THE Philippines will field in an all-star cast headed by ageless cue legend Efren “Bata” M. Reyes, reigning US Open titlist Carlo Biado and two-time world 10-ball champion Rubilen Amit in billiards and snooker in the Hanoi Southeast Asian Games (SEA) slated for May 12 to 23.
The 67-year-old Mr. Reyes, a 1999 World Nine-ball champion and pool icon, will see action in the one cushion carom where he is a four-time bronze medalist and three cushion carom where he snared another bronze in the 2011 Palembang edition while serving as the inspirational leader of the crack eight-member squad.
Mr. Biado, who topped the US Open last year, will represent the country in the 10-ball and nine-ball singles while Ms. Amit, a double-gold medal winner in the 2019 Manila SEA Games, is plunging into battle in the women’s 10-ball and nine-ball singles.
Also in the team are Chezka Centeno, who also had two mints in the 2019 SEA Games, in 10-ball and nine-ball singles, Johann Chua in men’s 10-ball and nine-ball singles, Alvin Barbero in men’s snooker singles, Jeffrey Roda in men’s snooker singles and six-red singles, and Francisco dela Cruz in one cushion and three cushion carom.
“After two years, will finally be competing again. I miss representing the Philippines,” said Ms. Amit, who is out to add another medal to her current nine-gold, five-silver and one-bronze haul in the biennial meet.
The Philippine national team is out to match, if not improve, on its four-gold, three-silver and five-bronze harvest in 2019. — Joey Villar