MAGSISIMULA na ang pinakaaabangang Sharks Billiards Association (SBA) Championship sa Sharks Billiards and Pool Arena saTomas Morato Ave., Quezon City ngayong Sept. 12 .

Inaasahan ni SBA Chief Executive Officer at founder Hadley Mariano na ang first conference ng bagong tatag professional billiards league ay tatawag ng atensyon hindi lamang sa
local billiards circuit, kundi sa bu9ng billiards world.

“The SBA aims to give millions of Filipino billiards enthusiasts the opportunity to hone and showcase their skills and promote the love of the game by ensuring integrity and fairness for professional billiards in the Philippines,” pahayag ni Mariano matapis ang kauna-unahang SBA draft na ginanap sa Quantum Skyview ng Gateway Mall 2 sa Cubao, Quezon City kamakailan
Apat na local teams ay namili ng kani-kanilang mga players para sa unang SBA tournament, na kung saan si Jericho Bañares ay gumawang kasaysayan bilang No. 1 pick overall ng Quezon City Dragons.

“I felt very honored to be included in the team,” saad ni Bañares, na maaalala sa kanyang runner-up kay Ko Pin-yi g Chinese-Taipei sa 2008 World Junior Pool Championship sa Reno, Nevada.

Napili din sa first round sina No. 2 picj Rodrigo Geronimo (Taguig Stallions), No. 3 Oliver Villafuerte (Negros Pillar), at No. 4 Baseth Mocaibat (Manila MSW Mavericks).

Napili din ng Quezon City Dragons sina John Rebong, Denmark Castronuevo, Alexis Ferrer at John Paul Ladao sa naturang draft.

Sinungaban ng Taguig sina Demosthenes Pulpul, Bryant Saguiped, Marc Ejay Cunanan at Michael Quinay.

Napili naman ng Negros sina Albert Espinola, Jonald Galve, Jolo Aspuria at Mark Ryan Hidalgo.

Para sa Manila, nakuha sina Jonas Magpantay, John Albert Refulle, Drahcir Mauricio and Tristan Deocareza.

Dumalo si billiards legend Efren “Bata” Reyes, na itinuturing na “greatest pool player of all time”, sa nasabing SBA draft kasama sina Francisco “Django” Bustamante, Dennis “Robocop” Orcollo, Jeffrey “The Bull” De Luna, Antonio “Nikoy” Lining at Warren “Warrior” Kiamco.

Kabilang din sa mfa naging paauhing pang-dangal sina billiards godfather Perry Mariano, Games and Amusements Board (GAB) Chairman Francisco Rivera Jr. at Professional Sports and Games Division chief Jesucito Garcia.