Cue artists Biado and Amit, Muay Thai's Delarmino banner Team Philippines in World Games

MANILA, Philippines – World champions Carlo Biado and Rubilen Amit of billiards and Philip Delarmino of Muay Thai will spearhead the lean but mean 10-strong Philippine team waging war in the World Games that was ushered in at the Protective Stadium in Birmingham, Alabama in the United States Friday.

Biado is eyeing to duplicate his golden feat in men’s 9-ball in the last staging of this quadrennial event —a meet that showcased events not part in the Olympic calendar but popular in the world — in Wroclaw, Poland five years ago.

Unlike in last time, the reigning US pool king will not be the lone Filipino who is expected to battle for mint as the country has sent in the brigade in former world women’s pool champion in Amit and another world beater in Muay Thai in Delarmino.

Also plunging into battle are Southeast Asian Games gold medalists Annie Ramirez in jiu-jitsu, Kim Mangrobang, John Chicano and Fernando Caceres in duathlon, and Junna Tsukii of karate.

Completing the cast are Joyce Gail Reboton of powerlifting and Leeana Bade of muay.

“Our athletes are ready for the competition and hopefully we’re going to make the podium,” said Patrick Gregorio, Philippine Rowing Association president and the country’s World Games chef-de-mission.

Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham Tolentino is also confident the country could add more to its collection of one gold, five silver and five bronze medals in the same event.

“Coming off the Vietnam Southeast Asian Games, our athletes are prepared for the competition,” said the Tagaytay mayor. “They have tapered down from the Vietnam SEA Games and are now in peak form.”