Magpantay tops 2011 PHL jr billiards tourney

Rising billiards player Jonas Magpantay ruled the 2011 Philippine Junior Billiards Championship held over the weekend at the Star Billiards Center in Quezon City. The 17-year-old Oriental Mindoro-native scored a 9-4 win over fellow youngster Kenneth Arpilleda of Negros Occidental, 18, in the finals. Magpantay’s victory earned him the right of representing the Philippines in the World Pool Association (WPA) World Juniors Championship in Poland on August 31 to September 3. In the battle for third, Bulacan’s Hushley Jusayan also pulled off a 9-4 win opposite Rodlin John Bautista of Quezon City. Organizers cancelled the competition in the girls’ Under-18 division because of an insufficient number of entries. Instead, they decided to stage an exhibition match between 18-year-old Reggie Ann Biagcong of Davao City and Chezka Centeno, 12, of Zamboanga City. Centeno showed unusual skill in beating Biagcong, 9-5. – JVP, GMA News