A wide open race looms when the 2019 J&P 9-Ball Cup Championships gets underway on Friday, May 3, 2019 at the Superbowl Makati Cinema Square in Makati City.
Top amateur cue artist from Metro Manila and the nearby provinces will converge for the 9 billiards tournament, with International Billiards/Snooker Champion of Marlon Manalo Patrol Party-list gracing the simple opening ceremonies prior to the start of the competition.
Manalo is expected to encourage participants in the 9-ball competition to continue to play the sport. He may also share his secrets of his rise as one of the world’s top cue artists and snooker specialist.
Francis Mateo who is fresh from winning the Makati Pool Players Association (MAPPA) Predator-Wilde Blu 8-Ball Cup last April 7, 2019, is the top favorite in the event jointly organized by long-time billiards patron sportsman/businessman Aristeo “Putch” Puyat and DMC Entertainment and Production management boss Jesse Gonzales Cambosa Sr., which offers a total pot prize of P108,000 to the winners in this Games and Amusements Board (GAB) sanctioned tournament.
Expected to provide stiff competitions are 2019 China World Police and Fire Games lone representative Staff Sgt.Eric "Billiard Cop" Bayhon, engineer Vergel Recaido of Copper Electronics Expertise Inc., Blogger Leslie “Anitokid” Mapugay, Geona Kristine Gregorio, Dr. Christian Mancao, Broadcaster Sam Nielsen Sarmiento, Banker Mel Austria, Businessman Michael Cua, Esteban Robles, Artist Popoy Cusi, expat players Tim Gosnell, Jean Michel Berille, Jason Pye, Ronnie Gonzales, call center employee Trexie Alix, Jamie Evangelista and Architect Eric Salud.
“J&P is basically an executive type of amateur pool tournament and acknowledge as the most popular pool amateur tournament in the country.” said Jesse Gonzales Cambosa Sr., director of the Billiards Sports Confederation of the Philippines (BSCP) under the leadership of Aristeo “Putch” Puyat.-Marlon Bernardino-