MANILA, Philippines - Collegiate rivalry takes center stage anew when the inaugural edition of the National Collegiate Billiards League is held tomorrow at the Manila Ocean Park at Luneta with 25 teams, 21 of them in the seniors division, battling it out for top honors.
Lots will be drawn to determine the opening-day pairings with organizers, led by sportsmen Reli de Leon and Perry Mariano, confident their objective of producing new world-beaters would be realized by the time the tourney, also known as B-League, ends in March next year.
Leading the seniors’ field of the event backed by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office and GSM Blue are arch-rivals Ateneo and La Salle. The others in the fold are University of the East, Far Eastern University, National University, Lyceum, Mapua, Letran, San Beda College, Centro Escolar University, University of Makati, Adamson, St. Claire College, University of Manila, Don Bosco Technical College Mandaluyong, Jose Rizal University, Our Lady of Fatima University, AMA Computer College, San Sebastian College, Philippine Maritime Institute, University of Sto. Tomas.
Competing in the juniors division of the tourney backed by Accel, Star Billiards, Manila Ocean Park, The Philippine Star, along with Malungai Life Oil, Mediacom, Bugsy Promotions, Human Plus Probiotics, Niknok Pritson Manok, Negros Billiards Stable, Puyat Sports, businessman Hermie Esguerra, Brunswick and Star Paper of BSCP president Sebastian Chua are De La Salle-Zobel Greenhills, St. Mary’s College Quezon City, Ateneo De Manila High School, and Xavier School.
“After the long preparation, we finally have a tourney that we hope would produce new players who can take over from our certified stars. This is the first step and we are confident this event would live up to its billing,” said De Leon.
Four tables will be used for the opening matches, three of them for 8-ball, 9-ball and 10-ball singles games for the opening pair after the drawing of lots. The other table will be used by the next pair to be drawn.