig, but thats just me, or if they are on a air-barrel think chuck in PHX then there is gonna be a problem.

 

[jay helfert]

I fear the worst, but hope for the best. I have attempted to contact the organizer and have yet to receive a return e-mail. I'll keep you posted. Nothing would surprise me anymore, after the IPT debacle and the Phoenix fiasco.

 

[Virginia Gil]

Hi Roy The Fish, this is Perry The Pocket, I am willing to bet $20 against you........joke, joke, joke.
Hope you can make it in December, we have an invitational tournament here, dubbed as QC PHILIPPINES VS. THE WORLD, slated on Dec.2-4. We might be able to give you and Chris free hotel rooms in QC.

 

[Michael-Hoang]

..........................So, I have a bad feeling about it, and I think that one of two will happen (But I certainly not hope so).

1. The World Ten Ball Championship will be cancelled
2. The World Ten Ball Championship will not have 400 000 $ in pricemoney as announced, and if it does, the money will not be paid in full to all players immidiately after the end of the tournament.

I am willing to bet 100 $ that one of these 2 things will happen. Anyone willing to bet with me?

One bet only - so if you believe everything is ok bet with me!

EDIT:
I will bet 20 $ with 5 different people.

Confirmed bets:
1. Nostroke

How will we be able to verify that all the players got paid? Most of us probably wouldn't know half of the players there. Therefore, I would be willing to bet that the event WILL HAPPEN.

If you are ok with this (that the bet is for the event WILL HAPPEN/WILL NOT HAPPEN only), I will take the other 4 shares of $20 each for a total of $80.

I am hoping that it will happen for the sake of pool. So I am willing to bet on this, even though you probably have better sources than most.

 

[sputnik]

Let's not forget that WPC and WTBC are travelling shows. Let's differentiate the games from the show. The shows may have their snags due to bad economy and bad clients, but the games 9-ball and 10-ball will always be loved by millions.

Matchroom has a legacy, and they have the most popular game in pool. If they fail to show this year, there will be many other years to come.

If Raya fails to produce SHOW MONEY before anyone boards the airplane, then WTBC will be doomed forever.

The game of 10-ball may have its time, but definitely not with the current WPA-accredited franchise organizer of the game - IF RAYA FAILS TO PRESENT SHOW MONEY.

True Doug, Ian Andersen is putting his neck on the line. And it might not only be his neck... the integrity of WPA might get chopped off with a failed WTBC that they strongly endorsed. He remained loyal to BSCP/Raya despite the numerous issues that he completely ignored to investigate. Alarms were set off from everywhere and Andersen had time to recognise BS and make a wise decision.

 

[Peter@CEP]

I think that the WTBC has to happen, if not there will be far reaching consequences.

Raya have to come up with the dollars or they are risking everything.

If for any reason this event is cancelled, Raya would be finished, the BSCP, the APBU and the WPA would become a laughing stock and Filipino pool would be permanently damaged.

By now, I imagine that at least 100 players have booked their flights and probably, because most people seek the cheapest flights, the money would be non-returnable.

Most players around the world are probably not even aware of the infighting that is going on in the Philippines and if they lose money over this event would probably not trust in the future, any event that takes place in the PI.

So this would also be damaging to the BMPAP who are trying to take Filipino pool to a new level.

I think that the time has come for the WPA to exercise some damage control and for the sake of its own integrity, to come out with another official statement

 

[BlowFish]

Hi Roy The Fish, this is Perry The Pocket, I am willing to bet $20 against you........joke, joke, joke.
Hope you can make it in December, we have an invitational tournament here, dubbed as QC PHILIPPINES VS. THE WORLD, slated on Dec.2-4. We might be able to give you and Chris free hotel rooms in QC.

I want a free room too.

I'm going to this event too. :smile:

 

[bandido]

I think that the WTBC has to happen, if not there will be far reaching consequences.

Raya have to come up with the dollars or they are risking everything.

You're right Peter. At this point IT HAS TO HAPPEN. But not with us, who have publicly expressed concern towards the leadership of our National Sports Association since the start of year 2008. Unfortunately, these concerns haven't been resolved. The international community is fully aware of it, specially the A-B-Cs of the Sport yet chose to ignore our concerns. They probably thought that we will just fade away in time. Well....

