By MARK REY MONTEJO
Everything is set for the staging of the Sharks International 9-Ball Open that will feature a bevy of world-class and rising players, including World Cup of Pool champions Johann Chua and James Aranas, on July 24 to 29 at the Sharks Arena along Tomas Morato in Quezon City.
Hadley Mariano, head of the organizing Sharks Billiards, said the event will serve as a springboard for other aspiring Filipinos to become big stars just like Chua and Aranas.
“Nabubuhay na yung mga younger athletes natin, nagti-train ngayon sila, kasi, may goal na silang attainable,” said Mariano in Tuesday’s Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum.
He is also hoping that the event will just be the start of the sport’s revival since they are also planning to stage bigger events, like the President’s Cup.
Sharks is also planning to stage billiards competitions in the collegiate leagues.
“Isa pang advocacy ng Sharks, gusto ko mabigyan ng scholarships ang mga billiards players, gaya ng mga basketball players natin,” said Mariano.
The 128-man tournament offers a total pot of $100,000 (P5.5 million) with the champion getting $30,000 and the runner-up $15,000.
Foreign cue artists expected to see action are Taiwanese siblings Ko Pin Yi and Ko Ping Chung, Chang Jung Lin, Japanese Oi Naoyuki, Russian Fedor Gorst, Robbie Capito and Lo Ho Sum of Hong Kong and for the Pinoy include Carlo Biado, Dennis Orcollo, Ronato Ronnie Alcano, Roland Garcia and Django Bustamante.
