Takayama emerges pool's top young gun

Mike Takayama downed Russian Petiza, 7-4, to rule the Search for the New Billiards Idol tournament at the Superman Sports Bar in Libis, Quezon City Sunday night.

Takayama was on his way to clean up the 11th rack when Petiza conceded, giving the 19-year-old Fil-Japanese the crown at the end of the series of tournaments organized by the Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines (BMPAP) in cooperation with Bugsy Promotions.

Takayama received the cash prize of P40,000 disputed in the event sponsored by the Association of Clubs Karaoke and Disco Operators (ACKDO) and Tiger Motorcycle, and supported by Puyat Sports, Negros Billiards Stable and Sen. Manny Villar’s Villiards: Tulong sa Pagsulong ng Philippine Sports.

The victory assured Takayama of a spot in the Villar Cup legs next year.

On his way to the championship, Takayama trounced fellow Bugsy mainstay Michael Feliciano, 7-3, Joey Pardales, 7-2, and Elmer Haya, 7-2, in the preliminary rounds.

He bounced back from a 4-6 deficit to edge Roberto Dy, 7-6, in the quarterfinals, before blasting Richard Pornelosa, 7-4, in the semifinals.

Petiza, from Iloilo, settled for P15,000. He made it to the finals by walloping Romar Villones, 7-1, in the Final Four.

Pornelosa and Villones each received P5,000 for finishing joint third from the field of 27 players.