Ronel Nalaunan of Kalibo, Aklan romped off with P350,000 in cash to win the 2nd Mayor Albee Benitez 10-ball billiard tournament, besting a field of 122 in the 5-day elimination round that ended Thursday at SM City Bacolod, a press release from the Bacolod Yuhum Foundation said.
Nalaunan faced off in the race to 9 final game against Bonnie Pentacasi of Bohol, with a score of 9-7, leaving Pentacasi holding the runner-up bag with a P100,000 cash prize.
In the Best of 4 elimination round, Nalaunan beat Edwin Gamas of Pasig City while Pentacasi eliminated Meynard Tipawan of Bago City.
Gamas and Tipawan went home with P50,000 in cash prize after coming in 3rd place.
Bacolod Councilor Pao Sy awarded the winners of the tournament.
Earlier in the afternoon, a huge crowd came to witness the match between Bacolod Mayor Albee Benitez against billiard champ, Efren “Bata” Reyes, which the latter won.
Both were then paired together to play doubles against another big name in the billiards world, Django Bustamante, who played with Councilor Vladimir Gonzales. Bustamante and Gonzales won the doubles game.*
