Philippine cue artists out to rule competition

SEAG Update

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines will have more chances of snaring gold medals after adding several events in billiards and snooker of the 30th Southeast Asian Games at the Manila Hotel Tent in December.

From just seven golds staked in Kuala Lumpur two years ago, the host country has raised the number of events to 10, adding men’s 10-ball singles and women’s 9-ball doubles and 10-ball singles, events that are expected to favor the Filipinos, who have produced world champions in the past.

The distinguished list  includes four-time World 8-ball champion and one-time World 9-ball king Efren “Bata” Reyes, two-time World 10-ball titlist and one-time World 9-ball runner-up Rubilen Amit and reigning SEAG 9-ball queen Chezka Centeno, who will all spearhead the 16-player national team seeing action in the biennial meet.

The 65-year-old Reyes, however, will not be seeing action in his pet events as he was listed in the men’s 1-cushion alongside Francisco dela Cruz while Amit, who has currently zoomed to No. 9 in the world 9-ball women’s rankings, and Centeno are joining all three women’s events.

“We are all looking to win as many gold medals as we can and make the country proud,” said Amit.

In the 2017 SEA Games, the Philippines hauled two golds, a silver and two bronzes. 

All its mints came in 9-ball courtesy of Centeno and Carlo Biado while Dennis Orcollo and Warren Kiamco settled for the bronze in the men’s 9-ball doubles.

Amit had a silver in 9-ball while the other bronze was delivered by Johan Chua (9-ball singles).

Also in the team are Chua, Iris Ranola, Jeffrey Ignacio, Floriza Andal, Jefrey Roda, Alvin Barbero, Michael Mengorio, Basil Al-shajjar, Benjamin Guevarra, Jr. and Luis Saberdo.

Rodolfo “Boy Samson” Luat is the pool head coach while former world champion Francisco “Django” Bustamante is his assistant. 

Reynaldo Grandea, a former snooker SEAG medalist, is coaching snooker.