ALCANO WINS 8-BALL GOLD IN SEAG

WORLD CHAMP ALCANO WINS 8-BALL POOL GOLD IN THAI SEAG

DESPITE intestinal problems caused by suspected food poisoning, former world pool champion Ronato Alcano recovered from Wednesday to win the Men's 8-ball gold medal by beating Singapore's Tey Choon Kiat, 9-6, in the finals of 24th Southeast Asian Games at the Sima Thani Hall in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand.

"May nakain na hindi daw maganda si Ronnie (Alcano) kasi sa tingin nila na food poisoning," said journalist Noli Cruz of Mansalay, Mindoro, who is the publicist of Bugsy Promotion.

Alcano complained early Tuesday of loose bowel movement after taking a late dinner and was lucky to get through the final. "Akala ko di na ako makakapaglaro dahil suka ako ng suka," he added earlier.

Billiard and Snooker Congress of the Philippines (BSCP) president Ernesto Fajardo lauded Alcano's for his determination to bring honor to the country.

"Y'ung pag-uugali ni Ronnie (Alcano) na magbigay ng karangalan sa bansa bagama't may dinaramdam na sakit ay nagpapatunay na likas na pag-uugali ng isang Filipino atleta. Anuman pagsubok o balakid sa buhay ang mahalaga ay magbigay ng karangalan sa bayan. Walang makakapigil," said Fajardo.

Although Alcano suspected a possible foul play, Dr. Marion Rivera, who treated the
pool virtuoso, dismissed such thought.

"It's unlikely that food poisoning downed Alcano because no one else got it," Dr.
Rivera said. "It's just a simple case of acute LBM."

Alcano's win brought to three the number of gold medals won by the country following the triumphs of Rubilen Amit in the women's 9-ball and Antonio Gabica and Marlon Manalo in the men's 9-ball doubles.




Alcano, earlier beat Tepwin Arrunath of Thailand (Pre Quarter-Final), 9-2, Toh Liah Han of Singapore, 9-8, (Quarter-Final) before trouncing Ibrahim Bin Amir, 9-7, (Semi Finals) and Kiat, 9-6, in the finals.

Gabica and Lee Van Corteza returned to the pool table Wednesday evening for the start of the 9-ball singles.

Iris Ranola, on the other hand, was locked in a quarterfinal match with Wong Poi Sei of Singapore in the women's 6-red snooker singles.

The Filipinos dominated the billiards competition two years ago in Manila, taking eight gold medals. Five of those events, however, were scrapped this year, including the 15-ball rotation and the 8-ball doubles.

Report from MARLON BERNARDINO