NOW, they’re playing.

Media men from various news organizations held friendly billiard competition can be considered one of the great pastimes that bring pleasure, camaraderie, and relief from boredom.

It was the second media 9-ball billiard competition in the past five years, held at Goodshot Billiards and Cafe in Borol 1st, Balagtas, Bulacan last Friday, December 6, 2024.

In almost two hours of tight nine-ball championships, the victorious were Orlan Mauricio of Manila Standard and Jun Borlongan of Abante bags Media 9-ball tilts.

The elder Mauricio and Borlongan both clinched the title in the Class A and Class B categories in the 2nd Centro News Invitational Media 9-ball Championship held at Goodshot Billiards and Cafe in Borol 1st, Balagtas, Bulacan on Friday, December 6, 2024.

In the Class A category, Mauricio was crowned champion after defeating Sam Nielsen of DZBB-GMA 7 with a score of 5-4 in a Race to 5 double knockout game. Twice to beat advantage for Mauricio after dominating the winner’s bracket.

Billiard organizer Erick Silverio, CEO of Centro Online News, said everyone was very excited about this game after so many years because of the situation in the previous pandemic. “Here they are now and reunited.”

As journalists, they are not only passionate about writing but also through sports, said Silverio, a Manila Times correspondent.

“Sa mga ganitong aktibidad, tayo ay nagkikita at nagkakasundo sa kabila ng mga hamon ng buhay sa industriya ng pamamahayag na ating ginagalawan,” he said.

Borlongan in the Class B category won the championship title after defeating Allan Casipit of UnliNews Online with a score of 5-4 also of the same twice to beat advantage in favor of Borlongan in a Race to 5 battle.

Both Mauricio and Borlongan pocketed P10,000 as champions and P5,000 each to Nielsen and Casipit as 1st runner-up.

Meanwhile, in the Doubles Category, Erick Silverio of Manila Times and Maverick Marcelo of D-Hub Radio 98.3FM won the championship title after defeating Oliver Mauricio of Metro News and Gina Borlongan of D’ News Watcher in a Race to 3 battle with a score of 3-2.

Also winners for 2nd runner-up were Oliver Mauricio in Class A, Rannel Benedictos of GMA-7 in Class B, while in the Doubles category 2nd runner-up were Eloisa Silverio of Saksi Ngayon and Sam Nielsen of DZBB.

In the past five years, five of the former participants have passed away and were given tribute before the start of the match.

Centro News Online and a local print based in Bulacan organized the competition. Centro News thanked the participating journalists from print, TV, and radio broadcasts, online news as well as the sponsors for the successful tournament.