Rookies begin quest for glory in 'Villards'

MANILA, Philippines - Sixteen aspiring pool players from Bulacan will take a shot at joining the likes of Efren “Bata” Reyes, Francisco “Django” Bustamante and Dennis Orcollo as they compete in the Villards Cup, which resumes tomorrow at Starmall in San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan.

Now on its fourth year, the billiards series put up by Sen. Manny Villar has traveled to different parts of the country and inspired many, particularly the youth, to take up the sport where Filipinos excel internationally.

“The Villards Cup is our own little way of encouraging the youth to engage in sports, and move them away from illegal drugs. I know that there are many Reyeses or Orcollos in our youth and I want this Villards Cup to be an instrument in discovering such talents,” said Villar.

“Billiards now matches the popularity of basketball among Filipinos, especially the youth. Support for this sport should be encouraged and enhanced,” added Villar, who will grace the opening ceremonies along with Reyes, Bustamante, Orcollo and former world champion Ronnie Alcano.

The 16 amateur players, who emerged from a series of qualifiers, will also vie for cash prizes worth almost P300,000, which will be awarded by Rep. Cynthia Villar, the managing director of the Villar Foundation, during the closing ceremonies on Monday.

Meanwhile, Sen. Villar authored proposed Senate Resolution No. 875 commending Orcollo for winning the 2012 China Open held in Shanghai recently.

“Orcollo’s win solidifies the Filipino’s dominance in billiards. For years, more and more Filipinos are getting international fame in this sport and like boxing, people are seeing billiards as the Filipino’s game,” Villar said.

Orcollo defeated Chinese-Taipei’s Lu Hui Chan, 11-9, in the finals. He had earlier won the World 8-ball Championship, International 10-ball Championship, World Pool League, World Pool Masters and the US 10-ball Championship.