Editor’s note: The following is a statement issued by JP Fenix, managing director of Raya Sports. It is reprinted here in full.

WE note with regret the announcement that some players will boycott the pool events that Raya Sports is organizing this year and will continue to organize in keeping with its mission for the advancement of Filipino pool. This development will hamper in no way our plans for the year and beyond.

1. Whenever Raya organizes a tournament, we announce who are the players eligible and can apply for entry. We do not issue invitations. We do not force anyone to join. But our experience is that our tournaments — the national championships and the world pool championships — have usually overflowed with participants. If there are some players who don’t want to join these events, that will therefore be their loss, not ours.

The tactic of boycotting events to enforce a demand is a familiar one of Mr. Aristeo Puyat, so we are not surprised. He employed it against the BSCP in many campaigns at the Southeast Asian Games and the Asian Games over the last 20 years, without much success. He is trying to use it now against Raya Sports, with the collusion of a couple of other managers. Obviously, he is envious of our success in staging major international events, whereas his tournaments, like the Negros Open immediately after the 2007 WPC, have been small, poorly organized and criticized by foreign players.

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SUPERMAN almost did it, but Daryl Peach, the “Dazzler” from Blackpool, England, found the Kryptonite he needed to down Filipino Roberto Gomez, 17-15, and win the 2007 World Pool Championship.

Gomez, known internationally as Superman, had already made history as the first qualifier (non-seeded player) to make it all the way to the finals of the World Pool Championship. After coming from behind to level the match at 12 racks apiece, Gomez was flying high and seemed poised to win the championship as he took the next three racks to lead, 15-12.

Peach, however, who has also made history as the first Englishman to ever reach the finals of the World Pool Championship, refused to wilt and made his own comeback, with the predominantly pro-Filipino crowd at the Araneta Coliseum showing their appreciation for his great escapes from Gomez’s safeties and grace under pressure.

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I’VE just tuned in to Studio 23 to catch the 2007 World Pool Championship battle between Filipino Roberto Gomez and England’s Daryl Peach.

This won’t be a blow-by-blow attempt at liveblogging since I was only able to watch the match now, but keep refreshing to get the results of the final racks. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that Gomez will be able to pull this off and make this the second straight year that a Filipino has won the 2007 WPC.

Rack 24

The crowd at the Araneta Coliseum erupts as Gomez, known internationally by the moniker Superman, completes his comeback against England’s Daryl Peach to level the score at 12 racks apiece, making the race-to-17 championship a race-to-5 affair.

Rack 25

After a battle of safeties, Gomez wins the rack to grab the lead, 13-12.

Rack 26

For a moment it looked like Peach would level the match after Gomez handed him a lifeline, but Superman flies high and finishes the rack to extend his lead, 14-12.

Rack 27

The crowd roars its approval as Gomez sinks the 9 ball to make the score 15-12. Gomez is now just two racks away from winning the championship.

Rack 28

Rack 28 proved to be another battle of safeties. The crowd showed its sportsmanship and appreciation for good pool, applauding Peach for his world-class play and grace under pressure as he made seemingly impossible escapes from Gomez’s safeties. Peach eventually won the battle of wills to cut down Gomez’s lead, 13-15.

Rack 29

OK, this is turning into a real nail-biter. Peach is pouring the pressure on as he cuts down Gomez’s lead further, 14-15.

Rack 30

I think I’m going to have a heart attack. You’ve really got to hand it to Peach; it’s tough coming from behind, particularly if you’re playing against the hometown favorite, but he’s a true champion. It’s now 15-all.

Rack 31

Superman gets an opportunity after the 2 ball refuses to sink in the corner pocket after Peach banks it. Peach shakes his head in disbelief. Gomez, however, misses a simple shot while trying to sink the 5 ball to hand an opportunity to Peach. Peach pockets the balls but then ends up dead straight on the 8. Peach sinks the 8 but now finds himself in a horrible position for the 9. He has no choice but to bank, and he goes for it. In doing so hands what looks like a gimme shot to Gomez. Gomez, however, commits another terrible error and misses the 9, handing the rack to Peach. Peach is now on the hill, leading 16-15.

