by Rey Bancod
Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar – News of the untimely death of Irish Ranola's father jolted the Philippine delegation Thursday, but the two-event champion has opted to defend her 9-ball crown in the 27th Southeast Asian Games.
"Irish is staying," said billiards official Robert Mananquil. "We'll just give her time to grieve on her father's death."
Emilio Ranola died from throat cancer Wednesday night. He was 69.
Ranola, who also topped the 8-ball event in Indonesia, is seeded to meet compatriot Rubilen Amit in the women's 9-ball and 10-ball events.
The billiard events kick off Friday at the Wunna Theikdi sports complex.
Swimming got under way inside the huge complex with Jasmine Alkhaldi and Matt Navata qualifying in the finals of the women's 100-meter freestyle and men's 400-meter individual medley events.
Alkhaldi finished second in the first heat behind Singapore's Lim Xiang Qi, clocking 57.76 seconds. She battled Lim in the final lap and appeared to have the edge, but was beaten to the touch.
Lim timed 57.76 seconds.
"Maybe, 70 percent," grinned Alkhaldi after emerging from the water. "Well, everybody held back."
Alkhaldi was recalled from her studies at University of Hawaii to represent the country for the third time at the Games.
"I feel okay. Well, let's see," said the 20-year-old beauty.
She has been away for two and a half years and thought she has improved by nearly a second in her pet 100-meter freestyle event.
Alkhaldi is also set to compete in the 50-meter freestyle, 200-meter freestyle and 100-meter butterfly.
Navata was the only other swimmer in action, winding up third in his heat to advance in the evening finals.
The stocky swimmer was born in New Jersey of Filipino parents who hail from Jolo, Sulu.
He's representing University of Southern California in college.
"I speak little Filipino, but I understand the language," he said.
The swimming finals were set at 6 p.m. Thursday at the same venue.
Coach Carlos Brosas said he expects a close fight in the women's 100-meter freestyle.
"Maybe five swimmers will go 56 seconds tonight. Jasmine is a fighter," he said.
The resumption of the canoe event produced nothing for the Philippines.
Hermie Macaranas and Alex Generalo failed to climb the podium in the men's C1M 500 and K1M 500 finals, respectively.
Over at the Zabuthiri Hotel, Grandmaster Darwin Laylo hacked out a draw with a Myanmar opponent, but GM Eugene Torre fell to Indonesian Mohammad Susti in 66 moves at the start of the individual standard event of ASEAN chess.
ASEAN chess features pawns on the third rank and an elephant instead of a bishop. The all-powerful queen has been reduced to a pawn, leaving the rook as the most powerful piece.
The second round will be played later Thursday.
Three women boxers were also set to climb the ring in the afternoon.
They are Josie Gabuco, Maricris Igam and Irish Magno.
Also seeing action are wrestlers Alvin Lobrequito, Johnny Morte and Joseph Angana in faraway Yangon.
In men's basketball, Sinag Pilipinas was fighting Myanmar at presstime.
http://www.information.myanmaronlinecentre.com/billiards-ranola-mourns-fathers-passing-stays-on/
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