Gillian Go, an 11-year old Grade 6 student of Jubilee Christian Academy in Quezon City clinched a spot in the inaugural JBETpoker.net Women's World 10-Ball Championship which breaks at the SM City North Edsa at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday.
Go who defeated Korea 's Ji-Won Hyun 7-5 in the deciding match of the second qualifying tournament was introduced to the game by her father Carlos. She said “I never expected that I would play in the world championship. I just joined the qualifying tournament to test my skills and to have the experience of playing in an international competition.”
The 11 year old will join 2007 Women's World 9-Ball runner-up Rubilen Amit, 2008 WPBA Rookie of the Year Iris Ranola and fellow qualifier Mary Ann Basas in carrying the Philippine flag in this five-day event also supported by ABS-CBN, SM Mall North Edsa, Magic 89.9, Predator Cues, Takini Billiard Cloth, Aramith, Puyat Sports, The Philippine Star, Bugsy Promotions and recognized by the Billiards and Snooker Congress of the Philippines.
The star-studded line-up of players was introduced at a luncheon press conference at the SM Dome on Monday with a lot of attention focused on the returning “Black Widow” Jeannette Lee who was a sensation when she first came to the Philippines and played Efren “Bata” Reyes in a 9-ball match at Casino Filipino in 2002.
In an interview with www.insidesports.ph, Standard Today and Viva Sports, Lee said it was great to be back because the Philippines “is a wonderful country and I've been treated very well.” Lee said “Efren is the greatest player that ever lived so for me it was an honor and still would be an honor. He is someone that I respect very much and he's a very kind person and a great, great player. Hopefully I'll get the opportunity to play him again.”
She said Reyes is “a good, kind person that I've known for many years and he will help anyone and he is truly a role model for me.”
Lovely Jasmin Ouschan said the Women's World 10-Ball Championship which is organized by Dragon Promotions is “really a big step forward and its also great to have it here in the Philippines because its so popular here."
One of the all-time greats Allison Fisher of Britain who had a foundation in snooker said she really enjoys 10-ball because “it's a big equalizer because the best players do well in it and it takes out the luck factor in 9-ball.”
Fisher said the standard of women's pool “is getting so big and that is due to television coverage” pointing out that the "best players in the world have inspired women to take up the game.”
She said “it's a great honor for us to be here in the Philippines where some of the greatest players live and to bring women's pool here is great recognition.”
Fisher said “what I love about watching Filipino players is their presence. They are not only great players, they are very happy when they are playing. They are laid back and are lovely to be around . The nature of the Filipino players is wonderful and I think its an example for the rest of the world.”
Chicago-based Zara del Rosario, who traces her roots to Catarman, Samar , will also don the RP tricolors, along with fellow Fil-am model-turned-professional pool player Shanelle Loraine and Jennifer Seaver.
Jeanette Lee and a majority of the players agreed that “It's gonna be a wide-open race for the title and I think everybody has a chance, including that 11-year-old girl (Go),” who joins 47 others in going after the top prize of $20,000..
Amit said “We'll do our best to bring honor to our country, and I hope the Filipinos will come to support us.”
The event will be telecast “Live” on the giant broadcast network ABS-CBN's Studio 23, as well as on ESPN-Star Sports, which will broadcast a total of 40 hours of match coverage to 40 countries.
