INQUIRER Sports

MANILA, Philippines -- Branding the “revolt” spearheaded by top-ranked players and managers a travesty, the Billiards and Snooker Congress of the Philippines Monday expressed optimism it could survive with or without them.

Officials of the BSCP, the governing body of the sport in the country, on Monday shrugged off the possible exodus of topnotch players brought about by the formation of the Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines (BMPAP).

BSCP secretary general Julius Medea said the new group would not, in any way, undermine the training program and long-term goals of the organization.

Led by Hall of Famer Efren “Bata” Reyes, former world No. 1 Francisco “Django” Bustamante and former double world champion Ronnie Alcano, the BMPAP is made up of about two dozen professional players and their managers.

“Without them, we will be deprived of strong and talented players who could represent the country in international tournaments,” said Medea during a press conference at the Pantalan restaurant in Manila.

“Fine, but we will still continue our program, especially the development of up-and-coming players,” added Medea, stressing that the BSCP program would culminate in the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou, China.

Yen Makabenta, BSCP chair and president of World Pool Championship organizer Raya Sports, criticized the formation of the new organization and accused the managers of manipulating the players for vested interests.

Makabenta said the players were made to sign on a registry form and then posed for pictures to show their support for the BMPAP.

“This revolt is a travesty,” said Makabenta. “Our players have been manipulated into the frontlines of a naked and unprovoked assault on the BSCP and Raya by persons who hide behind the barricades.

“We will not be drawn into this trap. The players are innocents in this conspiracy and we know who are driving this war.”

Makabenta was obviously referring to managers Aristeo “Putch” Puyat and Perry Mariano, the managers of the country’s top players.”

Acknowledged as the country’s billiards godfather, Puyat handles the careers of Reyes, Bustamante and former world champ Alex Pagulayan. Mariano has Alcano, 2007 WPC runner-up Roberto Gomez and former Asian Games gold medalist Gandy Valle, in his stable.

Contacted for comment, Puyat refuted Makabenta’s allegations.

“There’s no trouble in billiards as far as I’m concerned,” said Puyat. “The players don’t want him (Makabenta) anymore.”

“One picture is worth a thousand words,” added Puyat, referring to published photos showing Gomez raising the BMPAP manifesto in the company of the country’s top players.

Puyat also said the players have every right to form the BMPAP and break away from the BSCP, even as he reiterated that their group is still willing to lend players to the national team.

“I support the players,” said Puyat. “They must be treated with respect. I abhor and deplore the injustice done to our players (particularly Alex Pagulayan) who have brought honor to our country.”

The BSCP eased Pagulayan, the 2004 World Pool champion and Southeast Asian Games triple gold medalist, out of the RP team competing in the Guinness Asian 9-Ball Tour last year for allegedly making a mockery of the game in his loss to Malaysian Ibrahim Bin Amir in the semifinals of the series’ Singapore leg.

Responding to the accusation hurled by Makabenta that some managers are exploiting the players by taking a 40-percent cut on their winnings, Mariano dared Makabenta to name names.

“He should name the managers,” said Mariano, who challenged Makabenta to compare their records and show who is really helping the players.

Meanwhile, San Miguel Corp. expressed concern on the quarrel between BMPAP and the BSCP.

“As a long-standing supporter of billiards in the Philippines, SMC wishes to convey to both parties to settle their differences amicably for the sport and its many admirers,” an SMC statement said.

The corporation also said there is still no agreement between Raya Sports and SMC for the latter to support the planned Asian 10-ball Tour. With a report from Marlon Bernardino, contributor