
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:
“Thrilla” card takes shape
By Joaquin Henson, Thu, 18 Sep 2025Wishing Best to Jayson Vayson in his World Title Challenge!
By Carlos Costa, Thu, 18 Sep 2025Vayson aims to make history
By Joaquin Henson, Thu, 18 Sep 2025KAIPO GALLEGOS TRAINING CAMP NOTES
Thu, 18 Sep 2025Day Two of 2025 USA Boxing National Open Delivers 108 Action-Packed Bouts in Tulsa
Thu, 18 Sep 2025Bryce Mills Boxes James Bernadin At del Lago Resort & Casino On Thursday, Oct. 30, in Waterloo, NY
Thu, 18 Sep 2025Caribbean Clash Returns Friday, November 7th at Gulfstream Park Casino in Hallandale, Florida
Thu, 18 Sep 2025VM Sotto, City Council Recognize GM Joey Antonio
By Marlon Bernardino, Thu, 18 Sep 2025Larida is Southern Coach of the Year
By Lito delos Reyes, Thu, 18 Sep 2025D.C. Knockout Artist Scooter Davis Signs Promotional Contract with Top Rank
Thu, 18 Sep 2025THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 15 SEPTEMBER 2025: Crawford Snatches Canelo's Undisputed Crown at 168 Lbs; Inoue Defeats Akhmadliev to Retain 4 Superbantam Belts; Crocker Outpoints Donovan
By Eric Armit, Wed, 17 Sep 2025TICKET NEWS: EUBANK JR-BENN II ON SALE FROM THIS WEDNESDAY
Wed, 17 Sep 2025“Night of Champions” Returns to Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando on September 19
Wed, 17 Sep 2025Canelo-Crawford: The Consolidation of Boxing’s New Commercial Empire
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Wed, 17 Sep 2025A New Era for Boxing: Canelo vs. Crawford Shatters Global Viewership Records on Netflix
By Dong Secuya, Wed, 17 Sep 2025