Coronel, Milang advanced to the final 16
By Marlon Bernardino
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 02 Mar 2025
Joseph Coronel and Alex Milang punched their respective tickets to the Battle of the Champion's round of 16 held at The Pool Hall Caloocan or much known Saito Billiard Hall in Caloocan City.
Coronel and Milang wound up 1st and 2nd placers in the qualifying round hosted by International Professional Billiard Promoter Japanese Hideki Saito and Japan Champion Filipino Roel Esquillo.
Coronel and Milang, both will lead other qualifiers next month that includes John Paul Uy, Manny Cadiz, Ross Esquillo, Carl Santos, Spiro Ketch Ballete, Mark Andrei Treyes, Ryam Jay Cogling , Charles Calestino and Josh Matig-A.
"The secret of the strength of the Philippines, which leads the world of billiards, is the harsh law of the jungle in the Philippines. Only the elite who survive will dominate the country and take off to the world," said Saito, Owner and CEO at The Pool Hall Caloocan.
"However, the blossoming of billiards talent does not happen to all players at an early stage. Not everyone can become a special player as a teenager. There are many examples of players who grow slowly and succeed over time in other sports," he added.
"I have been observing the world of billiards in the Philippines for the past 10 years. I have seen many young players give up before they can show their talent. Then their billiards dreams are shattered and they disappear from the billiards hall. I now have my own billiards hall in Manila. So I am embodying the conclusions I have drawn from observing the world of billiards in the Philippines and running them as events.
"My conclusion was to protect the beginner class, D-minus, with a moratorium. They should not be preyed on by intermediate players. Beginners should gain many successful experiences in beginner-only areas, slowly improve their skills, and grow into intermediate players at their own pace. It is okay to know the harshness of the survival of the fittest after you become an intermediate player."
"This is my policy. And the Sunday Winner Takes All D-minus is a real implementation of this. This event ignores profitability. There is a maximum of 16 slots, but I always refuse entries from unknown players from other regions. As an event organizer, I would really like to aim for full entries, but I always prioritize protecting the moratorium of D-minus. You can't put wolves in the rabbit's cage.
As a result, there was a week when a 7-year-old and a 9-year-old child won the championship. Teenagers also challenge themselves every week to become champions.
"And the oldest player to enter is an 81-year-old player. The moratorium I created gives even older players the joy of winning, and it is also the driving force behind enjoying billiards for a lifetime.
"This is a very time-consuming action. It takes a long time for a person to grow. TPH - SAITO BILLIARD HALL is slowly growing with them, and we are hoping to expand our unique community, which is unique in the billiards industry in the Philippines.
"We are still like rabbits that can be easily hunted, but we are nurturing the dragon of 10 years from now. And this dragon will one day take the world by storm as a new type of Filipino player. I am waiting in Caloocan City for that day to come," last word of Saito.-Marlon Bernardino-
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Marlon Bernardino.
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