Now there's a post here concerning people sabotaging the WTBC. I think you're wrong and that's just going to be a very weak excuse for the incompetence displayed by the WTBC Organizer. Incompetence? The WTBC's franchise holder's product is the event but this event needs content. Why didn't they work doubly hard in making sure that they have the content? The Top Filipino Players are the main content of this event being that this event is going to be held here in the Philippines. How will the Major Filipino Sponsors be enticed to put in Marketing Money into an event that won't have the "appeal factor" to their "target market", the Filipino Audience/Buyers?

Secondly, the Philipines being an independent country has its own constitution and laws. The Games and Amusement Board or GAB is the Government's regulatory and supervisory agency for all professional (play-for-pay) sports in this country. In this country, GAB (like it or not) is above any other international laws or rules when it concerns Filipino Citizens and events held here. This law is what BSCP/RAYA contested for which they asked for a Senate Hearing. That Hearing is still on-going and since it still is then the existing laws apply. They, BSCP/RAYA, still need to get a Promoter's License for this year(they did for the 2006WPC), Event Permit (which they got for their PPT Mandaluyong Cup) and place the prize money or percentage of in escrow with the Games and Amusements Board. Aside from getting Temporary Work Permits (TWP) from the Beaureu of Immigraions (BID) for all the foreign players who are participating in the WTBC.

Thirdly, why did the organizers still meet with us to ask for our participation yet still ignore our concerns? Kind of arrogant of them to just want resolution of their problem without addressing ours. If they already have the funds to proceed with their WTBC then they need not have met with us. In simpler language, if they have the $1Million, required to hold the WTBC, then the hell with BMPAP!

Edwin Reyes<<<<really sounding like a broken record. Go dig up my earlier posts folks and all the above that I wrote has been written/posted in some form or another. Just the same message over and over and ov.......

 

[Peter@CEP]

Edwin, I don't think that anyone would suggest you are trying to sabotage the WTBC.
As I said earlier,this event has to go ahead and it would seem unfortunately, without the participation of the "Superstars" of Filipino Pool.
OK, you are being ignored for now, but how long can that continue?
Sponsors, as you say, are interested in maximum exposure for their products in exchange for their financial input and in the case of the Filipino sponsors, surely it is in their interest to pressurise the organisers to include the best players.
OK it is looking more and more likely that this will not happen this year but I would venture a guess that a tournament in the Philippines without the participation of the top players would not attract too many sponsors in future years.
It is a sorry move for the BSCP to continually ignore the players that ensure it's continuing existence.
What value then the 5 year contract to host this event?
It will probaby go the way of IBC and IPT among others which both started off with a bang and then faded into obscurity.

 

[bandido]

Edwin, I don't think that anyone would suggest you are trying to sabotage the WTBC.

I was partly answering this post below from Mike and repied to by Fatboy. He might get people to think his way and that is just so off-tangent.

All I know is that there are multiple people doing all that they can to make sure that no one thinks this event will happen.
Mike

it would be easy for a few people to attempt sabatoge the whole thing, the pyrmid thing 2-4-8-16-32-64.....panic everyone cancels their trip and there are problems, this can happen in any game/sport. The organizers only have to post-up and show the players they do have the prize $$$ etc. If I was running a event I would do that just to be sure nobody could effectivly sabatoge my gig, but thats just me, or if they are on a air-barrel think chuck in PHX then there is gonna be a problem.

What is wrong with our players not wanting to participate in an event where the promoter doesn't have a license nor a permit for the event nor the prize money being placed in escrow? Isn't that one of our organization's responsibility? To protect our members and watch after their well-being?

With regards to other players, local or international, their Associations will be the ones held responsible for their participation in the WTBC and not us. We're a professional sport organization who doesn't see it right to join an amateur organization's illegal, due to not having the proper local documentations, dabbling into a play-for-pay event. Now if they already have the proper license and permit then they should publish them! Flaunt them as they normally do with everyting else that's theirs!

 

[bandido]

http://www.worldtenball.com/

I only see 1 Sponsor and the Official Sponsors page is under construction.

Did you really think that, if San Miguel is a sponsor of this event, San Miguel will agree to that itsy-bitsy banner? What you see there my friend is gratis or a "make-up for deficiency" in a previous event or part of the smoke-and-mirrors!

