Sharks Billiards Association

Last updated

Sharks Billiards Association
Most recent season or competition:
2025 SBA season
Sharks Billiards Association logo.png
Sport Nine-ball
FoundedMay 6, 2024;14 months ago (2024-05-06)
First season2024
COO Hadley Mariano
CommissionerHadley Mariano
No. of teams5
Country Philippines
Headquarters Tomas Morato Avenue, Quezon City
Most recent
champion(s)
Taguig Stallions
(1st title)
Most titlesTaguig Stallions
(1 title)
Broadcaster(s) PTV

The Sharks Billiards Association (SBA) is a professional nine-ball league in the Philippines consisting of five teams.

Contents

The league's games are played at Sharks Arena, an indoor venue located at Tomas Morato Avenue in Quezon City.

History

As the Sharks Billiard League

The Sharks Billiards Association was originally established in Quezon City as the Sharks Billiards League (SBL) by Hadley Mariano in partnership with the Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines (BMPAP). It was founded in November 2022 by billiards promoter Perry Mariano and sports patrons Putch Puyat, Isaac Belmonte and Jonathan Sy of BMPAP, and new officials Mon Aguirre, Larry Lim, Hadley Mariano, Jojo Sanchez, and Eric Salud. [1]

With United Kingdom-based Matchroom, the SBL organized the 2023 Sharks International Open at the Great White Arena in Quezon City. It was won by Taiwanese player Ko Ping-chung. [2] [3]

Foundation of a professional league

On May 6, 2024, the league was renamed the Sharks Billiards Association (SBA). It also now accredited by the Games and Amusements Board. Sports columnist Chino Trinidad was the league's inaugural commissioner until his death on July 13, 2024. [4] [5] [6] [7]

On August 18, 2024, the league had its inaugural draft at Gateway Mall in Quezon City. Jericho Bañares was selected by the Quezon City Dragons with the first pick. [8] The inaugural champions are the Taguig Stallions who won three of their five games against Manila MSW Mavericks in the finals series. [9]

In April 2025, the SBA secured a partnership with People's Television Network as they launch the 2025 Philippine Open. [10] [11]

The 2025 draft is scheduled to take place on July 29, 2025 and the second season proper in September 2025. [12]

Teams

TeamLocalityJoined
Makati Titans Makati 2025
Manila MSW Mavericks Manila 2024
Negros Occidental Pillars Negros Occidental 2024
Quezon City Dragons Quezon City 2024
Taguig Stallions Taguig 2024

Format

Regular season

Game structure

Similar format to the Mosconi Cup, each game consists of five nine-ball matches spread across a five-day period, each with a different format. [8]

Sharking

During the games, players may trash talk their opponents, known as "sharking", before the shooter gets in a shooting stance. [8]

Championships

Main Season
SeasonChampionScoreRunner-upRef.
1 2024 Taguig Stallions3–2Manila MSW Mavericks [9]
Philippine Open
SeasonChampionScoreRunner-upRef.
1 2025 Anton Raga 13–6Jerico Bañares [13]

Commissioners

References

  1. Ulanday, John Bryan (December 29, 2022). "Sharks out to reignite Philippine billiards". The Philippine Star . Retrieved April 15, 2025.
  2. "How the Sharks International Open is trying to jump start Philippine pool". ESPN.com . July 24, 2023. Retrieved April 15, 2025.
  3. Payo, Jasmine (August 12, 2023). "Sharks 9-ball looks to revive local pool scene". Rappler . Archived from the original on August 13, 2023. Retrieved April 15, 2025.
  4. "Sharks Billiards Association to 'revive' pool action in PHL". BusinessWorld . May 7, 2024. Retrieved April 15, 2025.
  5. "Sharks Announces New Commissioner And Game Format". Journal Online. May 7, 2024. Retrieved April 15, 2025.
  6. "Sharks Billiards Association is 1st-ever pro pool league in Philippines". The Philippine Star . May 14, 2024. Retrieved April 15, 2025.
  7. Agcaoili, Lance (July 14, 2024). "Chino Trinidad, veteran sports journalist, dies at 56". Philippine Daily Inquirer . Retrieved April 15, 2025.
  8. 1 2 3 Guerrero, Bob (August 25, 2024). "Can Sharks Billiards Make Team Pool Work?". The Game. One Mega Group Inc.
  9. 1 2 "Taguig Stallions are inaugural Sharks Billiards champs". ABS-CBN News . December 21, 2024. Retrieved April 15, 2025.
  10. "SBA Philippine Billiards Open launched". The Manila Times . April 15, 2025. Retrieved April 15, 2025.
  11. Villar, Joey (April 14, 2025). "Billiards body wants to be NBA of cue sports". The Philippine Star . Retrieved April 15, 2025.
  12. "Bigger, better Sharks Billiards Association season looms". The Philippine Star. June 17, 2025. Retrieved June 19, 2025.
  13. Malanum, Jean (April 28, 2025). "Cebu pride Raga rules SBA PH Open". Philippine News Agency . Retrieved April 28, 2025.