ANGELES CITY – Twenty-one year old Mario “Mac-mac” Del Rosario of Barangay Anunas bagged the championship of the “2011 Palarong Panglungsod 9-Ball Challenge” in Marquee mall here on Sunday after defeating Sonny Pineda of Barangay Pandan, 9-7.
Del Rosario took a two point lead (5-3) when Pineda failed to pocket the 9th ball in the 8th match.
“Pressured talaga, hindi na siya sumasablay nung huli. Nung nag-decision dun nalang siya sumablay, dun nalang ako nakatira ng maayos. (I’m really pressured, he doesn’t miss a shot in the end game. When we’re tied [3-3], that’s the time he missed a shot and that was the time I had a chance to hit well),” he told Punto Central Luzon.
Del Rosario also trounced Frenie Reyes, son of World renowned billiard genius Efren “Bata” Reyes, in the semifinals. Del Rosario and Reyes were tied at 6-6 but the latter failed to pocket the 7th ball.
He admitted that he was nervous in the semifinal match saying that Reyes has been consistent and making good shots.
Del Rosario also won an open tournament in Nueva Ecija in 2010 and a Pampanga-wide open competition in Dau, Mabalacat. He started playing billiards when he was 13 and never stopped practicing.
Asked who taught him to play billiards, he said: “Sarili ko lang, tiyaga-tiyaga lang. Walang nagturo sa akin. Dumadayo ako sa iba’t ibang mga lugar para makipaglaro sa mga magagaling na players kaya siguro mabilis din akong nag-improve. (It’s just me, always patient. No one taught me. I go to different places to play with good players, that is probably why I improved a lot).”
For his part, twenty seven year-old Reyes who bagged the third place said that Del Rosario was really a good player.
“I was just too lucky to have a decision (6-6) with him but I failed to pocket the 7th ball so I lost,” he said in the dialect.
Reyes, who started playing billiards at 11, said he likes basketball more. However, a knee injury forced him to focus in playing billiards.
He said his father [Efren, popularly known as The Magician] would sometimes teach him how to improve his skills.
Aron Bagang of Barangay Agapito del Rosario, who lost to Pineda in the semifinals, bagged the 4th place.
GUEST OF HONOR
The Magician earlier graced the opening of the “2011 Palarong Panglungsod 9-ball Challenge” on Saturday together with Mayor Edgardo D. Pamintuan, Vice Mayor Vicky Vega-Cabigting and other local officials here.
During the exhibition, The Magician was cheered by hundreds of players after successfully hitting a good shot, a proof that he still weaves his old magic.
For his part, Pamintuan said that through the city’s continuous sports activities like the “Palarong Panglungsod”, “we will be able to discover the best players and those who have the potential to become world champions like Efren ‘Bata’ Reyes.”
He also lauded the management of Marquee mall for sponsoring sports events like billiards, chess and table tennis.
Marquee mall has been the venue of various sports activities in the city organized by the Angeles City Sports Office headed by Rosever Pascua.
Del Rosario took a two point lead (5-3) when Pineda failed to pocket the 9th ball in the 8th match.
“Pressured talaga, hindi na siya sumasablay nung huli. Nung nag-decision dun nalang siya sumablay, dun nalang ako nakatira ng maayos. (I’m really pressured, he doesn’t miss a shot in the end game. When we’re tied [3-3], that’s the time he missed a shot and that was the time I had a chance to hit well),” he told Punto Central Luzon.
Del Rosario also trounced Frenie Reyes, son of World renowned billiard genius Efren “Bata” Reyes, in the semifinals. Del Rosario and Reyes were tied at 6-6 but the latter failed to pocket the 7th ball.
He admitted that he was nervous in the semifinal match saying that Reyes has been consistent and making good shots.
Del Rosario also won an open tournament in Nueva Ecija in 2010 and a Pampanga-wide open competition in Dau, Mabalacat. He started playing billiards when he was 13 and never stopped practicing.
Asked who taught him to play billiards, he said: “Sarili ko lang, tiyaga-tiyaga lang. Walang nagturo sa akin. Dumadayo ako sa iba’t ibang mga lugar para makipaglaro sa mga magagaling na players kaya siguro mabilis din akong nag-improve. (It’s just me, always patient. No one taught me. I go to different places to play with good players, that is probably why I improved a lot).”
For his part, twenty seven year-old Reyes who bagged the third place said that Del Rosario was really a good player.
“I was just too lucky to have a decision (6-6) with him but I failed to pocket the 7th ball so I lost,” he said in the dialect.
Reyes, who started playing billiards at 11, said he likes basketball more. However, a knee injury forced him to focus in playing billiards.
He said his father [Efren, popularly known as The Magician] would sometimes teach him how to improve his skills.
Aron Bagang of Barangay Agapito del Rosario, who lost to Pineda in the semifinals, bagged the 4th place.
GUEST OF HONOR
The Magician earlier graced the opening of the “2011 Palarong Panglungsod 9-ball Challenge” on Saturday together with Mayor Edgardo D. Pamintuan, Vice Mayor Vicky Vega-Cabigting and other local officials here.
During the exhibition, The Magician was cheered by hundreds of players after successfully hitting a good shot, a proof that he still weaves his old magic.
For his part, Pamintuan said that through the city’s continuous sports activities like the “Palarong Panglungsod”, “we will be able to discover the best players and those who have the potential to become world champions like Efren ‘Bata’ Reyes.”
He also lauded the management of Marquee mall for sponsoring sports events like billiards, chess and table tennis.
Marquee mall has been the venue of various sports activities in the city organized by the Angeles City Sports Office headed by Rosever Pascua.
