Raya Sports and Events
Raya Sports & Events is the Philippine
organizing group and franchise holder of
the WPA World Ten Ball Championship
(WTBC), which it formally launched in
Manila on September 29 to October 5,
2008. It was also the organizer of the
2006 and 2007 World Pool
Championships in Manila.
organizing group and franchise holder of
the WPA World Ten Ball Championship
(WTBC), which it formally launched in
Manila on September 29 to October 5,
2008. It was also the organizer of the
2006 and 2007 World Pool
Championships in Manila.
Raya is a division of Prism Strategic
Communications, a company engaged in
communications management, events
management and promotions, policy
research and publishing. The division
manages and promotes sports, business
and entertainment events in the
Philippines and the Asia-Pacific region.
Communications, a company engaged in
communications management, events
management and promotions, policy
research and publishing. The division
manages and promotes sports, business
and entertainment events in the
Philippines and the Asia-Pacific region.
Since its establishment in January 2006, the Raya division has led the way in
the Philippines in mounting major international and national pool tournaments
in various parts of the country.
In three years of operations, Raya has staged three world pool
championships, two international pool tournaments, three national men’s
pool championships, 3 national women’s championships, and two national
juniors’ championships. These events have contributed greatly to the huge
popularity of pool throughout the Philippines, and to the country’s earning the
accolade from Billiards Digest as “the new epicenter of pool,” and from the
World Pool-Billiard Association as “the Mecca of pool.”
the Philippines in mounting major international and national pool tournaments
in various parts of the country.
In three years of operations, Raya has staged three world pool
championships, two international pool tournaments, three national men’s
pool championships, 3 national women’s championships, and two national
juniors’ championships. These events have contributed greatly to the huge
popularity of pool throughout the Philippines, and to the country’s earning the
accolade from Billiards Digest as “the new epicenter of pool,” and from the
World Pool-Billiard Association as “the Mecca of pool.”
Historic Firsts
On November 4-12, 2006, Raya brought the WPA World Pool Championship
for the first time to the Philippines.The event was held at the Philippine
International Convention Center. And it served as just
the beginning of the company’s engagement in world pool championship
events.
In December 2007, following two successful stagings of the WPC, Raya won
the franchise and sanction of the WPA World Ten Ball Championship (WTBC)
for a period of five years, renewable for an additional three years. It
subsequently staged the inaugural WTBC at the Philippine International
Convention Center on September 29-October 5 – a historic championship
which saw the successful introduction of ten ball on the global stage with 47
countries participating, and the equally historic emergence of top female
players as the equal of male players in top-flight competition.
On November 4-12, 2006, Raya brought the WPA World Pool Championship
for the first time to the Philippines.The event was held at the Philippine
International Convention Center. And it served as just
the beginning of the company’s engagement in world pool championship
events.
In December 2007, following two successful stagings of the WPC, Raya won
the franchise and sanction of the WPA World Ten Ball Championship (WTBC)
for a period of five years, renewable for an additional three years. It
subsequently staged the inaugural WTBC at the Philippine International
Convention Center on September 29-October 5 – a historic championship
which saw the successful introduction of ten ball on the global stage with 47
countries participating, and the equally historic emergence of top female
players as the equal of male players in top-flight competition.
In cooperation with the Billiards & Snooker Congress of the Philippines, Raya
also pioneered in the establishment of annual Philippine championships for
men, women and junior players. Prior to the launching of the national
tournaments in 2006, the country had hitherto not held a single official national
pool championship.
After eight official events (three for men and women, and two for juniors), the
national championships have become a veritable institution in Philippine pool.
And they have served as a major component in the official ranking of Filipino
players in various categories.
Game-changer in Pool Sports
Raya Sports has earned a reputation as a “game-changer” in pool sports
because of the various innovations and trail-blazing policies that it has
introduced into the management and promotion of pool events.
With respect to sport, it lobbied with the WPA for the adoption of ten ball as a
new and separate discipline in pool. As a result the world’s pool governing
body adopted the game and issued official rules for it early in 2008. When
Raya successfully staged the WTBC in September-October 2008 before a
worldwide TV audience, the game proved its worth many times over. The
players and audiences loved it and declared it superior to nine ball. No single
championship tournament, according to pool experts, recorded as many hill-
hill matches as the inaugural WTBC.
