Phl to lobby for billiards in SEAG

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines will go to the Southeast Asian Games Federation council meeting in Bali, Indonesia on Friday with one thing in mind--lobby against the planned delisting of traditional goldmine billiards and snookers in the 26th Southeast Asian Games slated Nov. 11-25 in Palembang, Indonesia.

“We will definitely lobby against it, that’s for sure,” said Philippine Sports commissioner Chito Loyzaga, who is the country’s co-chief de mission of the SEA Games-bound national team yesterday.

Loyzaga said he would leave on Thursday along with several Philippine Olympic Committee officials including chairman Monico Puentevella and vice-president Manny Lopez and make a case for the sport that had traditionally brought the country gold medals in the past including three golden feats in the 2009 Laos Games. (Related story on A-21)

The gold medal winners were Ronnie Alacano in men’s 8-ball singles and Rubilen Amit in women’s 8-ball and 9-ball singles.

“We will definitely make our case there,” Puentevella said. “If it will not be included, we will also oppose moves to include sports favorable to them. Tit for tat, it should be fair play for everyone.”

POC executive board members Francis Camacho and Steve Hontiveros will join the Phl contingent in Bali.

Loyzaga was referring to plans by the host Indonesian SEAG Organizing Committee to drop billiards and snooker along with women’s soccer and some events in cycling, shooting and sailing from the SEAG calendar of events while including obscure sports like bridge, para-gliding, roller-skating, wall-climbing and Vietnamese martial art vovinam.

POC spokesperson Joey Romasanta said the country will also lobby for the inclusion of rugby and indigenous sport arnis.

Rugby nailed the Phl a silver in Laos while arnis copped the Filipinos three golds in the 2005 Manila Games.

“We will also lobby for the inclusion of rugby and arnis because we know we have a strong chance there,” said Romasanta.

The Bali meeting will have significance for all participating countries hoping to battle for the overall championship or at least a podium finish since it will finalize all sports events that would be played in Palembang.

The Phl is expected to forge alliances with some countries, including Thailand, noted for snooker.