Nauna si Jericho Banares, 2nd si Rodrigo Geronimo sa pro billiard draft

QUEZON CITY—Si Jericho Banares, gaya ng inaasahan, ay unang na-draft sa inaugural Sharks Billiard Association (SBA) Player’s Draft sa Quantum Skyview ng Gateway Mall 2, Araneta City sa Cubao Quezon City noong 18 Agosto 2024.

Unang napili si Banares ng Quezon City Dragons.

“I felt very honoured to be included in the team,” ani Banares, tumapos ng silver finish sa 2008 Reno, Nevada World Junior Pool Championship matapos yumuko kay defending champion Ko Pin-yi ng Chinese-Taipei sa finals.

Napiling pangalawa ng Taguig Stallions si Rodrigo Geronimo, si Oliver Villafuerte ay itinalagang pangatlo sa pangkalahatan ng Negros Pillar, habang si Baseth Mapandi ay ang pang-apat na pangkalahatang draft pick para makasama ang Manila MSW Mavericks sa 4-team field na gaganapin ang kanilang unang conference set sa 12 Setyembre sa sikat na Sharks Billiard Hall sa Tomas Morato, Quezon City.

“Its mission is to give millions of Filipino billiard enthusiasts the opportunity to hone and showcase their skills, and promote the love of the game — by ensuring integrity and fairness for professional billiards in the Philippines,” anang event organizer na si Founder/COO Hadley Mariano.

Ang iba pang miyembro ng Quezon City Dragons ay sina Alexis Ferrer, Denmark Castronuevo, John Paul Ladao, at John Rebong, tampok din sa Taguig Stallions na may formidable line na binubuo nina Demosthenes Pulpul, Bryant Saguiped, Marc Ejay Cunanan, at Michael Quinay.

Ang Negros Pillar ay gagabayan nina Albert Espinola, Jonald Galve, Jolo Aspuria, at Mark Ryan Hidalgo, habang kasama sa paparada sa Manila MSW Mavericks sina Jonas Magpantay, John Albert Refulle, Drahcir Mauricio, at Tristan Deocareza.

Kabilang sa mga sumaksi sa historic event, sa pangunguna ni Games and Amusement Board (GAB) chairman Atty. Francisco Rivera, Jr., Philippine Racing Commission (PHILRACOM) Chairman Aurelio “Reli” De Leon, GOAT Efren “Bata” Reyes, Francisco “Django” Bustamante, Dennis “Robocop” Orcollo, Jeffrey “The Bull” De Luna, Antonio “Nikoy” Lining, Warren “Warrior” Kiamco, Sportsman/Businessman Ceferino “Perry” Mariano, Mam Verna Mariano, at iba pa. (MARLON BERNARDINO)