Tusok Balita - 3 Pinoys Top PDC Asian Tour 2023 - Bound for UK World Darts Championship

TUSOK BALITA ONLINE - A Publication of the National Darts Federation of the Philippines

3 Pinoys Top PDC Asian Tour 2023 - Bound for UK World Darts Championship

Updated September 20, 2023

Three (3) Filipino darters will officially participate in the upcoming PDC World Darts Championship 2023/2024 in London this December. Lourence Ilagan (DOT), Paolo Nebrida (Robson), and Rey Rivera (DOT) of the Philippines, together with Tomoya Goto of Japan topped the Order of Merit of the PDC Asian Tour 2023 that concluded last Sunday in Qingdao, China.

This will be Ilagan’s 8th stint at the prestigious World Darts Championship. Last year, the 45-year old dart icon from Cainta defeated Rowby-John Rodriguez of Austria, but later bowed down to Belgian star player Dmitri van den Burgh in the second round. Of the 24 Asian Tours, Ilagan won two (2) Champion titles, four (4) Second Place titles, and three (3) Joint 3rd/4th placements.

Nebrida, 28 years old of Subic, Zambales, made his Ally Pally debut last year after placing second in the Asian Championship in Fukuoka, Japan. He lost to Danny Jansen of the Netherlands in the first round. In the Asian Tour, Nebrida brought home one (1) Champion title and six (6) Second Place titles.

Meanwhile, this will be Rivera’s first shot at the World Darts Championship. The 44-year old darter from Caloocan City sealed his 4th spot in the order of merit after winning two (2) Champion titles, two (2) Second Place titles, and two (2) Joint 3rd/4th placements.

This October, the 3 London-bound darters will compete at the PDC Asian Championship in Shimonoseki City, Yamaguchi, Japan. Joining them is Philippine Qualifier Jemel Modesto (Robson) of Quezon City, and PDC Asian Tour Top 16 qualifiers Jake Lubaton (DOT) of Zamboanga City, Christian Perez (Robson) of Koronadal City, and Alexis Toylo (DOT) of Cagayan De Oro City. All seven Pinoy darters are automatically included in the Top 48 championship round from October 7 & 8. Other Pinoy darters are expected to join in the qualifying stages from October 5 to 6.

The National Darts Federation of the Philippines extends its sincerest Congratulations to both the players and managers who now form part of the Filipino contingent to Japan and the United Kingdom.