The Sharks Billiards Association (SBA) officially launched the Philippine Open 2025 via a milestone press conference and Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signing ceremony held at the Sharks Arena and Sports Bar in Tomas Morato, Quezon City.
The event celebrated the start of a media partnership with People’s Television Network (PTV) and laid out the direction of one of the biggest professional billiards tournaments in the country.
The press conference gathered key stakeholders in the billiards, broadcast, and regulatory sectors, offering insight into SBA’s vision, tournament structure, and its rising stature in the world of Philippine cue sports.
The event was attended by high-ranking officials and respected figures, including Hadley Mariano, SBA commissioner and founder; Francisco Rivera, chairman, Games and Amusements Board (GAB); Oscar M. Orbos, chairperson of the Board and OIC-Network General Manager, People’s Television Network and Atty. Pamela Parce, Legal and Administrative Officer, People’s Television Network; team owners representing SBA’s founding franchises, namely Reynato Roallos Jr., Manila MSW Mavericks; Atty. Glenn Michael Nuestro, Quezon City Dragons; Edmund Jose, Taguig Stallions and Marc Yao, Negros Occidental Pillars.
Rivera highlighted the surging interest in billiards, noting GAB’s data on tournament growth.
“In 2019, we only had seven sanctioned events. By 2024, that number grew to 35—and we’ve already recorded 15 in the first quarter of 2025. This momentum shows the sport is thriving. I give the SBA two thumbs up for creating a platform where our players can shine professionally,” said Rivera.
Mariano revealed that SBA has already exceeded its registration goal of 128 players for the Philippine Open 2025 and is now preparing to open additional slots due to overwhelming interest.
The tournament will follow international 9-ball rules, with a Race to 7 format in the early rounds and a Race to 13 in the finals.
Although the full prize distribution is still being finalized, Mariano confirmed that the ₱1 million prize pool would allocate approximately 30 to 40% to the overall champion.
He also emphasized SBA’s commitment to inclusivity, stating that female cue artists are welcome and encouraged to join the tournament.
One of the event’s main highlights was the announcement of the SBA’s non-exclusive media partnership with People’s Television Network (PTV). Under the agreement, SBA matches—including those from the Philippine Open—will be aired on primetime television in a dedicated two-hour broadcast slot.
“Our goal is for SBA to become the NBA of billiards—a fully professional, highly competitive, and widely respected league that Filipino players can aspire to and be proud of,” said Mariano.