 

[pooladdict]

Hi Roy The Fish, this is Perry The Pocket, I am willing to bet $20 against you........joke, joke, joke.
Hope you can make it in December, we have an invitational tournament here, dubbed as QC PHILIPPINES VS. THE WORLD, slated on Dec.2-4. We might be able to give you and Chris free hotel rooms in QC.

Hi Perry/Verna, I just might take you up on that! Hopefully I will be there both to watch the QC tournament and hopefully play in Bacolod..

 

[Fatboy]

I was partly answering this post below from Mike and repied to by Fatboy. He might get people to think his way and that is just so off-tangent.



What is wrong with our players not wanting to participate in an event where the promoter doesn't have a license nor a permit for the event nor the prize money being placed in escrow? Isn't that one of our organization's responsibility? To protect our members and watch after their well-being?

With regards to other players, local or international, their Associations will be the ones held responsible for their participation in the WTBC and not us. We're a professional sport organization who doesn't see it right to join an amateur organization's illegal, due to not having the proper local documentations, dabbling into a play-for-pay event. Now if they already have the proper license and permit then they should publish them! Flaunt them as they normally do with everyting else that's theirs!

i hope to hell it happens, and anyone who is willfullly causing harm should be (i'm not sure yet-but it should hurt)

 

[pro9dg]

Wtbc

Of course, nobody likes to see events cancelled, but as we are so close to the kick off, doesn't it seem logical that there should be some doubts about the source (or whereabouts) of the funding.
You are a financial man Eric.
Do they have a 'secret sponsor' that they are keeping under wraps?
That must have required a superb sales pitch - sponsor this event and we will guarantee your product absolutely no publicity. Your market is the Philippines but we have no top Filipinos playing.

As Peter said, there are probably a hundred players who have shelled out for non refundable air tickets and booked accommodation. They have entrusted their money to WPA/Raya.

Is it too much to ask where is the guarantee that their blind faith is justified.

 

[bandido]

All I know is that there are multiple people doing all that they can to make sure that no one thinks this event will happen.

Mike

Here're our reasons why we think WTBC isn't going to happen.

1. BMPAP and BSCP/RAYA hasn't reached a resolution to the concerns that started the rift. Thus, our top Filipino Players that Corporate Philippines count on as the "Filipino-crowd Drawer", which is Corporate Philippines target market, won't be in attendance. And if they did somehow get to recruit support from local sponsors wouldn't we be expecting announcements of such. Not because that they, BSCP/RAYA, are known for flaunting their achievements but because of normal business practice that media values are expected in exchange for sponsorship funding. We don't even see any announcement in newspapers, on TV or radio nor banners along the highways and their own establishments that show these sponsors.

2. Since even their www.worldtenball.com still doesn't reflect any announcement regarding a sponsor that'll provide the prize money. Nor a have we recieved a notification from GAB that the prize money is in escrow.

3. RAYA hasn't, to my knowledge, acquired the proper Philippine Government Promoter's License. The WTBC event, to my knowledge, is not a legal event here in the Philippines without the proper Philippine Government event permit. There is an on-going Senate Hearing, that Makabenta requested, questioning the GAB's authority over all professional sports here in the Philippines. Is Makabenta going to swallow his pride and abide by Philippine Laws by applying for the proper government license and event permit from GAB.

4. We don't agree with how they operate. How can Yen publicly cut-down Matchroom's format, 9-Ball (see his article in AzB homePage), when they're suppose to be allies under one roof, the WPA? What nerve has he that he waited to the last minute to inform Matchroom that he isn't taking his 3rd year option of holding the WPC here? Should he instead be helping Matchroom and thus consequently be helping the sport?

I think all the above are valid concerns to base our opinion on.

 

[JB Cases]

I guess I am just going to "have" to go to Manila to see for myself if this thing goes off or not

I might have to stay there for a week to "investigate" this.

LOL. Not any more says the wife. Manila is crossed off the list of places you can go.

 

[bandido]

If for any reason this event is cancelled, Raya would be finished, the BSCP, the APBU and the WPA would become a laughing stock and Filipino pool would be permanently damaged.

Had people listened closer to the concerns that we brought-up early this year instead of ignoring them then some resolution could have been worked out. True that , as WPA said, this is an internal problem but see how its reverberation now is affecting the whole world. So yes, the whole WPA Organization with APBU under it and BSCP under APBU are responsible for not properly addressing the problem. Pointing fingers never solved any problem, right?

