The Philippines Open kicks off its inaugural run with a star-studded lineup, featuring some of the world’s best cue artists and Filipino legends like Efren “Bata” Reyes and Francisco “Django” Bustamante, alongside the country’s brightest local talents.
One of the players to watch was 16-year-old internet sensation Jaybee Sucal from Sarangani. The young hustler turned heads with his exciting play in his debut on the international stage, pulling off a thrilling 10-9 victory over fellow Filipino Paul John Ortega in the opening round. Sucal looked poised for an easy finish after racing to a 9-5 lead, but Ortega fought back to force a nail-biting hill-hill decider where the rising star stayed focused and sealed the win.
But in his next match, Sucal faced a tough challenge right away, drawing world No. 13 David Alcaide in the Round of 64. The Spaniard is not only a battle-tested veteran but also a highly decorated player, a two-time Pool Masters champion and three-time World Championship semifinalist.
It was a back-and-forth battle, with Alcaide reaching the hill first at 9-6, but Sucal punched back to force a hill-to-hill. Sucal also had the golden chance to complete the upset. He sank the 6 and 7 balls with ease but came up short on his position for the 8, missing on the tough shot. Alcaide answered with a safe shot, hiding the 8 ball behind the 9. Sucal attempted a risky jump shot but fouled, forcing him to concede the game to the veteran Spaniard.
Despite the heartbreaking loss, Sucal showed plenty of promise in his debut, pushing a world-class opponent to a nerve-wracking finish. The young hustler is undoubtedly full of potential, but at just 16 years old, he still lacks the composure and experience needed to thrive on such a big stage. He also has room to improve his attitude. While he showed some sportsmanship, his emotions still got the better of him in his last match — something he’ll need to work on as he grows into a true professional.
With the win, David Alcaide advanced to face Paul John Ladao, winning 10–5. He now moves on to the Round of 16, where he will square off against another Filipino in Michael Baoanan.
The Philippines Open has been full of surprises so far, with current world No. 1 Fedor Gorst, falling to a 61 year old Django Bustamante, while current World Champion Carlo Biado and world No. 4 Johann Chua have also been eliminated from the tournament.
