Pool bets target five Asiad golds

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine billiards and snooker team, now with newly crowned world pool champion Django Bustamante in tow, has set its sights on a bold target of five gold medals in the coming Asian Games in Guangzhou, China.

“Our objective is to sweep the 8-ball and 9-ball events in both men’s and women’s and hopefully get one from six red ball snooker,” Billiards and Snooker Congress of the Philippines (BSCP) president Bong Ilagan said yesterday in the SCOOP sa Kamayan forum in Manila.

High hopes will be on former world champion and playing coach Efren “Bata” Reyes and 2007 world pool championship runner-up Roberto “Superman” Gomez in men’s 8-ball singles, reigning World Pool Masters kingpin Dennis Orcullo and veteran Warren Kiamco in men’s 9-ball singles, and women’s world 10-ball queen Rubilen Amit and former US Women’s Open finalist Iris Rañola in both the women’s 8-ball and 9-ball singles plays.

Mary Ann Basas, another veteran of the previous Asiad in Doha, is expected to contend in the six red ball singles snooker competition along with Flor Andal. They are also entered in the team event, along with Monette Oryan.

Bustamante, who actually failed to win a slot during the qualifying tourney, has been inserted into the RP team as training partner following his recent victory at the worlds. 

Ilagan said there’s a possibility that the power-breaking Bustamante could eventually play in the Asiad.

“We’ll be evaluating the members of the team by August or September and if one of them would not pass our criteria of skill, mental preparedness, physical conditioning and discipline, he (Bustamante) can come in (and compete). In the meantime, he will serve as training partner for the team,” Ilagan said.

Bustamante, a former Asian Games gold medalist himself, said he’s raring to help the fancied pool squad. “It will be a great honor to join the team in the Asian Games. I’m willing to play and help in whatever capacity they ask me,” he said in Filipino.

Reyes said Bustamante, whether as a player or mere part of the delegation, would surely boost Filipinos’ bid. “His presence alone will intimidate our opponents,” he said.