source: Rey Bancod | mb.com.ph

VIENTIANE, Laos — The Philippines suffered another big blow in billiards Wednesday when Dennis Orcollo lost to Vietnam’s Nguyen Phuc Long, 8-9, in the semifinals of the men’s 9-ball pool singles in the 25th Southeast Asian Games at Don Chan Palace hotel here.

The loss relegated Orcollo to a bronze medal match with Malaysian Ibrahim Amir who lost to Indonesian Ricky Yang, 6-9, in the other semifinal match.

The Philippines will come home without the gold medal in men’s 9-ball pool, a big dent to its reputation as the world’s top pool superpower

Ramil Gallego, the other RP entry in the event, was earlier eliminated by Nitiwat Kanjanasri of Thailand, 6-9.

The Philippines also failed to win the 9-ball pool doubles when the powerhouse tandem of Efren “Bata” Reyes and Django Bustamante suffered a shock defeat at the hands of Nitiwat and Surathep Phoochalam Thursday in the quarterfinals.

The Filipinos, however, remain in the thick of the fight in women’s 9-ball pool singles where Rubilen Amit and Iris Ranola are fighting for spots in the semifinals.

Early Wednesday, the Filipinos captured two bronze medals in wushu and petanque, an obscure sport that originated in France.

Daniel Parantac placed third in the men’s taijiquan in wushu while the mixed trio of Aristides Samia, Arnulfo Masumbol and Mary Grace Munar lost in the semifinals in petanque.

Going into the second half of Wednesday’s proceedings, the Filipinos are gunning for a hattrick in boxing and more success in judo and wrestling.

Three women boxers climb the ring Wednesday afternoon, hoping to give the Philippines a big push in its bid to unseat Indonesia from fifth place in the 25th Southeast Asian Games.

The boxing finals kick off with pinweight Josie Gabuco, light flyweight Alice Kate Aparri, and Asian flyweight champion Annie Albania eyeing the gold medals against separate opponents.

Gabuco tangles with Nguyen Thi Hoa of Vietnam, Aparri squares off with Milvady Hongfa of Laos and Albania battles Indri Sambaimana of Indonesia.

Veteran John Baylon begins his drive for an unprecedented ninth straight gold medal in one of seven final events in judo.

Early Wednesday, Gilbert Ramirez and Jenielou Mosqueda advanced to the semifinals of their respective divisions.

Ramirez humbled Zaw Naing of Myanmar in the men’s over 66 kgs. while Mosqueda clobbered Aung Xuan Yi of Singapore in the women’s over 52-kg. bracket.

A lone casualty in the morning was Lloyd Catipon who lost to Indonesian Peter Taslim.

In wrestling, Maribel Jambora won her preliminary bout against Saysamon Keovilyson of Laos in the women’s 45-kg. division.

Two Filipinos, however, dropped their bouts.

Cristina Vergara was beaten by Pham Thi Hue of Vietnam in the women’s over 48 kg. division while Gemma Silverio lost to Wilaiwan Thongkam of Thailand in the over 55-kg. class.

In tennis, the Nationals bowed out of the women’s singles after Denise Dy and Riza Zalameda lost their semifinal matches against Indonesian rivals at the National Sports Complex.

Dy, slowed down by a knee injury, was beaten by Lavinia Tananta, 5-7, 4-6, while Zalameda bowed to Ayu Fani Damayanti, 3-6, 2-6.

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