Upcoming world class billiard player

By Jesus A. Garcia Jr.

I RARELY play billiards (internationally called pool) because it’s not a physical sport. Similar to chess, it is more of a mental game. Every time I play this game, I don’t sweat and that doesn’t take away the cholesterol in my overweight body. But I do love to watch the game on television, especially if it’s a world or Asian championship. And of course, I always root for our countrymates and pray for their victory, more so if there is a Pangasinense in the tiff, like in the just concluded World 10-Ball Championship held at the World Trade Center in Pasay City.

One of our kabaleyans passed the qualifying tilt topped by Filipino and world-rated cue artist Lee Van Corteza. A young guy named Jomar de Ocampo from Alaminos City entered the round of 64 out of 132 to battle against the best in the world. In the next round he subdued Vietnamese Nguyen Anh Tuan to enter the list of 32 and trounced Jeong Young Hwa of Korea to pierce inside the ‘sweet sixteen’. He finally succumbed to compatriot Antonio Lining who eventually landed third. Mika Immonen of Finland captured the championship, routing Corteza, 11-6, to pocket the $60,000 top prize.

“We are proud of him,” said Alaminos City Vice Mayor Teofilo Humilde Jr.

“At 22 years old, he’s still very young in this kind of sport. He still lacks international experience and sometimes he easily gets tense when playing especially when the betting is high. But I believe he has a lot of room for improvement and next time I know he will do better,” Humilde added.

Humilde also said that Jomar is very popular in the city and is being tutored by his father Pancho, also an expert of the game.

Despite losing to Lining and unable to land in the Top 8, Jomar is a very happy man. He said aside from gaining a big experience, the $4,000 he bagged in the tournament would be a huge relief for his parents who run an eight-table pool parlor in their place in barangay Magsaysay.

“Some of my earnings in the tourney will go to my parents,” said Jomar who used a locally-made cue stick worth P10,000. He said he used to carry a sophisticated Mezz Cue stick worth at least P30,000 but had to sell it when he faced financial constraints. “Kung nakapasok sana ako sa Top 8 ay bibili ulit sana ako pero sa ngayon ay tama muna itong gamit  ko,” Jomar said.

Carry on with your talent, Jomar. The Pangasinenses are proud of you. I’m one of your new avid fans.

* * * *

Congrats to the San Carlos City delegation for defending their title as the overall champion in this year’s Region 1 Private School Athletic Association (PRISAA) Games held on November 27-30 at the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center in Lingayen. They collected 88 gold medals while Dagupan City got 59 golds to land second and Laoag City bringing home 23 golds for third place.

Kudos also to the Dagupan City basketball team for beating arch enemy Urdaneta City by 20 points, 98-78. I watched that hostility where the defending titlists Dagupeños dominated all the four quarters of the match, 21-18, 44-39, 73-57 and 98-78.

According to Region 1 PRISAA officials Seato Gonimil and Phil Celi, the PRISAA National Games 2010 which was supposed to be hosted by Tacloban, Leyte early next year will be moved either in Manila, Tarlac City or San Fernando City, Pampanga. Negotiations are in progress.

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