Pinay Ranola bows out

IRIS Ranola, the reigning Southeast Asian Games double gold medallist, bowed out of contention in the 2012 AMWAY eSpring Women’s World 9-Ball Open Championship Saturday at the Cue Master Pool Club in Taipei, Taiwan.

Hui-Shan Lai of Chinese-Taipei ended Ranola’s bid for a possible first world title, ousting the top Filipino bet, 7-2, in the Last 24.

The Zamboanga native Ranola, playing under the banner of sportsman/businessman Aristeo “Putch” Puyat, reached the Final 24 after posting a 3-2 (win-loss) card in the single round eliminations group stages.

Ranola defeated Laetitia Dos Santos of France, 7-5, in a do-or-die match to progress. Ranola opened her campaign in sizzling fashion, posting big wins against heavyweight Fu Xiao-Fang of China, 7-4. She lost to Bo-Ra Jung of Korea, 1-7, then bounced back by beating Mirjana Grujicic of Venezuela, 7-2, before losing to Chieh-Yu Chou of Chinese-Taipei, 0-7.

Ranola edged Dos Santos, 7-5, to book a seat to the Last 24.

Earlier, another Filipina cue artist from Puyat Sports stable, Rubilen “Bingkay” Amit, was ousted by Si-ming Chen of China, 1-7, in a must win situation.

The 2009 Women’s World 10-ball ruler Amit finished with a 2-3 card in the group play. /Correspondent Marlon Bernardino