Andam, Alcano blank Thais for 4th billiards gold

The tandem of Leonardo Andam and Ronato Alcano taught Thailand a neat lesson in billiards as they blanked the Thai duo of Tepwin Arunnath and Amnuaypon Chotipong, 5-0, to cop the gold medal in the men’s 15-ball doubles before a lean but appreciative crowd in the 23rd SEA Games at the Makati Coliseum.

"We’re really happy to win this one," said Alcano, who together with Andam, basked in triumph amidst a throng of billiards fans.

But it wasn’t easy. In fact, the gold would have eluded the Filipinos were it not for a disastrous scratch committed by Singapore which was leading the RP duo, 4-3, in the semifinals.

The Thais were in the game only in the third frame which lasted longer than usual after the teams engaged in nifty safeties. But a miscue by Chotipong gave Alcano a big break on the way to victory.

"The Thais have the potential in the game but they seem to lose their way on defensive games. That’s what happened in our match," said Alcano.

It was the fourth gold medal for the Philippine side, counting its victories in 15-ball rotation singles, snooker team event, and 8-ball pool doubles.

On their way to last night’s finals, Alcano and Andam nipped Singapore’s Tian Tiong Boon and Chen Keng Kwang, 5-4, in the quarterfinals, then blanked Indonesia’s Muhamad Junarto and Muhamad Zulfikri, 5-0, in the semis.

The Thais, who were seeded into the semifinals, on the other hand, nipped Malaysia’s Ooi Fook Yuen and Ibrahim B Amir, 5-4, in the semis.

But Thailand, where snooker is as familiar as billiards to the Philippines, hogged the limelight when its top snooker player Phaithoon Phonbun and Issara Kachaiwong outclassed Singapore’s Alex Puan Yi Wei and Keith Eboon Aun, 3-1, to snare the gold in snooker doubles.

The pair of Alex Pagulayan and Joven Alba was not as fortunate as they lost to Singapore’s Alex Puan Yi Wei and Keith Eboon Aun, 1-3, in the snooker doubles semifinals.