
Behind PUYAT SPORTS, whose affiliate
companies own and operate several world-class bowling and billiard
centers in the Philippines, are the brothers Jose G. Puyat and Aristeo
G. Puyat, who are carrying on the legacy of their late grandfather, Gonzalo
Puyat.
During the 44 years from 1967 to 2011, the Puyats have seen to it that
Filipino bowlers were always able to participate in the annual Bowling World
Cup tournament. In 1975, their Astrobowl Magallanes center was the site of the
prestigious event.
The following year, 1976, in Teheran, Iran, Rafael 'Paeng' Nepomuceno became the first Filipino and the youngest to win the Bowling World
Cup.
In the women's division, the late Lita dela Rosa triumphed in Bogota, Columbia in 1978, and Bong Coo was victorious in Bangkok, Thailand, in 1979.
In 1980, Paeng won again in Jakarta, Indonesia; 1992 in Le Mans, France; and
yet again in 1996 in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Filipino billiard players Efren 'Bata' Reyes, Rodolfo 'Boy' Luat, Jose 'Amang' Parica, Leonardo 'Dodong' Andam, and Francisco 'Django'
Bustamante, who are sponsored by the Puyat brothers, have won honor for the
Philippines in many international tournaments.
To showcase the country and the skills of Filipino players, the Puyat
brothers produced three one-hour TV shows of the 1994 "Philippine Challenge"
billiards tournament they organized in Manila, in which Team Philippines defeated
Team America. The shows were aired by Prime Sports Network all over the
world.