MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Olympic Committee called on the Billiards and Snooker Congress of the Philippines to hold its elections this month to finally settle the dispute hounding the NSA (national sports association).
Citing urgency that requires immediate resolution, POC president Jose Cojuangco said that the local Olympic movement is acting on the request made by the majority of BSCP directors and so as not to “jeopardize the Filipino athletes’ campaign in major international tournaments.”
“As the official list of voting members already identified and passed for review by the Olympic body, election must take place immediately so as not to jeopardize our athletes’ buildup and preparation in major tournaments abroad, including the Southeast Asian Games,” said Cojuangco.
“The majority of BSCP directors, with the support of our country’s top players, are calling for an election. It’s been four years since the last election we had, and it’s about time that we conduct one and give our constituents a chance to select their leaders. We are just asking the POC to help us make it happen,” said Arturo “Bong” Ilagan, one the directors who petitioned the POC to help facilitate the long overdue election of the association.
The holding of the BSCP election is urgent as the WPA (World Pool Association) has come out with a policy that they will not allow players who are not members of its local affiliate, in the Philippines’ case the BSCP, to participate in all the WPA-sanctioned events.
Most of the country’s top players, led by pool legend Efren “Bata” Reyes, have dissociated themselves from the BSCP in favor of the (BMPAP) Billiards Managers Players Association of the Philippines.