LONGTIME billiards patron Perry Mariano tragically passed away on Tuesday after being ambushed in broad daylight in Quezon City.
He was 75.
Mariano, the founder of Bugsy Promotions and owner of Lucky Break billiards hall, and his driver Norberto Olimarco, 51, were travelling along Timog Avenue corner EDSA when they were attacked by two men riding a motorcycle.
Daylight ambush
Videos gathered by the Quezon City Police District showed one gunman with a helmet on peppering two persons inside a while sedan with bullets before climbing into a motorcycle which sped off toward EDSA.
Mariano and his driver sustained multiple gunshot wounds. Olimarco was declared dead on arrival at East Avenue Medical Center while Mariano was in critical condition when he reached the hospital before succumbing to injuries.
The Quezon City Police District has ordered a manhunt for the suspects.
Tributes have since poured in for Mariano, who for so long is one of the prime movers of billiards and a supporter of some of the country's top pool players, among them Carlo Biado, Johann Chua, and Dennis Orcollo, to name a few.
"Isa ka sa dahilan kung nasan ako ngayon. Humubog sakin. Maraming salamat sa lahat lahat boss. Sa paniniwala sa kakayahan ko nung nagsismula palang ako. Hinding hindi kita mkakalimutan boss," wrote Biado, the reigning world pool champion.
Mariano, a former president of the Association of Club, Karaoke, Disco Owners Operators (ACKDO), is also the father of Sharks Billiards Association founder Hadley Mariano.
SBA is a 9-ball league with a team format that is played at Shark's Arena.
"Sobrang nakakalungkot," wrote Chua. "Malaking parte ng karera ko sa paglalaro ng bilyar mula sayo from trainings sa mga money games at tournament ko dati nung bata pa ako.
"Ikaw rin ang unang naniwala sakin na kaya kong manalo sa international tournament sa ibang bansa 2008 pinabyahe mo ako sa Indonesia para sa isang tournament kahit 16 years old palang ako naniwala ka sakin na kaya ko. Maraming Salamat sa lahat lahat Boss Perry."
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