By now, I imagine that at least 100 players have booked their flights and probably, because most people seek the cheapest flights, the money would be non-returnable.

Most players around the world are probably not even aware of the infighting that is going on in the Philippines and if they lose money over this event would probably not trust in the future, any event that takes place in the PI.

Again these A-B-C organizations are ultimately responsible for the well-being of their players. They should have stayed on top of the situation. We, the BMPAP, are protecting our membership but we do not order our players not to join other promoters' LEGAL events. An example of which is Benson Palce, among other BMPAP players, who is playing in the on-going 2008 BSCP Philippine National Pool Championship. Benson is our Sipag at Tiyaga Manny Villar Cup-Alabang Champion. If the player himself doesn't want to join a tournament then we can't do anything about that specially if he gives a valid reason. Afterall, this is a democracy.

So this would also be damaging to the BMPAP who are trying to take Filipino pool to a new level.

If the WTBC event flops then maybe a very minor backlash but with all the documented concerns here in the net I doubt that it'll reflect against us any. We also have taken a different path away from the normal events and what's befitting of Professional Pool Organizations so ....

I think that the time has come for the WPA to exercise some damage control and for the sake of its own integrity, to come out with another official statement

Something that could've been avoided had they not foo-fooed the on-going rift. They were supposed to be the World Organization that makes sure that everything goes well in anything concerning POOL. The rift was primarily affecting their member so right there they should have stepped-in or requested that their continental member, APBU, does. No sense crying over spilled milk now so just pony up your dollars to make sure the the show will go on.

 

[Fatboy]

Of course, nobody likes to see events cancelled, but as we are so close to the kick off, doesn't it seem logical that there should be some doubts about the source (or whereabouts) of the funding.
You are a financial man Eric.
Do they have a 'secret sponsor' that they are keeping under wraps?
That must have required a superb sales pitch - sponsor this event and we will guarantee your product absolutely no publicity. Your market is the Philippines but we have no top Filipinos playing.

As Peter said, there are probably a hundred players who have shelled out for non refundable air tickets and booked accommodation. They have entrusted their money to WPA/Raya.

Is it too much to ask where is the guarantee that their blind faith is justified.

here is my opinion, and thats just what it is, i have no idea what's going on, so my opinono is this :

if someone was trying to cause harm to my event I would know about it and address it head on, by having open books of the $$ based on a need to know basis, my TV deal isnt my players concern or the other way around. Rumors and fear spreads faster than ever so i would take action and NOT stick my head in the sand and hope it blows over and everyone shows up. There are no white knight's anymore.

I look at it like this you take the total number of $$$ involved divide it by how many players you have, then I would have a average price per head of each player, a actual value, now if losing 10 of them didnt matter because the expence of holding EVERYONE together was more than the price of say 10 no-shows, then let them go. But I'd bet that they cant afford to lose anyone, now we all know that all players arnt worth the same amount, If I didnt show up it wouldnt matter-Because I dont draw people like Johnny does. But what they are worth individually here isnt the point the point for me would be to hold the thing together,IF I REALLY HAD SOMETHING.

I have no clue whats going on but as a biz man that is how I would dissect my model, like 14.1 there is more than one way to clear the table and this would be my route.

I hope it all works out, speculation, paranoia and fear spreads faster than any other disease, and Pool here, there, or anywhere cant afford that. Hell If I was gonna run a scam i wouldnt bother with pool anyways its too poor of a mark.

 

[JB Cases]

I was partly answering this post below from Mike and repied to by Fatboy. He might get people to think his way and that is just so off-tangent.



What is wrong with our players not wanting to participate in an event where the promoter doesn't have a license nor a permit for the event nor the prize money being placed in escrow? Isn't that one of our organization's responsibility? To protect our members and watch after their well-being?

I wish the UPA would do this. That was their mandate. I don't have a dog in this hunt but it's going to be a pretty unusual tournament if it's in the Phillipines and the top Filipinos aren't there. It's also going to be embarrassing to the rest of the world if the Filipino 3rd string wins it.

 

[bandido]

i hope to hell it happens, and anyone who is willfullly causing harm should be (i'm not sure yet-but it should hurt)

Allow me....willfully causing harm should be hung by their petards with their head over a rack of 9 ball then have all the players do their best breaks.