i TV Pinoy

Source: gmanews.tv

-- The Philippine billiards and snooker team finally contributed to the country’s gold vault Tuesday in the 25th Southeast Asian Games in Vientiane, Laos, courtesy of defending champion Ronnie Alcano in the men’s 8-ball.

The former two-time world champion made short work of compatriot Gandy Valle, 7-1, in an all-Filipino final at the Covention Hall of the Don Chan Palace.

The gold medal was the first for the highly-touted team still reeling from the stunning upset of heavy favorites Efren “Bata" Reyes and Francisco “Django" Bustamante in the men’s 9-ball double.

Alcano, simultaneous champion in the 9-ball and 8-ball world tournaments in the past, and Valle made sure there won’t be a repeat of a similar disaster when they dispatched their respective semifinal opponents late Sunday to arrange the all-RP showdown.

The 37-year-old Alcano turned back Dechawat Poomjaeng of Thailand, 7-3, while Valle routed Indonesian Ricky Yang, 7-1, in the semis.

“Pareho kaming masaya. Kahit naman sino sa amin ang manalo OK lang, basta huwag lang makawala na itong gold sa Pilipinas," Alcano said.

“Maganda talaga ‘yung dalawang Pinoy na ang maglalaban sa final dahil wala tayong kakaba-kaba," said coach Boyet Asonto later.

The 15-man billiards and snooker delegation is expecting to win more golds as reigning world 10-ball titlist Rubilen Amit was battling defending champion Angeline Ticoal of Indonesia in the 8-ball women’s final at posting time.

Also expected to be in the running for gold medals are Dennis Orcollo and Ramil Gallego in the men’s 9-ball singles and Amit and Iris Ranola in the women’s 9-ball singles.

A few hours before Alcano’s triumph, Reyes continues his misfortunes here as he lost to Moh Loon Hong of Malaysia, 3-1, in the preliminary of the English billiard singles. Ditto with Reynaldo Grandea against Ngyuen Trung Kien of Vietnam, 3-0.

Asonto lamented the twin losses of Reyes, considered as the greatest billiard player of all-time, especially in the 9-ball doubles.

“Medyo nailang sila Efren and Django kasi hindi scotch double (alternate break) ang gamit dito. Free game ang nangyari, kahit sino puwedeng tumira," he said.

“At tsaka suwerte rin yung kalaban, lahat ng tira pumapasok," he said, referring to the Thai duo of Nitiwat Kanjanasri and Surathep Phoochalam, who beat Bustamante and Reyes, 7-4, in the 9-ball double quarterfinals.