The Philippines has long had a reputation as the mecca of pool, especially nine ball. Two years ago, Carlo Biado broke through and claimed the 2021 US Open in Atlantic City. Three weeks ago, the unseeded pair of Johann Chua and James Aranas essayed a magical run in Spain to pocket the World Cup of Pool.
Yet for a country that prides itself as being a hotbed of elite pool players, there's been a dearth of big-time international events here. The Philippines last hosted a major international pool tournament in 2012, a stark contrast to the first decade or so of the 21st century when major events such as the World Nine Ball Championship, Word Ten Ball Championship, World Pool Masters, and World Cup Of Pool were regularly held here.
Icons such as Earl Strickland, Johnny Archer, Ralf Soquet, Mika Immonen, Allison Fisher and Kelly Fisher were regular Manila visitors (Immonen was even a celebrity endorser for a local condominium project). Pool halls could be found in almost every street corner of the metropolis.
The once-thriving sport, often mentioned in the same breath as basketball and boxing, began a gradual decline here in the Philippines. Tournaments became scarce as TV deals and sponsorships dried up. With no local exposure, many top players ventured overseas. Pool was clearly on life support.
The decline of pool in the Philippines mirrored a similar decline worldwide. Even in the United States, it was -- and still is -- difficult for many pros to make a decent living. The prizemoney just wasn't there and has remained stagnant for several years. In 2007, when Shane Van Boening won the US Open, he took home $50,000. Fourteen years later, when Biado won the same tournament, he pocketed the same amount.
"The worldwide decline is connected to the decline of Philippine billiards," says Hadley Mariano of Sharks Billiards League, which is organizing the ongoing Sharks International Open, the first international pool tournament to be held in Manila in 11 years.
"I think the (worldwide) decline started when there were no more tournaments here, because Filipino players are popular in other countries. We're popular in the sport. So when the sport declined here, it also declined elsewhere."
It also doesn't help that the greatest and most popular Filipino pool player of all time, Efren "Bata" Reyes, is now in his late sixties, and no one has yet to fill his shoes. But Mariano also thinks that the problem is systemic. While other talented players like Biado, Aranas, Chua, Dennis Orcollo, Jeff De Luna and Lee Vann Corteza have emerged, there is no clear pipeline of talent.
Mariano says this falls squarely on the shoulders of the government.
"The main problem is politics. We lack support. There isn't enough government support for younger athletes. For the sport to thrive, we need stars. But without the government helping us to create champions from the young generations, we'll lose our superstars.
"It's chicken and egg, grassroots and private support. But this is the start. We will support the professionals first to promote the sport and then we'll target the grassroots."
Sharks is on a mission to fill this gap. Their pool hall along Tomas Morato has become a popular hangout of many top players, whose images adorn the wall leading to the main playing area. Mariano said they started organizing tournaments in early 2020, but the pandemic derailed their plans. But as restrictions eased, they gradually put together a few tournaments to give players some exposure and livelihood.
Their efforts caught the eye of Matchroom Pool, a UK-based outfit that is spearheading a similar effort to professionalize and improve the sport through a worldwide nine ball tour.
"Matchroom noticed us, and they told us they wanted to help us revive the sport here in the Philippines," Mariano said. "So we organized the Sharks International. They're handling the promotions on their side."
The Sharks International Open has attracted 64 local and 64 foreign players, all vying for a piece of the $100,000 prizemoney. The champion will get $30,000 plus ranking points in Matchroom Pool's World Nine Ball Tour. All 128 will play a double-elimination format over six days.
While the tournament is bereft of many top American and European names such as Van Boening, Francisco Sanchez-Ruiz and Joshua Filler, the Asian contingent is as good as it gets. Chang Junglin and brothers Ko Pin Yi and Ko Ping Chung of Chinese Taipei, Aloysius Yapp of Singapore, and Doung Quoc Hoang of Vietnam are among the favored participants. Recent Manila visitor and top ten-ranked Fedor Gorst is also competing.
Even though the icon Reyes is missing, the local contingent is also star-studded. Joining Biado, Aranas, Chua, Corteza, De Luna and Orcollo are legend Django Bustamante and top female players Rubilen Amit and Chezka Centeno.
"Actually Matchroom said, this is going to be the hardest tournament in the world," Mariano said. "Because there are so many great Asian players."
Aside from being a shot in the arm for local pool, Mariano said the Sharks International will finally give many Filipino players a chance to test their skills against world-rated opponents.
"Expect a lot of good match-ups between the foreigners and the Filipinos. This is where we'll see if we're still competitive. With this tournament, we'll see if our Filipino players' skills have improved or not."