PH pool players having problems securing Japanese visas
By Marlon Bernardino
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 10 Aug 2024
Manila—Some of the country's Filipino pool players cannot enter Japan through the regular procedures for the Japan Open, a traditional international billiards tournament. This was revealed by Hideki Saito, a Japanese professional pool tournament promoter who runs a billiard hall in the Philippines, on Saturday.
"The Japan Professional Pocket Billiards Association (JPBA) in Japan does not prepare documents that meet the requirements of Japan. Why? There is nothing I can do as a foreigner. All the problems are within Japan," said Saito through his interpreter, Roel Esquillo, a Filipino International Billiard Champion.
"A two-week short-term entertainment visa is fine for us. We come to Japan a few days before the Japan Open to get in shape, practice, and become champions," he added.
The Filipino pool players scheduled to participate in the Japan Open, to be held on September 14-16, 2024, in Tokyo, Japan, are Antonio "Nickoy" Lining, Rodrigo "Edgie Marilao" Geronimo, Patrick Gonzales, Jayson Marabi, Romsel Aloro, John Paul Ortega, Rommel Santos, and the lady pool players Denden Santos and Sofia Santos.
Esquillo, on the other hand, said Japanese Masaki Okada, a regional director of the JPBA who is in charge of promoting billiards in Tokyo, Kanagawa, Saitama, and Chiba, needs to take action by communicating with the Japanese Immigration in Tokyo to secure a certificate of eligibility for the Filipino players, which will then be sent to the Japanese Embassy in Manila to secure an entertainment visa.
"Mr. Hideki Saito transferred 44,000 yen and 88,000 yen for each player to the JPBA Kanto Branch account and received an invitation letter," said Esquillo, who has won numerous billiard tournaments in Japan.
"However, we need an entertainment visa. The organizer of the Japan Open, Japanese Masaki Okada, needed to help us, but he didn't take action on this matter," said Esquillo.
"If this matter is not resolved, it will happen again in future tournaments, like the All Japan Championships," he added.
Saito and Esquillo are scheduled to visit the Games and Amusements Board office in Makati on Monday.
It should be recalled that Filipino Dennis Orcollo settled for second place to eventual champion Japanese Tomoya Lima in the 2023 Japan Open. Orcollo was down 7-2 but managed to stage a comeback; however, he came up short. The final score was 8-6 in favor of Lima.
Prior to this match, there were 15 Japanese and 15 Filipinos who had won the Japan Open. Lima became the 16th Japanese to win this Open, breaking the deadlock with the Philippines. —Marlon Bernardino—
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Marlon Bernardino.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
The Hard Road of Young Nationalista
By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, Thu, 03 Apr 20255 Pinoy boxers to fight in Japan
By Lito delos Reyes, Thu, 03 Apr 2025Transatlantic Clash II - "Battle at the Bridge"
Thu, 03 Apr 2025Marco “El Tiburón” Romero moving up to scheduled 6-round bout next
Thu, 03 Apr 2025Filipino chess phenom wins at Spring Blitz Chess Championship in Dubai
By Marlon Bernardino, Thu, 03 Apr 2025Team USA Advances Two More Boxers to Medal Rounds at World Boxing Cup: Brazil 2025
Thu, 03 Apr 2025IM Bagamasbad eyes GM title in Australian Chess Circuit
By Marlon Bernardino, Thu, 03 Apr 2025SAMPSON BOXING SIGNS TOP UNDEFEATED LIGHT FLYWEIGHT CONTENDER ERICK BADILLO TO CO-PROMOTIONAL CONTRACT
Thu, 03 Apr 2025TURKISH KNOCKOUT ARTIST ELIF NUR TURHAN PENS PROMOTIONAL DEAL WITH MATCHROOM
Thu, 03 Apr 2025The Past Week in Action 31 March 2025: Norman Stops Cuevas in 3; Mayer Outpoints Ryan; Zepeda Edges Farmer; Collazo Stops Cano; Yabuki KOs Ayala
By Eric Armit, Wed, 02 Apr 2025Wild and Wooly Wind-up Seen in West Top 3-6
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Wed, 02 Apr 2025Rise of the Samurai: Inoue vs Nakatani in 2026
By Carlos Costa, Wed, 02 Apr 2025Undefeated super middleweight prospect Tommy Hyde a true Irish Road Warrior In Australia for April 11th fight
Wed, 02 Apr 2025Melvin the Avenger
By Joaquin Henson, Wed, 02 Apr 2025WORLD-RANKED LIGHTWEIGHT ARMANDO MARTINEZ RABI TO FACE ALBERTO GUEVARA IN MAIN EVENT OF FISTS OF FURY 6
Wed, 02 Apr 2025