16-year-old Chua upstages junior champ

Johann “Bubwit” Chua once again proved why he indeed is the next big thing in Philippine billiards as the 16-year-old sensation humbled no less than reigning World Juniors champion Ko Pin-yi, 12-11, in a challenge match Friday night at the One-Side Billiards Center in Ermita, Manila.

Chua, a member of the star-studded Bugsy Promotions of businessman Perry Mariano, showed great tenacity as he bounced back from as many as three racks down in edging out his 19-year-old Taiwanese foe to pocket the $1,000 pot.

“This kid (Chua) is one of the futures of Philippine billiards,” said Mariano. “He could be a world juniors champion if only he was given a chance to compete in there.”

The feat also makes Chua one of the top favorites in the Search for the New Billiards Idol, which opens it second season today at the Superman Sports Bar in Libis, Quezon City.

Chua will join dozens of aspiring cue artists in taking a shot at barging into the elite circle of world-renowned Filipino pool masters through this yearlong series of tournaments espoused by the Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines (BMPAP) and now considered 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 Mariano, who conceptualized the project early last year.

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

Mike “the Lightning Kid” 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.

Moreover, Takayama will also be seeded in all Villar Cup tournaments this year, a reward courtesy of Sen. Manny Villar’s VILLARDS: Tulong sa Pagsulong ng Philippine Sports.

Other Billiards Idol legs will be Feb.22, March 15, April 19, May 17, June 21, July 19, Aug. 16, Sept. 18, Oct.20, Nov. 22 and Dec. 13.

Each tournament will have a total pot of P20,000, including a lion’s share of P10,000 to the champion.

The entry fee will still be at a token amount of P200.

Meanwhile, Ko and other top Taiwanese players are in the country for a qualifying tournament to determine their country’s representatives in this year’s Guinness 9-Ball, something not being done in the Philippines.

Details: BMPAP secretary-general Gandy Valle at 0916-958-98-97 or the BMPAP secretariat at 0918-488-8624.