2005 Philippine Billiard Players Ranking

Before 2006 starts heating up with cue stick action. Let's review how Filipino player's did last year by ranking them based on how the World Pool-Billiard Association (WPA) ranked them. Although, most of us would agree that the money list is the most important list, the WPA ranking gives us an objective view on the quite complex world of pool, since the Philippine's has yet to come up of a way of ranking it's world-class billiard players. Here's how the list went...

1. Alex "The Lion" Pagulayan
The Filipino-Canadian's best achievement in 2005 was to win the 2005 US Open. Also, he topped the Derby City Classic Ring 10-Ball and the SML Entertainment 9-Ball Championship. He finished 12th in the 2005 WPA rankings inspite ending up 11th in the 2005 Players Money List.

2. "Marvelous" Marlon Manalo
Considered as the future of Filipino billiards, the former snooker player proved his worth by winning the very lucrative 2005 Texas Hold Em Billiards, and earned himself a whopping $100,000. He also became the champion of the 2005 Reno Open. He finished 16th in the 2005 WPA rankings inspite ending up 3rd in the 2005 Players Money List.

3. Francisco "Django" Bustamante
The future Hall of Famer had a rough year. He topped plenty of minor competitions but failed to to finish strong on the majors. He landed 1st place in the Weert Open 10-Ball Ring Game, the All Filipino Billiards Open, the 2005 Masters 9-Ball Championship and the Joss NE 9-Ball Tour Finale. His biggest pay day in 2005 was when he finished 3rd in the IPT King of the Hill 8-Ball Shoot Out and earned $70,000. He finished 18th in the 2005 WPA rankings inspite ending up 4th in the 2005 Players Money List.

4. "The Magician" Efren 'Bata' Reyes
It was not the best year for this Hall of Famer in terms of tournaments won. He indeed won several tournaments like the Derby City Classic Master of the Table (where he ruled the Derby City Classic Bank Division, Derby City Classic One Pocket and the Derby City Classic 9-Ball), 2005 Japan Open and the San Miguel Asian 9-Ball Tour, Jakarta Stop. No easy tournaments to win, but much was expected from the one considered by many as the best ever player to ever play the game. He played very poorly in the 2005 World Pool Championship. But just when everyone already counted him out, he won the tournament that really mattered. He defeated fellow Hall of Famer Mike Sigel to win the IPT King of the Hill 8-Ball Shoot Out and was able to take home a whopping $200,000. He finished 22nd in the 2005 WPA rankings inspite ending up 1st in the 2005 Players Money List.

5. Rodolfo "Boy Samson" Luat
* Finished 2nd in the 2005 Japan Open.
* Finished 48th in the 2005 WPA rankings.

6. Dennis Orcullo
* Finished 59th in the 2005 WPA rankings.

7. Ramil "Bebeng" Gallego
* Finished 67th in the 2005 WPA rankings.

8. Santos Sambajon
The California-based Filipino won the Joss NE 9-Ball Tour, Rhode Island Stop, but biggest win would be topping the Skins Billiard Championship where he took home $73,500.00. He finished 70th in the 2005 WPA rankings inspite ending up 8th in the 2005 Players Money List.

9. Gandy "Yang Yang" Valle
Yang Yang defeated, World 9-Ball Champ, Chia-Ching Wu to win the San Miguel Asian 9-Ball Tour, Singapore Stop. He finished 73rd in the 2005 WPA rankings.

10. Antonio "Nikoy" Lining
* Finished 3rd in the San Miguel Asian 9-Ball Tour, Manila Stop.
* Finished 91st in the 2005 WPA rankings.