Rack 32

Peach is now breaking for the championship. He’s the first Englishman to ever make it this far in the World Pool Championship, and now he has the chance to win it all. The commentators quip that Peach is taking a long time coming back from the bathroom, but add that they don’t blame him because this is the first time he has ever had to play at this level.

Peach finally breaks. After a battle of safeties, Peach finds himself down to the last five balls for the title. Peach bites his lips as he prepares to sink the 8 ball. Now he’s on the 9 ball.

Peach sinks the 9 ball. He has won the 2007 World Pool Championship.

WHO would have thought we’d end up with this finals match in the 2007 World Pool Championship?

The host country’s hopes of winning the crown remain alive as the last Filipino bet standing, Robert Gomez, takes on England’s Daryl Peach this Sunday.

Let’s keep our fingers crossed

DANG, both defending champ Ronnie Alcano and Efren “Bata” Reyes have been eliminated from the 2007 World Pool Championship.

I’m still stunned. Do you hear that sound? It’s the sound of Filipino hearts breaking all over the Philippines and around the world.

Who do you think will bring home the prize this year?

Want to watch the live pay-per-view streaming video? Go to the Raya Streaming Video page.

WE’VE launched the Hey, Joe INQUIRER.net blog of author and sports columnist Ted Lerner, who will be covering the 2007 World Pool Championship and writing feature stories on pool and the Filipino passion for this sport.

We’ve also just launched the 2007 World Pool Championship Special Site, so keep visiting it for the latest updates.

Here’s an excerpt from Ted’s first entry:

The venue for the tournament has been changed from the intimate Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) to the legendary Araneta Coliseum, the very building where Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier battled in their classic third encounter back in 1975. That fact alone should tell you that this year’s WPC is poised for fireworks. To this day, “The Thrilla in Manila” is still considered one of the greatest heavyweight fights in the history of the sweet science.

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CHECK out this teaser video of the 2007 World Pool Championship that will be held at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City, Philippines from Nov. 3-11, 2007.

Video provided by Raya Sports, a partner of INQUIRER.net.

By Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines–Ronnie Alcano missed a chance to make pool history Saturday.

Shane Van Boening took the measure of the dual world champion Alcano for the second time in as many days, 13-10, and bagged the 32nd US Open crown Saturday night in Chesapeake, Virginia.

The loss prevented the 34-year-old Alcano from becoming the first player to reign supreme in the World Pool Championship, World 8-Ball Championship and US Open at the same time.

The 24-year-old Van Boening, who sent Alcano to the losers’ bracket Friday, grabbed $50,000 and a spot on Team USA in the Mosconi Cup. Alcano settled for $25,000.

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By Marlon Bernardino
Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines–Filipino Ronato Alcano stayed on course for a historic achievement in the 32nd US Open at the Chesapeake Convention Center in Chesapeake, Virginia, late Friday.

Unshaken by a loss in his previous outing, Alcano raced to a 10-0 lead and went on to post an 11-3 victory over Louis Ulrich, moving within three wins of becoming the first player ever to reign in the World Pool Championship, World 8-Ball Championship and US Open at the same time.

He won the world 9-ball title last year and the world 8-ball crown early this year.

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By Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines–Filipino Lee Vann Corteza subdued American Louie Ulrich, 13-7, in the finals to pocket the top prize of $8,000 (about P368,000) Monday in the IX Turning Stone 9-Ball Tournament at the Turning Stone and Casino in Verona, New York.

The 28-year-old Corteza, top gun of Negros Billiard Stable, cruised to a 12-2 lead, but a scratch on the break let Ulrich back.

Ulrich won five straight racks to narrow the gap at 12-7. Ulrich’s break came up dry, however, and Corteza ran the last rack for the title.

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