Phl opposes move to delist SEAG billiards

MANILA, Philippines –  The Philippines will go against the possible delisting of its traditional gold-mine billiards and snooker in the calendar of events in the 26th Southeast Asian Games slated Nov. 11-25 in Palembang, Indonesia.

“It will definitely spark a heated debate,” said Philippine Olympic Committee president Jose “Peping” Cojuangco Jr. after hearing reports that the SEA Games Organizing Committee is planning to include billiards and snooker in the sports events to be scrapped in the upcoming biennial meet.

The Phl is expected to forge alliance with some countries, including Thailand, noted for snooker, in the SEA Games Federation Council meeting in Bali, Indonesia on Feb. 25.

Cojuangco said that is in the Bali meeting where all the sports events that would be played in Palembang will be finalized.

“I have not gotten the news yet but if it’s true, we hope to do something about it,” said PSC commissioner and SEAG co-chief of mission Chito Loyzaga.

“Maybe we should just give the overall championship to the host country. They are removing our strong events and adding unknown sports,” said PSC chair Richie Garcia.

The Phl took three gold medals in the last SEAG in Laos with Ronnie Alcano winning the 8-ball gold medal and Rubilen Amit topping the 8-ball and 9-ball finals.

Aside from billiards and snookers, the hosts are also planning to drop women’s soccer and some events in shooting, cycling and sailing from the SEAG calendar of events while set to include bridge, para-gliding, roller-skating, wall-climbing and Vietnamese martial art vovinam.

The 26th edition of the SEAG involving the 11 countries from the region will be the fourth to be hosted by Indonesia. The first SEA Games took place in Bangkok in 1959.