Phl on cue for billiards triple gold

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia – A crack team of world champions past and present is on target for at least three gold medals as action gets under way today in the Southeast Asian Games billiards and snooker competitions at the Kuala Lumpur City Center.

Semi-retired former world 9-ball champion Efren “Bata” Reyes and ageless Francisco “Totong” dela Cruz kick off the Philippine campaign when they compete in the quarterfinals of the English billiards doubles, looking for a win that will advance them to the semifinals and assure them of at least a bronze, the same medal they won in the 2015 SEA Games.

Warren Kiamco will pair this time with Dennis Orcollo, who takes over from Carlos Biado, in his bid to retain the 9-ball doubles title.

Biado and Johan Chua, who finished first and second in the national eliminations for the SEA Games, will play in the 9-ball singles. Biado settled for the bronze in the event in 2015.

World champion Chezka Centeno and Rubilen Amit will try to make it a 1-2 finish anew as they compete in one event, the 9-ball women’s singles.

Out of this year’s cast is Iris Ranola, whose game was on the decline following her leave from international competitions last year.

The other 2015 medalist making a comeback this year is bronze medalist Alvin Barbero, who will play in the snooker billiards along with Jeffrey Roda.

Roda will also compete in the snooker singles along with rookie Basil Hasan Al-Shajjar.