In promoting pool, Raya has been equally an innovator. Noting that historically
beer and cigarettes were the only sponsors of pool events and that cigarette
advertising was now banned in print and TV, the company embarked on a
program to widen the sponsorship base for the sport. In three years, it has
successfully attracted the following new supporters of pool:
• national tourism agencies
• gaming and entertainment companies
• airlines
• telephone companies
• banks and financial institutions
• pharmaceuticals
• real estate developers
• appliance manufacturers
In 2008, Raya also seeded a new program: the establishment of the
Philippine Pool Tour, which consists of international pool tournaments in
strategic cities in the country. The idea is to marry international pool
competition with tourism in the Philippines. So far in 2008, two PPT legs have
been successfully launched in Mandaluyong City and Puerto Princesa City in
Palawan province. A third is due to be held in Tagaytay City in December 2008.
For 2009, the PPT is slated to expand to six legs.
Management
The Raya organization is led by Yen Makabenta as chairman and CEO,
Ambassador Jonathan de la Cruz as president, and JP Fenix as executive vice-
president and managing director.
For the successful debut of the WPC in Manila in 2006, Mr. Makabenta was
cited as “Man of the Year” by Billiards Digest.
To implement its innovative sports management and promotions program,
Raya maintains key units in the following areas:
• Event management
• Sports marketing
• Media rights distribution
• Licensing and merchandise development
• Public relations
Raya holds office at the 5th floor of the PDAF Building on Gil Puyat Ave., Makati
City, 1200 Philippines. Its contact numbers are tel. 8952021 and 8909666, fax
8958184, and email at mail@rayasports.com. This
e-mail address is protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to
view it.
Raya also operates the pool website: www.rayasports.com
also pioneered in the establishment of annual Philippine championships for
men, women and junior players. Prior to the launching of the national
tournaments in 2006, the country had hitherto not held a single official national
pool championship.
After eight official events (three for men and women, and two for juniors), the
national championships have become a veritable institution in Philippine pool.
And they have served as a major component in the official ranking of Filipino
players in various categories.
Game-changer in Pool Sports
Raya Sports has earned a reputation as a “game-changer” in pool sports
because of the various innovations and trail-blazing policies that it has
introduced into the management and promotion of pool events.
With respect to sport, it lobbied with the WPA for the adoption of ten ball as a
new and separate discipline in pool. As a result the world’s pool governing
body adopted the game and issued official rules for it early in 2008. When
Raya successfully staged the WTBC in September-October 2008 before a
worldwide TV audience, the game proved its worth many times over. The
players and audiences loved it and declared it superior to nine ball. No single
championship tournament, according to pool experts, recorded as many hill-
hill matches as the inaugural WTBC.
In promoting pool, Raya has been equally an innovator. Noting that historically
beer and cigarettes were the only sponsors of pool events and that cigarette
advertising was now banned in print and TV, the company embarked on a
program to widen the sponsorship base for the sport. In three years, it has
successfully attracted the following new supporters of pool:
• national tourism agencies
• gaming and entertainment companies
• airlines
• telephone companies
• banks and financial institutions
• pharmaceuticals
• real estate developers
• appliance manufacturers
In 2008, Raya also seeded a new program: the establishment of the
Philippine Pool Tour, which consists of international pool tournaments in
strategic cities in the country. The idea is to marry international pool
competition with tourism in the Philippines. So far in 2008, two PPT legs have
been successfully launched in Mandaluyong City and Puerto Princesa City in
Palawan province. A third is due to be held in Tagaytay City in December 2008.
For 2009, the PPT is slated to expand to six legs.
Management
The Raya organization is led by Yen Makabenta as chairman and CEO,
Ambassador Jonathan de la Cruz as president, and JP Fenix as executive vice-
president and managing director.
For the successful debut of the WPC in Manila in 2006, Mr. Makabenta was
cited as “Man of the Year” by Billiards Digest.
To implement its innovative sports management and promotions program,
Raya maintains key units in the following areas:
• Event management
• Sports marketing
• Media rights distribution
• Licensing and merchandise development
• Public relations
Raya holds office at the 5th floor of the PDAF Building on Gil Puyat Ave., Makati
City, 1200 Philippines. Its contact numbers are tel. 8952021 and 8909666, fax
8958184, and email at mail@rayasports.com. This
e-mail address is protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to
view it.
Raya also operates the pool website: www.rayasports.com
Raya Chairman Yen Makabenta
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