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:
Don King Productions Announces Challenger for Reigning WBC Cruiserweight World Champion Noel Mikaelian
Fri, 27 Mar 202611-0 Brooklyn heavyweight prospect Pryce Taylor developing his skills at Deontay Wilder and Andrii Novytskyi
Fri, 27 Mar 2026IBA welcomes the victory of common sense in the IOC policy on protecting women
Fri, 27 Mar 2026Genetic Testing will be required in Olympic Games
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Fri, 27 Mar 2026“Lucky Boy" Alicaba Ready for Action Friday in Thailand
By Carlos Costa, Thu, 26 Mar 2026WBO & WBA World Champion René “El Chulo” Santiago Hosts Open Media Workout Ahead of April 3 Title Defense in Tokyo
Thu, 26 Mar 2026Former WBA FEDELATIN President Panamanian Aurelio Fiengo passes away
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Thu, 26 Mar 2026The 19th edition of the Kamatyas Rapid Open and Kiddies Chess Tournament on March 28, 2026
By Marlon Bernardino, Thu, 26 Mar 2026WIG-WHAM! MILLER PLANS ‘OLD SCHOOL’ BEATING OF PERO IN LAS VEGAS
Thu, 26 Mar 2026ProBoxTV Bringing a Storm of Flying Leather to Thunder Studios This Saturday, March 28, as Bryan Acosta Collides with Ronny Rios in Crossroads Bantamweight Slugfest
Thu, 26 Mar 2026Vito Mielnicki Jr. Training Camp Quotes
Thu, 26 Mar 2026Remembering Mr. Elorde: Still the Gold Standard
By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, Wed, 25 Mar 2026House of Representatives say yes to the Boxing Revitalization Act and it is now sent to the Senate
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Wed, 25 Mar 2026Ryan ‘The Polish Prince’ Kielczweski To return after 4-year layoff to fight at home on Granite Chin’s ‘Rumble at the Rink II’ card
Wed, 25 Mar 2026Ellaine Summer Abanco wins silver medal on tiebreak
By Marlon Bernardino, Wed, 25 Mar 2026