MANILA, 7 February 2003 — Efren ‘Bata’ Reyes, the top money winner last year with total prize money of over $126,000, opened the 2003 season with a bang, defeating South Korean Young Hwa Jeong, 13-7, in the finals of the $15,000 Mid Atlantic 9-Ball Championship at the Holiday Inn in Chesapeake, Virginia.
All week-long pool fans had anticipated an exciting showdown between Reyes and AZBilliards 2002 “Player of the Year” Francisco ‘Django’ Bustamante in what was shaping up as a possible All-Filipino final.
But Reyes vowed to Jeong in the semifinals, 11-8, which sent him to the one-loss side where he was pitted against his bosom buddy Bustamante.
Reyes demolished Bustamante, 11-6, in the quarterfinals forcing Bustamante into the one-loss bracket where he quickly regained his composure and eventually routed Rodney Morris to finish on top.
But unfortunately for Bustamante, he was forced to meet Reyes again after “The Magician” faltered against Jeong and for the second time in the tournament. Bustamante had no answer to the incredible shot-making of Reyes, who won, 11-8, to set up a rematch with Jeong.
Except for his momentary lapse in the semifinals, Reyes dominated opponents all week while Jeong stayed in the race by winning several close matches. Bustamante also played superb pool all week until he met Reyes.
AZBilliards reported that Reyes and Jeong “played extremely well all week and neither player lost a match until they met to play for the hot seat.”
Veterans against young cyclists in tour
The veterans of the defunct annual cycling race are ready to do battle with the young guns when the Tour Pilipinas 2003 presented by Air21 kicks off this summer.
Renato Dolosa and Carlo Guieb, two fabled champions from the Tourís past history, and Rolando Pagnanawon, regarded as cycling’s ageless wonder, are happy that the race has shifted to the full Tour, where they can showcase their cycling skills and teammanship.
The inaugural Tour of Calabarzon was hosted by Air21 last year as a prelude to the revival of the cycling Tour. Santi Barnachea won that race and his fellow national athletes shared the limelight.
This year, there will be less focus on the individual category and more emphasis on teammanship as Air21 has put up a record 1-million pesos for the top team prize.
The emphasis on teamwork gives veterans like Guieb, Dolosa and Pagnanawon to put their experience to work and help their team to the top.
Guieb, Dolosa and Pagnanawon have been assigned to skipper different squads, which will be drafted by the commercial sponsors in a selection event to be announced by Air21 soon. Guieb will have Paterno Curtan, an Asian Games participant, as an assistant skipper in his squad.
Dolosa is in a team that includes Lloyd Reynante, who showed his prowess in the individual time trial of the prequalifiers, as assistant captain.
Aguilar second in Dubai race
Caltex-Revtex-KTM star rider Glenn Aguilar bucked the hot conditions and the desert course as he placed second to a tough Australian entry in the 2003 FIM (Federacion Internationale de Motorcyclisme) Motocross Continental Championship in Dubai.
Aguilar, who is rated No. 3 in the Asian standings, became Asia’s best-ranked rider, at least for a day, as he finished the morning and afternoon heats second to eventual champion Dean Taylor. Aguilar even gave the Australian a big scare as he finished only 12 seconds behind. The six-time national rider of the year actually took home two gold-plated trophies — one for his runner-up finish, and the other for the Best Jump award.
His Caltex partner Bebet dela Cruz did not finish the race after suffering from an engine breakdown in the one-day event participated in by the best riders from Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Malaysia, India, Sri Lanka, Macau, Singapore and the Middle East nations.
Casas wins title
Felix Casas birdied the 18th hole six times, the last from a few inches away on the sixth hole of a sudden-death playoff that won him the Del Monte leg of the First Gentleman’s Professional Golf Circuit in San Miguel Bukidnon.
Runner-up the past two weeks, Casas used up all the magical shots and putts in his bag to avoid another heartbreaker as the Southwoods pro edged out a hard-luck Elmer Salvador and Richard Sinfuego in the longest playoff ever in the local tour.
Casas’ first birdie on the par-5 18th from two feet in regulation play got him onto the playoff with Salvador and Sinfuego.
They ended up with similar 274 totals after Sinfuego rallied with a 67 and Salvador shot a 70 against the 72 of Casas.
