Alcano leads RP pool team to SEAG

Defending world pool champion Ronnie “The Volcano” Alcano heads the 13-player national squad the Billiards and Snooker Congress of the Philippines has chosen to represent the country in the coming 24th Southeast Asian Games this December in Thailand.

BSCP president Ernie Fajardo yesterday announced that joining Alcano, who will be defending his world pool crown early next month, in the team are Asian Games gold medalist Antonio “Gaga” Gabica, Marlon Manalo, Reynaldo Grandea, Lee Van Corteza, Dennis Orcollo and Emilio Villariza, all of the men’s billiards squad; and James Al Ortega, Benjamin Guevarra and Rodolfo Lordan Jr., of the snooker side.

Manalo, the best snooker player in the local scene, and Grandea, are both listed in the billiards and snooker events.

The women’s team is made up of 2005 Philippine SEA Games veterans Rubilen Amit, Mary Ann Basas and Iris Ranola, Fajardo also disclosed during the SCOOP weekly session at the Kamayan Restaurant-Padre Faura. 

Fil-Canadian Alex Pagulayan, winner of two of eight gold medals the Filipino cue artists scooped up two years ago, will not be seeing action this time, according to Fajardo, as he, along with Efren “Bata” Reyes and Francisco “Django” Bustamante are committed to play in the money-rich circuits.