The Billiards and Snooker Congress of the Philippines yesterday defended its choice of players who will represent the country in the Guinness 9-Ball Tour, which fires off Feb. 29 in Taiwan.
June Diokno, BSCP spokesman, said Marlon Manalo, Antonio Gabica and Jeff de Luna are just as deserving as anyone else to join seeded entries Alex Pagulayan and Joven Bustamante.
Pagulayan and Bustamante have been seeded into the tournament since they both endorse Guinness, a popular Irish beverage.
The Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines raised a howl over the selection of Manalo, Gabica and De Luna in the absence of a qualifying tournament.
As member of the Asian Pocket Billiards Union and the World Pool Billiard Association, which is the world governing body for pool, the BSCP claims to have the authority to pick the players for the said event and other international competitions.
“The BSCP has the authority, among others, to select players for the Guinness Pool Tour and other sanctioned international events,” Diokno said in a message e-mailed to The STAR.
Manalo, Gabica and De Luna are among the players who did not side with the BMPAP when it was formed a few weeks ago in protest to the BSCP management.
Diokno described the three players as “topnotch pool players” who have won honors for the country recently in the Asian Games, the Southeast Asian Games, and various international competitions.
Gabica is the 2007 Philippine National Open champion, De Luna the Manny Pacquiao International Open last October, and Manalo the runner-up in the 2007 Philippine National Championship.
“They can play with anyone in the BMPAP roster anytime. They are at the top of their game today,” Diokno said.
At the same time, the BSCP spokesman urged the Games and Amusements Board under Eric Buhain to “stop being used by the BMPAP.”
The BMPAP said the GAB has the power to prevent Manalo, Gabica and De Luna from participating in the Guinness Tour unless they secure a clearance from the agency that regulates professional sports in the country. – Abac Cordero