When was the last time you’ve heard of a professional billiards league in the Philippines? On my end, maybe it was during the time when Ali Mall was the go to place in Cubao, where I spent some of my early teenage years. Most people, however, won’t probably remember when it was or if the country ever had one.
According to my friend, Kuya, colleague, Kume and Larong Pilipino sa DZME Radyo Uno co-host rolled into one, Chino Trinidad, it was during the early 90s when he was able to convince Vintage Sports, then most probably known for its basketball coverages, to add other sports to its lineup. And one of the very sports they mounted was the Beer na Beer Challenge of Champions that featured the greatest billiards player of all time: “The Magician” Efren “Bata” Reyes, Francisco “Django” Bustamante, Boy Samson Luat, and the late Dodong Andam, among many others. If our collective memory is correct, Bustamante won the tournament.
Pinoy cue masters followed the footsteps of Jose “Amang” Parica and began to win international tournaments and even world titles, including the World Cup of Pool where the country has won four times. From Reyes to Bustamante, Ronnie Alcano, Dennis Orcollo, Lee Van Corteza, James Aranas and Johann Chua to Carlo Biado and Chezka Centeno of late, Filipino pool players never fell short when it comes to winning titles left and right even in the biggest tournaments, whether in the United States, Japan, or any other country in the world.
Except in the Philippines. You see, while our cue legends and masters continue to thrive abroad, local players in Manila and most especially in the rest of the county, have to contend with money games or pustahan just to survive. It has been the case for the last decade or so.
“Even if a local billiards player is good–he has the ability to make incredible shots, has a good eye, the skills, the patience, the courage, the discipline and even the pulse—he still needs tons of support to even just play a single game abroad. You need a visa, you have to pay for tournament fees and you need money to pay for basic expenses,” Trinidad explained.
And even if a player gets there, he needs more to compete in a full tournament that may take days or even weeks. “Kung wala ka manager or sponsor, paano ka makakarating sa Amerika, sa Asian Circuit o kahit sa Taiwan? Marami pa tayo player na magagaling pero sadly hindi sila nabibigyan ng opportunity dahil walang venue dito sa atin,” Trinidad added.
Trinidad, who initially created a name for himself as the youngest Philippine Basketball League commissioner then, is hoping to change this unfortunate skid in the local billiards scene.
Just recently, Trinidad was named commissioner of the Sharks Billiards Association or SBA, the first-ever professional billiards league in the world. A brainchild of Hadley Mariano, a businessman and an avid billiards fan, Trinidad says the launching of the SBA will provide a venue for many players who are left undiscovered due to circumstances they don’t have a say with. Moreover, Trinidad hopes to change the perception that has been attached to playing billiards in the country for the longest time.
Before making it as a broadcast journalist and cage commissioner, Trinidad used to be a “spotter” in a “bilyaran” in Mandaluyong during his younger days. He was not good at billiards, but he learned a lot about the game and more from the players he was able to meet in his Lolo Macario’s bilyaran. Moreover, he earned his “baon” while being in the best seat in the billiards hall where the sport was being played with so much passion, catcalling and trash talking wasn’t even called as such.
“By giving them this platform, players can earn their keep as long as they play to win and champion integrity in the game. There will be respect and dignity in the league and at the same time, the atmosphere, the vibe and the feel you experience playing almost in every most ordinary billiard table all over the country,” Trinidad said.
Initially, the league will feature at least four teams that will compete in the league for three months. Each team will have five players who will be chosen via a draft. These players will receive monthly pay from the teams, depending on their individual skills, just like professional basketball, volleyball and football players do, and other benefits. But like any sporting event, Trinidad is aware of the criticisms, as early as now, being thrown to the recently launched league.
“We all know that billiards will always be associated with gambling, just like any sport that has numbers here in the country. Kahit nga plate number ng mga jeep, pinagpupustahan. But the opportunity to revive the sport locally that has been so quiet for the longest time, but has given us so many champions and accolades, is too great to let it pass. ‘Yung mabigyan mo ng pag-asa ang mga players na walang mapuntahan at umaasa lang sa pustahan, ay napakalaking bagay,” Trinidad said.
He explained further that the league is just the start of plans to further promote and relieve the glory days of billiards in the country. Among these is for foreign players to come, play and compete in the country in the next few years. Instead of local players competing abroad, Trinidad says they will bring the competition here in the country to give our emerging talents and upcoming cue masters the exposure, the challenge and the competition they deserve whether they have the sponsors and supporters or not.
“They just need their cue sticks, the heart and the will to play,” Trinidad added.
Some billiards trivia. Did you know that the last locally televised big billiards game was between The Magician and Nick Varner in Ali Mall in the early 90s. That match was historic due to another reason which is not really associated with the sport. It was said that during this match wherein the infamous Jose “Don Pepe” Oyson, a former Red Lion turned Manila’s own version of the “Godfather”, was arrested while watching the match. Don Pepe was eventually killed hours later while in police custody after he allegedly tried to grab the firearm of one of his escorts. He was shot twice in the head. One of those who arrested Oyson eventually became a mayor and a senator.
Stay safe. Stay happy peeps!
For comments or questions, you can reach The Designated Kit Man at erel_cabatbat@yahoo.com or follow his account at Twitter: @erelcabatbat