Here’s the list of sports in which we’ve won a medal in the ongoing 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou, China: Billiards (gold + silver), Bowling (gold + bronze), Dancesports (2 bronzes), and Wushu (bronze).

You know what all these sports have in common?

Continue reading "The secret of Team Philippines’ success in the Guangzhou Asian Games"

It’s hard to believe that it’s been ten years since Efren ‘Bata’ Reyes’ surprise victory at the World 9-ball Championships in Cardiff, Wales, in 1999. A whole nation watched spellbound not just with his charmed run in the tournament, but also with his hilarious post-match interviews. “I didn’t see the ball, so I just karambol’d it,” said the Magician as he scratched his head in trademark in one such interview. Between Efren’s English and the Welsh accent of the interviewers, the post-match events were every bit the adventure.

Efren’s victory also marked a resurgence of the sport in the country, if not in popularity then in prestige. Suddenly, it was chic to play and watch pool again, and major sponsors poured money into the sport. Soon enough, ESPN started pouring money for a regional billiard tour, the best local players , who had been toiling in tournaments abroad, came back to compete, and the country became such a hotbed for the game that the world 9-ball championships relocated from Cardiff to Manila.

Continue reading "Efren ‘Bata’ Reyes and Django Bustamante win World Cup of Pool, party like it’s 1999"

Just caught the new San Miguel Beer commercial during the halftime of their game against Burger King. The ad had Efren "Bata" Reyes, Derek Ramsay, Michael V., and Manny Pacquiao debating what to order for pulutan. Manny decides to go fancy and order the nice-sounding "roasted highland legumes" from the menu...

UPDATE: Here's the new commercial:

Continue reading ""Isang platitong mani""

Continue reading "Shanelle Loraine gives you two good reasons to tune in to the World Women's 10-Ball Championship"