Defending Champion Philippine No.1 rotation player Ronato “Volcano” Alcano got off to a great start yesterday in the 2008 World 8-Ball Championships before a huge crowd of pool fans at the Expo Center Fujairah in Fujairah City, United Arab Emirates
The lanky cue artists from Calamba, Laguna, who also won the 2006 WPA World 9-Ball Championships in Manila and place second in the 2007 US Open 9-Ball Championships in Chesapeake, Virginia didn’t go wasted time after a blazing start of 6-0 run in the race-to-8, alternate break format to beat unheralded Carlos Talavera from Guatamela, 8-1, in Group A.
Talavera won the 7th racks for his first rack to cut the lead at 6-1 in favor of the Filipino double world champion before the latter’s (Alcano) won the last two remaining racks.
AZbilliards boss Mike Howerton who is in Fujairah said to this writer in an email yesterday before the match, “The first round of matches are just starting now. The only Pinoy match taking place in the first round is Alcano vs Carlos Talavera from Guatamela. I don’t see that being much of a problem for Ronnie to win. He actually has a pretty easy run into the final sixteen. There will also be a 3pm round and Elvis Calasang will place Seung Wo Ryu from Korea. That is all we have for Pinoy matches today (last night).”Elvis Calasang is in Group B still engage battles as of presstime with Rye Seoung Woo of Korea.
Meanwhile, the Filipinos were greatly spread, and there’s a great chance that it could be another All-Filipino finals like last year. Thanks for a luckily draw to the ten Filipino qualifiers.