RP pool team eyes 5 gold medals in Asiad
By Eddie Alinea
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 17 Jul 2010
A star-studded team officials diagnosed as strong enough to bring home a maximum five gold medals will be fielded in by the Billiards and Snooker congress of the Philippines in the coming Asian Games in Guangzhou, China.
No less than playing-coach and former world pool champion Efren ?Bata? Reyes will head the 20-player selection that was culled from a series of tryouts conducted last April and May , according to BCSP president Bong Ilagan.
Both Ilagan and Reyes chorused in yesterday?s SCOOP Sa Kamayan weekly session that the goal is to sweep all four gold medals to be contested in the men?s and women?s singles events in the 8-Ball and 9-Ball competitions and hope to salvage at least one in the women?s 6 Snooker Red Ball singles and team plays.
?Malakas ang makakalaban kasi Asian level na ito at nandyan na ang mga magagaling sa Asya, pero kung gaganda ang tira natin may tsansa na ma-sweep ang pool 8-Ball at 9-Ball singles sa lalaki at babae,? Reyes predicted during the forum, sponsored by PLDT, Mang Inasal and Fila Sports Wear, drawing concurrence from Ilagan.
Bata has reasons to be optimistic since he himself, in a team up with Roberto Gopmez, will spearhead the country?s bid in the 8-Ball event, while similarly internationally-exposed of Dennis Orcollo and Warren Kiamco working the table in 9-Ball.
Reigning 9-Ball women?s champion Rubilen Amit and long-time partner Iris Ranola are the country?s best bets in the distaff side in both the 8-Ball and 9-Ball competitions.
Newly-crowned World 9-Ball champion Francisco ?Django Bustamante, who failed to make it during the tryouts, will act as the team?s training partner and will also join the trip to Guangzhou, also as a reserve should any member of the team, for one reason or another, would not be able to see action in the Nov. 13-20 hostilities set at the Asian Games Town Gymnasium.
?Malaki ang maitutulong ni Pareng Django sa training bagamat hindi siya opisyal na miyembro ng team. Unang-una yung ekspirensya nya. At saka,siyempre, makita lang siya ng makakalaban natin, matatkot na,? Bata said. ?kaya ang labas niya panakot.?
Django, for his part, said he has accepted the fact that he didn?t make it to the team, adding though that he will do everything to share whatever the players need to know as far as international play is concerned.
?Kahit na ano?ng ipagawa nila sa akin, gagawin ko basta lang makatulong. Unfair naman kasi doon sa mga na-qualify na palitan ko sila ngayong nag-world champion ako. Fact is, tinalo nila ako sa tryout so sila ang dapat maglaro sa Asian Games,? Django reasoned out.
Other members of the team are Marlon Manalo, Benjamin Guevara and Alvin Barbero (snooker singles and team), Rey Grandea and Barbero (English Billiards) and Grandea and Rodolofo ?Boy Samson? Luat (Carom 3 Cushions singles).
Also seeing action in the distaff side besides Amit and Ranola are Mary An Basas, Floriza Andal and Zemonette Oryan (Snooker 6 Red Ball singles and team).
Assisting Reyes in calling the shot is Edgard Asonto.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Eddie Alinea.
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