RECENTLY crowned Magnificent 7 Invitational 9-Ball Qualifier winner-take-all champion Gandy Valle of Davao City will play in the First Senate President Manny Villar Cup Billiards Tournament at the Starmall Alabang in Muntinlupa.
Valle, now the secretary-general of the Billiards Managers and Players Association (Bmpap), told Sun.Star: "Pinaghahandaan ko ang Villar Cup para masundan ang panalo ko sa Cebu. Magagaling ang makakalaban ko (I'm preparing for it to follow up my win in Cebu. I'll be up against the best Filipino players)."
Valle, however, said his workload at Bmpap had been his focus lately. Thus, his time for training was reduced.
"I'm holding a lot of programs now. We have a Philippine Idol competition regularly and we also hold tour competitions," he said.
Valle, a 1998 Bangkok Asian Games gold medalist, beat fellow Dabawenyo Lee Vann Corteza in the Magnificent 7 Invitational 9-Ball Qualifier Tournament at the Bravio Sport & Resto Lounge in Cebu last month.
Reigning national champion Corteza is also entered in the Villar Cup along with big guns Efren "Bata" Reyes, two-time world champion Ronnie Alcano, current world no. 1 Dennis Orcollo, 2007 World Pool Championship runner-up Roberto Gomez, and veteran internationalists Warren Kiamco, Antonio Ling and Rodolfo Luat, among others.
Davao player Mary Ann Basas and RP teammate Rubilen Amit are also seeing action in the Top Guns Challenge together with rising stars Joven Bustamante, Carlo Biado, Jharome Peña, Russian Petiza, Benjie Guevarra, Ricky Zerna, Jundel Mason and Elmer Haya. (MLSA)
