Pool players are up in arms again, this time over the Billiards and Snooker Congress of the Philippines ' arbitrary choice of the country's representatives to the coming 2008 Guinness 9-Ball Tour.

A press release from the Billiards Managers and Players Association said the players are asking why the BSCP resorted to the distasteful process of handpicking Marlon Manalo, Antonio Gabica and Jeff de Luna instead of holding, ideally, a qualifying tournament for the three slots it was allotted in this six-leg Asian series.

The BMPAP represents an overwhelming majority of professional Filipino cue artists, including almost all of the country's bests. It is actually the only billiards group recognized by the Games and Amusements Board.

Although the organizers of the tour have not yet formally announced the names of players who will see action in this year's inaugural stage slated from February 29 to March 2 in Taipei , it has been reported that the BSCP has chosen Manalo, Gabica and De Luna to fill the slots given to it. BSCP president Ernesto Fajardo is being quoted in the report.

BMPAP spokesperson Reyes pointed out that the current WPA ranking, which saw Manalo, Gabica and De Luna trailing many Filipino players, including world no.1 Dennis Orcollo, no.3 Ronnie Alcano, no.6 Joven Bustamante, no.11 Francisco “Django” Bustamante, no.13 Roberto Gomez, no.28 Warren Kiamco, no.32 Efren “Bata” Reyes and even the unheralded Elvis Calasang, who is at no.34.

Manalo is at no.36, while De Luna is at no.56 and Gabica is 119th.*

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