Double Gold Medalist Iris Ranola competes in World 9-ball without Government Support

Shenyang, China-Southeast Asian Games double gold medalist Iris Ranola has arrived in Shenyang, China to compete in the most prestigious title in women's billiards. She is joined by former World 10-ball Champion and former SEAG gold medalist Rubilen Amit. Both players have traveled to the competition without any support from the PSC and the POC and are only depending on their long time private sponsor, Philippine pool patron, Aristeo Puyat of Puyat Sports.

The lack of support stems from the total disregard of Billiard Sports Confederation President Arturo Ilagan to the needs of the pool players who bring glory to our country through their various achievements around the world. After a falling out last year due to Ilagan's questionable decisions regarding the selection of the Philippine contingent for the SEA Games, the entire billiard team has been left to fend for themselves.

No budget requests were submitted nor were the players consulted about their needs for their campaign in the world circuit. Previous plans to request funding for the world championship campaigns of the Men's and Women's teams were forgotten and thrown out the window as soon as the players started questioning Ilagan's actions leading up to the SEAG.

PSC President Ritchie Garcia is keen on supporting the pool players including priority athletes such as Ranola and Dennis Orcollo who also won a gold medal in the SEAG held last December in Indonesia.

However, with Ilagan at the helm and blatantly ignoring the plight of the athletes, there is nothing that the PSC can do at the moment. The players have lodged various complaints against Ilagan and the other members of the Billiard Sports Confederation are in the process of finding a solution.  Ilagan is acting of his own accord and behind the backs of other members of the board. He is keeping information from the other members and is trying to run his own show.

The Philippines is also fielding a group of players to the World Team Championships to be held in Beijing China at the end of June and only the help of Puyat and Billiard patron Perry Mariano of Bugsy Promotions is making it possible for the players to compete.

Apart from this event, The men will also compete in  the World 9-ball Championship in Doha, Qatar in two weeks' time and again, all the players needed to find their own private sponsors to fund their trip.

Meanwhile, the snooker team, who are in Ilagan's good graces have been able to fly to several 'training' trips abroad in the past year.