Eric “Billiard Cop” Bayhon got off to a good start in the 2019 J&P Navigator Japan 9-Ball Cup Championships on Friday held at the AMF-Puyat Bowling and Billiards Center, Superbowl in Pasong Tamo, Makati City.
The 37-year-old policeman from Zamboanga City defeated Jong Hwan Kang of Korea, 5-2, in the 9-ball event jointly organized by long-time billiards patron sportsman/businessman Aristeo “Putch” Puyat and DMC Entertainment and Production management boss Jesse Gonzales Cambosa Sr. A total pot prize of P108,000 is at stake in this Games and Amusements Board (GAB) sanctioned tournament that is also backed up by Puyat Sports and Nino Lopez of Wilde Blu.
World Champion Efren “Bata” Reyes and International Billiards/Snooker Champion Marlon Manalo of Patrol Party-list led the colorful opening ceremony in the event backed up by Makati Pool Players Association (MAPPA) .
“The first round is one of the toughest rounds in any tournament. It usually sets the tone of how you’re going to perform,” said Bayhon.
Bayhon is looking to surpass his fifth in the 9-ball and 10th in the 8-ball competitions in the upcoming Chengdu, China 2019 World Police and Fire Games competition.
International Billiards/Snooker Champion Marlon Manalo also shared his thoughts.
“It’s a good start for Eric Bayhon, I hope he can perform well in the 2019 J&P Navigator Japan 9-Ball Cup Championships,” he said.
Architect Eric “Teod” Salud, Gerome Gamuac, Mike Cua, Danny Macarelos, Andrew Gao, Mike Teng, Lorenz Laureola, Rodel Adona and Ericson del barrio also opened with wins.
Salud toppled Ralph Jay Morales, 5-3, Gamuac outclassed Bok Ungria, 5-1, Cua edged Mike Lu, 5-4, Macarelos subdued Renato Robles, 5-1, Gao crushed Ayi Beach, 5-3, Teng dealt Ryan Serrano, 5-4, Laureola nipped Dominic Ong, 5-3, Adona walloped Rene Calanaon, 5-4, and del barrio smashed Antonio Estrada Gurapo, 5-3.
No less than World Champion Efren “Bata” Reyes and International Billiards/Snooker Champion Marlon Manalo of Patrol Party-list led the colorful opening ceremony.
“A great mixture of pool enthusiasts young and old and different nationalities gathered together to Jam and Play our favorite sport,” said Billiards Sports Confederation of the Philippines director Jesse Gonzales Cambosa Sr.
Tags: 2019 J&P Navigator Japan 9-Ball Cup Championships , Billiards , Efren Reyes , Efren “Bata” Reyes , Eric Baylon , Marlon Manalo
