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:
Bam Rodriguez vs Antonio Vargas & Martinez vs Cardenas Preview and Picks
By Chris Carlson, Sat, 13 Jun 2026Popper vs. Seldon Jr. Official Weights for June 13 in Atlantic City
Sat, 13 Jun 2026GLENDALE, AZ FIGHT WEEK: OFFICIAL WEIGH-IN RESULTS FOR BAM VS VARGAS – LIVE ON DAZN
Sat, 13 Jun 2026Undefeated Middleweight Amir Anderson Meets Jonas Sylvain in Battle of Unbeatens on DAZN
Sat, 13 Jun 2026Munsayac, Celones get FMA award
By Lito delos Reyes, Sat, 13 Jun 2026Weigh-In Results for Sanman 101: Laurente Eyes Home Victory
Fri, 12 Jun 2026Arleah Cassandra Sapuan of Valencia, Negros finishes ninth in Las Vegas chess
By Marlon Bernardino, Fri, 12 Jun 2026EVERY WORD FROM THE FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE AHEAD OF BAM VS. VARGAS IN GLENDALE, ARIZONA
Fri, 12 Jun 2026IBA President warns Olympic movement will fade unless IOC rewards athletes and reforms now
Fri, 12 Jun 20262026 NBA Finals: Knicks Rally from 29 Points Down to Steal Game 4 from Spurs 107-106
By Reylan Loberternos, Thu, 11 Jun 2026VARGAS: BEATING BAM MAKES ME ‘THE MAN’
Thu, 11 Jun 2026Pound-for-Pound Puerto Rican Champion Oscar “El Pupilo” Collazo Hosts Media Workout Ahead of June 20 Defense Against Philippines’ Joey Canoy
Thu, 11 Jun 2026Sanman 101 boxing event to push through in General Santos
By Lito delos Reyes, Thu, 11 Jun 2026Panamanian female champ star Nataly Delgado ready to beat Artiga for WBA title in Orlando, Florida
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Thu, 11 Jun 2026Pedro Veitia Eager to Separate Himself in Battle of Unbeaten Middleweight Prospects June 13 in Orlando
Thu, 11 Jun 2026