MANILA, PHILIPPINES---MINUS the man that anchored the RP billiards and snooker team's successful bid in the Southeast Asian Games the last time, officials of the sport remains upbeat about its campaign in the 2007 edition of the biennial meet in Thailand this December. Billiards and Snooker Congress of the Philippines (BSCP) president Ernesto Fajardo and chairman Yen Makabenta admitted that duplicating the eight gold medals the Filipino cue masters won in the Manila SEA Games two years ago may be a difficult task now that Alex Pagulayan is doubtful to see action in the Dec. 6-15 meet. But both echoed the same sentiment that the country is still a force to reckon with in the sport with Asian Games gold medalist Antonio Gabica and silver medal winner Jeffrey `Bata' de Luna likely leading the Filipinos' charge at the main hub of the meet in Nakhoratchasima."We've never been into the habit of predicting the number of golds, but definitely it is in the poolevents where we are really strong," said Fajardo,joined by Makabenta in the weekly PSA Forum yesterday at the Shakey's United Nations Ave. branch. At the moment, Fajardo said the BSCP is in the process of deciding which players will make thebilliards team, with both Gabica and de Luna havingthe best shot of making it.Gabica beat de Luna for the gold in the 9-ball singles of the Doha Asiad last year, although he fell short in the 8-ball singles where he settled for thesilver to Satoshi Kabawata of Japan."Their strong showing in the Asiad is not anassurance, but they (Gabica and de Luna) have a very good chance of landing in the team," said Fajardo. Already assured slots in the snooker team are Benjie Guevarra, Reynaldo Grandea, Francisco dela Cruz, Al Ortega, Joven Alba and former Asian champion Marlon Manalo."Marlon expressed interest to play with the snooker team. I hope it pushes through because he remains one of our best bets in snooker," said the BSCP president in the same forum sponsored by Shakey's and PAGCOR. Behind the three gold medals of Pagulayan, the RP team run away with the overall title in the sport during the 2005 Manila SEA Games, including two gold medals each won by double world champion Ronnie Alcano (15-ball singles and 15-ball doubles), Leonardo`Dodong' Andam (snooker and 15-ball doubles) andRubilen Amit (8-ball and 9-ball) in women's billiards.Unfortunately, Pagulayan has decided not to play for the team this time, according to Fajardo, following his reported misunderstanding with the BSCP.
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by:(MARLON BERNARDINO).
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