For someone so young, Jaybee Sucal’s name has grown to the point where it transcends the billiards world. What started as a local pool prodigy featured in a semi-documentary on TV has now become an international story. The year 2024 brought a new level of popularity for Jaybee, raising his profile and that of billiards in the Philippines.
From playing money matches in his hometown of General Santos City, he has since made his mark on the Manila scene, collaborating with social media content creators like Pio Balbuena by landing a role in one of his short films, and participating in exhibition matches against popular influencers such as Boss Toyo and the controversial, Awit Gamer.
He was also scheduled for a series of matches in Vietnam, but documentation issues—specifically, delays in obtaining his passport—forced him to postpone those plans.
One of Jaybee’s opponents during his Manila visit was Johnrell Saguiped. From my recollection, their series of matches is tied at 3-3, suggesting they are evenly matched. Interestingly, Saguiped recently competed in the Hanoi Junior Open, where he finished as runner-up to Albert Januarta of Indonesia. Is this a measure of how Jaybee might fare against international level of talent? There’s always the possibility that he could have performed better or worse—but we won’t truly know until he takes the step toward “real” competition.
The big question remains: Is international competition one of Jaybee Sucal’s goals? Is he content with the money he’s earning and the endorsements he’s receiving, like his recent partnership with a vape brand? Does he see himself staying in the influencer world, riding the wave of his online fame? Or does he dream of lifting a trophy and representing the Philippines, which would elevate his name to a new level of celebrity status?
There’s no easy answer for Jaybee, and whatever path he chooses will shape his future in profound ways. Whether he continues to thrive in the influencer space or decides to pursue the rigorous demands of professional billiards, the decision is his alone. The talent, the charisma—Jaybee has all the qualities to become the next superstar the pool world needs, poised to carry the mantle from the legendary Efren ‘Bata’ Reyes. But whether that potential will be fully realized remains to be seen.
As his star continues to rise, Jaybee stands at a crossroads, with one path leading to sustained social media fame and the other to potential glory on the international stage. Whatever he chooses, time is ticking, and the world is watching to see where his journey will take him next.