Mindanao billiard players in Manila for SEA Games
December 2, 2009 1:59 pm
DAVAO CITY, Dec. 2 -– Two billiard players from Mindanao who are members of the Philippines' billiards and snooker the "Dream Team" left Tuesday for Manila in preparation for their campaign in the 25th Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) set on December 9 to 18 in Laos.
Gande Valle and Roberto Gomez who competed in the just-concluded Second Sun.Superbalita Mindanao Open 9-Ball Challenge at the NCCC Mall B3 here failed to defend their titles, respectively.
However, they are confident that the "Dream Team" will deliver as expected in the Asian Games.
The 32-year-old Valle from Davao City, failed to defend his Sun.Star Superbalita 9-ball title and settled for fourth place after bowing to eventual champion Christopher Alanunay in the semifinals.
The Davao pool master, however, is confident in playing the eight-ball event in Laos. He won gold medals and silvers in the past SEA Games.
"There is still a pressure on my part to win a gold medal, considering that I had won gold in the Asian Games which is much tougher than the Sea Games. I carry that weight on my shoulders every time I compete for the country following my victory in Bangkok," he said.
"I'm comfortable with the eight-ball. It's my favorite as well as the nine-ball. I don't see any problem in my event. I just hope luck will be on my side," Valle added.
On the other hand, Gomez from Zamboanga City, also lost in the quarterfinals of the Sun.Star Superbalita 9-Ball event and downplayed his chances in the biennial meet considering that he is entered in a snooker event.
"What would I expect playing in an event I haven't played before? I'm used to playing billiards, not snooker. But since I will be doing it for the country, I'll just do what I can do," Gomez, a 2007 World Pool Championship runner-up, said.
"This is the biggest and brightest billiards and snooker team the country has ever formed. I am excited to be a part of this team. I think the team could win four to six gold medals in Laos," Valle said.
Also bannering the "Dream Team" are world champions Efren "Bata" Reyes (1999 World Pool Championship 9-Ball), Ronnie Alcano (2006 WPC 9-ball, 2007 World 8-ball) Alex Pagulayan (2007 WPC 9-Ball) and Rubilen Amit (2009 Women's World 10-Ball).
Busan Asian Games gold medalist Francisco "Django" Bustamante is also in the cast along with former former world No. 1 Dennis Orcollo, Sea Games gold winners Warren Kiamco, Ramil Gallego, Rodolfo Luat and 2009 World 10-Ball Championship runner-up Lee Vann Corteza, who also hails from Davao City. (PNA) LOR/Moses P. Billacura/lvp
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