Billiards holds election under threat of Temporary Restraining Order

MANILA, Philippines - Barring any Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) coming from the Makati Regional Trial Court, the Billiards and Snooker Congress of the Philippines will hold its elections at 3 p.m. today in Valle Verde.

The Philippine Olympic Committee has given its blessings on the exercise that may lead to a new set of leaders in the sport being rocked by a dispute between two groups.

The BSCP under president Ernie Fajardo and chairman Yen Makabenta is allegedly against the holding of the elections and has even sought a TRO.

Fajardo and company are contesting the list of voters that was approved by the POC under Jose Cojuangco. They said there should be a total of 14 voters, and not nine.

It is still undetermined if the court had granted the issuance of the TRO that listed Bong Ilagan, all set to challenge Fajardo as president of BSCP, as one of the defendants.

The others are billiards patron Aristeo Puyat and personalities Mahar Mangahas, Jonathan Sy, Joaquin Perez de Tagle and champion Efren “Bata” Reyes among others.

Ilagan is the former executive director of Project: Gintong Alay.

Puyat is hoping for the elections to push through, saying, “It’s been four years since the BSCP held an election. So I hope we will have a new election.”

Puyat, a director at BSCP, said Ilagan is a good choice for president.     – Abac Cordero