William Hatton Jr., owner of Astro 4O2 in Deca Homes South, Barangay Cabug, and also known as YAMSCOFFEEBREAKS bested 44 competitors from Dumaguete, Aklan, Iloilo, and Negros/Bacolod. His win secured him a spot to represent the Philippines in the international stage.
Photo courtesy of Iloilo Specialty Coffee Community
Hatton, alongside other Filipino champions from different PCBL legs nationwide, will fly to Bangkok, Thailand on October 7. They are scheduled for practice sessions before competing at the Thailand Coffee Hub Show in Central World, Bangkok, from October 10 to 12. The international brewing competition will feature baristas from Thailand, Laos, Myanmar, Malaysia, and the Philippines.
This marks Hatton’s second attempt at the PCBL. He first joined the Negros Occidental Coffee Fiesta Bacolod leg held last August 2025, where he did not advance to the next round. Instead of discouragement, he used the experience as motivation—fueling his determination to eventually clinch victory in the Iloilo leg.
Photo courtesy of Iloilo Specialty Coffee Community
Hatton’s achievement not only highlights his personal dedication to the craft but also shines a spotlight on the growing coffee culture in Bacolod and Negros Occidental.