(NI JEAN MALANUM)

KAYANG manalo ng apat na gintong medalya ang national billiards team sa 30th SEA Games na gagawin sa Manila Hotel Tent City mula Disyembre 3-10.

Ayon kay Billiards and Snookers Congress of the Philippines secretary general Robert Mananquil, mataas ang morale ng mga atleta at handa silang lampasan ang dalawang ginto, isang silver at dalawang bronze medals na napanalunan nila sa Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia noong 2017.

Sinabi ni Mananquil na malalim ang kanilang bench na pinangungunahan nina world no. 3 Rubilen Amit, world No. 4 Carlo Biado, Dennis Orcollo, Johann Chua, Jeffrey Ignacio, Warren Kiamco, Chezka Centeno, Iris Rañola at Floriza Andal.

Kung pagbabatayan ang kanilang line-up, kayang-kaya na manalo ng apat na ginto mula sa 9-ball at 10-ball events sa men’s at women’s categories.

“That’s four gold medals already,” ani Mananquil na miyembro ng Philippine Olympic Committee board.

“We still have 9-ball and 10-ball doubles where we also have fighting chances. Of course, I can’t promise that we would also win the gold there, but if luck rolls our way, we might sweep all pool events and win six out of the 10 gold medals at stake,” dagdag niya.

Lalahok sa snookers sina Alvin Barbero, Michael Angelo Mengorio, Jeffrey Roda at Basil Al-Shajjar samantalang sina Benjie Guevarra at Luis Saberdo ang isasabak sa English Billiards.

Maglalaro rin si Efren “Bata” Reyes kasama si Francisco Dela Cruz sa carom event.

“What we have is a very stacked and solid lineup,” sabi ni Mananquil na nagsabi rin na mahihirapan ang mga Pinoy sa English Billiards at carom events.

“The Malaysians and the Singaporeans, being former British colonies, are expected to dominate English Billiards while carom is the pet event of the Vietnamese. Despite that, we will still go all out and take advantage of our homecourt edge,” paliwanag ni Mananquil.

Ikinatuwa naman ni Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Chairman William Ramirez ang naging pahayag ni Mananquil.

“It’s difficult to predict outcomes, but with proper scouting, sports associations could somehow see their targets well. The PSC is also supportive of billiards as it is with all sports,” sabi ni Ramirez.

Binanggit ni Mananquil na malaki ang tulong na binibigay ng PSC sa paghahanda ng national team.

Si Amit at ang ibang mga players ay kasalukuyang nagsasanay sa ibang bansa samantalang ang snooker team ay nakatakdang lumipad patungong Turkey sa katapusan ng buwang kasalukuyan para sumali sa World Snookers Championship.

“We want to thank PSC chairman Ramirez for his all-out support,” sabi ni Mananquil. ” The PSC approved all our requests for foreign training and exposure that serve as good preparation for our athletes. In return, we would give everything that we can and win as many medals as possible.”