MANILA, Philippines - The country’s four-man crew to pool competitions of the 16th Asian Games are strong enough that the Billiards and Snooker Congress of the Philippines does not find a need to have reigning world titlist Django Bustamante take over one of the slots.
BSCP president Bong Ilagan said the association is strongly convinced that 8-ball bets Efren Reyes and Roberto Gomez Jr. and 9-ball entries Dennis Orcollo and Warren Kiamco are all in tremendous form for the Asiad in Guangzhou, China, where BSCP targets four gold medals.
Bustamante, who did not make the Phl Asiad team after faltering in the local qualifying meet last summer, will join the contingent to Guangzhou as coach of the men’s team, though.
He was named to the position after winning the world 9-ball title last July and the BSCP also considered the possibility of letting him play if the qualifiers’ performances dip in the months leading to the Asiad.
“The performances of the four in previous tournaments speak for themselves, especially during the US Open, where they beat a lot of Asian players, and other world tournaments. We think we have a team that will not be at a disadvantage against our rivals in the Asian Games,” Ilagan said.
“But it’s good that Django is with them (as coach); there’s someone who can look over them and help them with their preparations,” he added.
Former world champion Reyes and Gomez are both seeded into the Round of 32 awaiting their foes in the men’s 8-ball play as do reigning World Pool Masters champ Orcollo and 2010 US Open semifinalist Kiamco in men’s 9-ball.
Ilagan said the BSCP expects not only a sweep of the men’s events but also of the two mints at stake in the women’s side, pinning their hopes on former world 10-ball titlist Rubilen Amit and Iris Ranola.
Amit took a first round bye while Ranola will play Kuwait’s Haifa A Alnaser for a spot in the Last 16 of the women’s 9-ball action. They will go up against a pair of Mongolian rivals -- Amit versus Uyanga Battulga and Ranola against Zolijargal Zorigt -- in the first round of women’s 8ball.
The BSCP is also hopeful that Mary Ann Basas and Floriza Andal can pull off a surprise in the women’s 6-Red Snooker singles and team events.