Players promise exciting QC-RP vs World Villards showdown

MANILA, Nov. 29 (PNA) – Expect an exciting billiards face-off as the world’s brightest pool stars expressed readiness to face the top Filipino cue artists in the much-anticipated Q.C. Invasion: Quezon City-Philippines vs the World Grand VILLARDS Showdown on Dec. 2-4 at the posh Trinoma Mall in Quezon City.

”It’s great to be here in the Philippines. We are ready for a big challenge against your best players,” said Mika Immomen of Finland during Friday’s press conference at the Quezon City Hall.

”It’s a showdown of the best of the best and we will show you why the Europeans were recently winning big tournaments,” said Thorsten Hohmann of Germany.

”Let’s get it on. We will make this tournament enjoyable and entertaining for the fans,” American Rodney Morris, the World’s team captain, declared.

The Filipino players accepted the challenge with Southeast Asian Games gold medalist Lee Van Corteza vowing to play their best against their visiting opponents.

”They are the world’s best but we will also show why we are the best of the Philippines," Corteza said.

Reigning world No. Dennis Orcollo, for his part, said “we will do our best” even as Warren Kiamco admitted “it’s tough to play against these guys who are among the best in the world.”

Other members of the QC-RP team are former world champions Efren ‘Bata’ Reyes, Alex Pagulayan and Ronnie Alcano along with Francisco “Django” Bustamante and Roberto Gomez.

Completing the eight players of the World’s team include Wu Chia-ching and Yang Ching-shun of Chinese-Taipei, Charlie Williams of the United States, Raj Hundal of England and Fu Jianbo of China.

”We need to support billiards because this sports is where Filipinos can really excel throughout the world,” said Senator Manny Villar, the godfather of billiards in the country and co-sponsor of the Q.C. Invasion together with the Quezon City government led by Mayor Sonny Belmonte.

“We are very proud and honored to host this exciting showdown between the best Filipino billiards players and their topnotch foreign counterparts,” said Quezon City Council Majority Floor Leader Ariel Inton, the event’s chief proponent.

Mayor Belmonte along with other Quezon City councilors and Billiards Managers and Atty. Vic Rodriguez, president of the Players Association of the Philippines (BMPAP) which will run the tournament.

A cash prize of US$ 40,000 (P2 million) awaits the winning team and $ 20,000 for the losing group in this competition sponsored by Camella Communities and supported by the BMPAP and the Quezon City Tourism Council with Solar Sports, RPN-9, the Philippine Star and BusinessMirror as media partners.