New Billiards Idol season up

Dozens have signed up for the Search for the New Billiards Idol, which starts its second season on Jan. 18 at the Superman Sports Bar in Libis, Quezon City.

With the chance of barging into the elite circle of the country’s world-renowned cue artists as the ultimate prize, this yearlong series, staged by the Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines (BMPAP), is now considered as the premier grassroots development program of Philippine billiards.

“This is our commitment, and we’re doing it in the absence of a program from those who are supposed to do it,” said BMPAP co-founder Perry Mariano, who conceptualized the project early last year.

Last year, “Billiards Idol” attracted some 300 wannabes in its 15 preliminary legs, including provincial stops in Davao and Bacolod, and a grand final featuring 27 top performers from the preliminaries.

Mike Takayama, a 19-year-old Fil-Japanese, bested the strong field of promising stars to emerge the New Billiards Idol. He also pocketed a P40,000 cash prize sponsored by the Association of Clubs Karaoke and Disco Operators.