Sharks Billiards Association inaugural season kicks off Sept. 18

Manila: The Sharks Billiard Association (SBA) inaugural season at the state-of-the-art Sharks Arena and Sportsbar along Tomas Morato Avenue, Quezon City on Sept. 18. The country's top professional players will showcase their talents in the hope of becoming the next Efren 'Bata' Reyes and Francisco 'Django' Bustamante in the event sanctioned by the Games and Amusement Board (GAB). "The SBA aims 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," said SBA founder and chief executive officer Hadley Mariano in a statement on Sunday. The Quezon City Dragons, bannered by Jericho Bañares, will face the Rodrigo Geronimo-led Taguig Stallions from Sept.18 to 25. Also competing are Dragons John Rebong, Deanmark Castronuevo, Alexis Ferrer and John Paul Ladao and Stallions Demosthenes Pulpul, Bryant Saguiped, Mark Ejay Cunanan and Michael Quinay. Sched uled to see action on Sept. 25-29 are the Negros Occidental Pillars against the Manila MSW Mavericks. The Negros Occidental team is composed of Oliver Villafuerte, Albert Espinola, Jonald Galve, Jolo Aspuria and Ryan Mark Hidalgo while Manila's lineup comprises Baseth Mocaibat, Jonas Magpantay, John Albert Refulle, Drahcir Mauricio, and Tristan Deocareza. The third and fourth match-ups are set from Oct. 2 to 6 and Oct. 9 to 13, respectively. The top two teams will advance to the finals from Dec. 18 to 22. Source: Philippines News agency