Boxing and billiards have always delivered the goods.
Boxing and billiards—two of the famed 3Bs of Philippine sports along with basketball—are among the most popular sports in the country, with both having produced a long line of legends already. Billiards is played by many in pool halls of all kinds and sizes nationwide, while just as many dabble in boxing, some hoping to follow in the footsteps of Manny Pacquiao, Nonito Donaire, and Luisito Espinosa.
Little wonder then that these two sports have consistently been reliable sources of medals for the Philippines in past editions of the Southeast Asian [SEA] Games. Boxing, for instance, has delivered 97 medals for the country in the last 10 SEA Games, with 39 of those of the gold variety, plus 35 silvers and 23 bronzes. Billiards has delivered the goods, too, giving the country a total of 68 medals—28 golds, 14 silvers, and 26 bronzes—since its first inclusion in 1987.
Things were much of the same last year in the 31st SEA Games in Hanoi, where boxing and billiards delivered three and four gold medals, respectively. Boxing also produced one silver and four bronze medals, with billiards adding four silvers and two bronzes.
This year in Cambodia, the country’s billiards and boxing teams will be looking to surpass their performance from last year and bring home an even greater haul—preferably with more gold medals than last time.
The billiards team, led by living legend Efren "Bata" Reyes, will shoot to be the winningest contingent in Cambodia once again after doing it last year in Hanoi. It is poised to replicate said feat, as it will be bringing back practically the same players from last time—including the aforementioned Reyes, who won bronze in men’s 1-cushion carom singles, Carlo Biado, who won gold in men’s 10-ball singles and silver in men’s 9-ball singles, and Rubilen Amit, who bagged gold in women’s 10-ball singles and women’s 9-ball singles.
Joining Amit, Biado, and Reyes are fellow Hanoi Games medalists Jefrey Roda (silver in men's 6-red snooker singles), Chezka Centeno (silver in women's 10-ball pool singles), Johann Chua (gold in men's 9-ball pool singles and silver in men's 10-ball pool singles), and Francisco Dela Cruz (bronze in men's 1-cushion carom singles).
The boxing team, meanwhile, will be looking to improve upon its haul of three golds, one silver, and four bronze medals from the last SEA Games, which is impressive in of itself but underwhelming for a regional powerhouse like the Philippines. And tasked to do that is a mix of holdovers and new bloods led by Ian Clark Bautista and Rogen Ladon, who are back to win more gold for the Philippines.
Olympians Irish Magno and Nesthy Petecio are returning as well, with Magno aiming for a golden run this time around after winning silver last year and Petecio seeking redemption for her disappointing bronze finish in Hanoi. Another Olympian, Carlo Paalam, will add firepower to the boxing team as he tries to prove that his Olympic success in 2021 was no fluke. Riza Pasuit and James Palicte, who both copped silver last year, are the other holdovers.
Curiously, the boxing team is already assured of at least a bronze medal thanks to newcomer Markus Tongco, who is through to the semis of the 92-kilogram category since there are only three boxers entered. Other new faces on the team include Paul Bascon, Mark Durens, and Nesthy's brother Norlan Petecio.
Boxing action will begin on May 6 at the Chroy Changvar Convention Center in Phnom Penh, while billiards will start on May 7 at a venue yet to be announced.
(GM)