Bata, Django to vie for rich P5.2M purse

Eight of the world’s top players will see action for rich prize money of $100,000 ( about P5.2 million) in the Manila leg of the San Miguel Asian 9-ball series presented by ESPN STAR Sports at Pearl Plaza. It is set May 31 to June 1.

Thirty-two of the best pool players in Asia will be at this leg of the Tour including former World Pool champions Efren "Bata" Reyes and Chao Fong Pang, current world No. 3 Francisco Bustamante along with the winner of the last leg of the San Miguel Asian 9-Ball Tour in Singapore, world No. 7 Yang Ching-Shun.

The stops on the San Miguel Asian 9-Ball Tour are the only tournaments in Asia where participating players earn qualifying points towards the World Professional Pool Championships (WPPC) in Cardiff, UK in July. The top 10 players of the Tour will directly qualify to the WPPC. The WPPC, like the San Miguel Asian 9-Ball Tour, will be broadcast exclusively on STAR Sports in Asia.

The Tour, which was originally scheduled to travel from Singapore to Ho Chi Minh City, Hong Kong and Taipei before arriving in Manila, had to be scaled back due to the SARS outbreak in Asia. Due to three of the original stops being cancelled, the Manila leg will have double the prize money and double the ranking points. To ensure the health and well-being of participants and spectators at the tournament, event organizers ESPN STAR Sports will put in place precautionary medical measures at the Manila leg.

The 9-ball is among a handful of sports where Asians compete at the highest levels in the world. Asia has produced more world champions over the past few years than any other region, with five of the last 10 World Champions. Reyes, world champion in 1999 and World champion in 1993 and 2000 Chao Fong-Pang of Chinese Taipei, world titlist in 1993 and 2000, will be the players to beat in tournament.