Casas parried the axe of doom right on the first extension hole when a birdied putt that was no shorter than 50 feet traversed almost the entire length of the green and trickled into the hole, sending the huge gallery into a frenzy.
That spectacular putt put him on the next hole with Sinfuego and Salvador, who birdied from short range.
Canlubang leg champion Sinfuego sent himself out of the playoff after he just made par on the second extra hole which his two rivals birdied from tap-in distance.
After both exchanged birdies on their next two trips back to the 18th, Salvador seemed ready to end it all on after he pitched to within just six feet for his birdie, but he missed.
POC settles row in softball, cycling
The Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) has settled the long-standing leadership disputes in the cycling and softball associations.
According to POC president Celso Dayrit, the cycling row ended when claimants Ponciano Regalado and Antonio Cruz reached an amicable settlement wherein the former assumed the position of president and the latter chairman of the Philippine Amateur Cycling Association (PACA).
“They made an agreement before the POC arbitration committee to work to revise their (PACA’s) constitution, then register a new federation and after some time hold an election,” said Dayrit.
Because of this, the POC’s earlier decision withholding recognition of a cycling leader has been lifted.
The Olympic body, meanwhile, retained its recognition of Manila Rep. Harry Angping as Amateur Softball of the Philippines president. Angping’s election as president is being questioned by the renegade group led by former Blu Girls coach Ma. Liza Bueta, which installed Raul Saberon as its own president.
Meanwhile, the general criteria set by the executive board for the selection of athletes to the Vietnam Southeast Asian Games later this year was approved by the membership committee. Earlier, the board had allowed the sending of athletes who have the potential to win medals either in the 2003 SEAG or the 2005 edition to be hosted by the country.
PSC tightens belt
The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), which is facing budget problems against a growing financial requirement brought about by preparations for the 2003 Vietnam Southeast Asian Games, said it will limit its expenses to the minimum to be able to fund its projects for the year
According to PSC chairman Eric Buhain, measures were put in place ‘to wisely manage’ the PSC’s funding, whose source is limited to the 105 million pesos the sports agency will expect from the General Appropriations Fund and about 350 million pesos as shares from the earnings of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) and the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO).
“The PSC doesn’t have that much money to spend, especially now that there is no more limit to our participation in the SEA Games. We have to give our athletes their needed preparation and exposure for the Vietnam Games, and hopefully, it would help us gain in the 2004 Athens Olympics, 2005 RP SEA Games and the next Asian Games,” said Buhain.
He admitted the amount the PSC expects to get from the Pagcor and PCSO as part of the National Sports Development Fund (NSDF) would not suffice to fund the country’s preparation and participation in the SEA Games.
“That’s why we are all out in encouraging support from the private sector,” said Buhain. “Right now, we are in the process of, again, starting talks with some top private corporations for support.”
The PSC, last year, had electronics giant Samsung as partner in sending 218 athletes to the Busan Asian Games, where the Philippines had its best finish in 36 years with three gold, seven silver and 16 bronze medals.
La Salle captures UAAP tennis title
De La Salle bagged the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) women’s tennis title via a six-game sweep at the Rizal Sports Center outdoor courts in Pasig City. The Lady Green Netters dethroned defending champion University of Santo Tomas, 2-0, after Berry Sepulveda downed Joan Bibal, 6-2, 6-2, in the first singles and Sommer Bisagas and Krissy Alina survived Ziarla Battad and Katrina Lopez, 7-6 (4), 7-5, in the doubles. The no-bearing second singles match between Janet Uy and Ofelia Arribe was not played.
In the men’s division, reigning champ UST nipped Ateneo, 2-1, to forge a championship showdown with La Salle on Saturday.
The Blue Eagles, champions in 2000 and 2001, took a 1-0 lead when Neil Co won the first singles over Pius Ocamp, 6-4, 6-4.
But the Growling Tigers of Karl Santamaria fought back behind Maclean Barraquias and Art Thomas Calingasan, who scored a 5-7, 6-3, 6-4 victory over Gee Abacan and Gino Bautista in the doubles while Art Philip Calingasan overpowered James Imbong, 6-0, 6-1, in the second singles.
