INQUIRER Sports

MANILA, Philippines ? Young as she is, eleven-year old pool sensation Gillian Go has her eyes set on representing the country a lot more and add to an already illustrious roster of Filipino players.

Go, an incoming sixth grader at the Jubilee Christian Academy in Quezon City, was among six Filipino players who qualified in the recent Women?s World 10-Ball Championships.

It was her international debut, joining a field of 32 that included some of today?s best female players in the world of pool including Jeanette ?The Black Widow? Lee, Jasmin Ouschan and Allison Fisher.

Go racked three wins and an equal number of losses, two of them to South Korea?s Cha Yu-Ram, who ranks number five in the world.

?I feel honored that I was given the chance to represent the Philippines at my age,? Go said in an interview with INQUIRER.net in between games during the week-long tournament.

Rubilen Amit, who eventually won the tournament to emerge as the country?s first female world champ, is among those who see a promising future for the young player.

?She?s still young but she already makes difficult shots,? Amit said in one interview. ?I?m sure if she puts her heart into it, she?ll go places.?

Just like legendary pool icon Efren ?Bata? Reyes, Go is hoping to represent the Philippine flag a lot more in tournaments abroad.

She remembers playing pool with her father as early as five years old, later on joining various competitions. What attracted her to pool, she said, is the challenge.

?As a player, it makes you think and requires your full concentration on every shot,? she said.

Aside from joining big-time tournaments abroad, she also sees herself establishing summer camps in the future and teach kids pool.

?I think what my fellow youth must realize is that this sport [pool] has ups and downs but they should not be afraid to try it,? she said.

She may be a full time player during the summer season but once school begins, her studies remain top priority ? an ?agreement? she has forged with her supportive parents.

?They want me to be the best and they are proud of me but I know I should never neglect my studies,? Go said.