Alcano Defeats Corteza in Filipino Billiards Battle

In the featured match of the 9 p.m. rounds, two Filipinos matched up when former world champion Ronnie Alcano and Lee Van Corteza met on the Accu-Stats table. Their match started off shaky at first, but the score remained even throughout until it reached 7-all. Corteza scratched on the 5 ball, and Alcano made a 5-9 combo and then broke and ran the next rack to go up 9-7. To make matters tougher on Corteza, Alcano then snapped in the 9 ball on his next break to reach the hill. Corteza scored a 4-9 combo in the following game and then took the next rack to make it 10-9. Corteza had another chance in the last rack, as Alcano scratched while attempting a two-rail kick, but Corteza missed the 7 in the side, leaving three balls for Alcano to win 11-9.

“Rocket” Rodney Morris took charge of his winners’-bracket match against Adam “GQ” Smith out of Detroit. Though Morris showed troubles getting a clean break and run-out, he used excellent defensive play to stay ahead early and reached a 6-0 lead before Smith got on the board. They exchanged racks for the remainder of the set, but a missed 2 ball in the final rack by Smith cost him the set 11-4.

In a winners’-bracket match utterly dominated by Francisco Bustamante, he reached a 6-0 lead over young Oscar Dominguez before Dominguez got on the board after a dry break by Bustamante. Through a combination of missed shape by Dominguez and strong play by Bustamante, it wasn’t long before “Django” took the match 11-1.

In another lopsided match on the winners’ side, former world 9-ball champ Thorsten Hohmann and Petri Markonen played. Markonen took the first rack, but Hohmann countered by winning the next eight in a row with several break and run-outs. Several exchanges over the next 9 ball led to Markonen getting another game on the wire, but it was not enough, for Hohmann finished out the 11-2 victor.

There was another near wipeout in the elimination rounds when Ralf Souquet and Toru Kuribayashi. Souquet exhibited some problems with getting a shot after his break and didn’t break and run until the sixth game to make it 6-0. Kuribayashi had opportunities throughout the match but did not manage to capitalize on them. In the final game with the score 10-1, Kuribayashi came up empty on his break, and Souquet closed out the set 11-1.

There was a close match in the elimination rounds between Warren Kiamco of the Philippines and the UK’s Imran Majid. Though Majid began by taking the first game and then breaking and running two more racks, Kiamco got on the board after Majid scratched on the 7 ball, making it 3-1 Majid. The score went all the way to 8-all when Kiamco surged ahead to reach the hill. Majid had another shot to bring it back, but he scratched on the 9 ball in the final rack, making Kiamco the 11-8 winner.

Alcano Leads RP Campaign in US Open

Former double world champion Ronnie Alcano leaves for the United States today to compete in the 33rd Annual U.S. Open 9-Ball Championship that starts Sunday at the Chesapeake Conference Center in Chesapeake, Virginia.

Alcano, a stalwart of the star-studded Bugsy Promotions of businessman Perry Mariano, will lead a lean Filipino squad in vying in one of the toughest pool tournament in world.

He will be joined by former world no.1 Francisco “Django” Bustamante, Ramil Gallego, Lee Van Corteza, Warren Kiamco, Rodolfo Luat, Jose “Amang” Parica and Joven Alba in mixing up with the field of close to 300 players from all over the world for the guaranteed total prize of $250,000, including the champion purse of $40,000.

The other top Filipino cue artists did not join in the event for various reasons. Efren “Bata”Reyes is undergoing medical checkup, while current world no.1 Dennis Orcollo and former world champion Alex Pagulayan are set to compete in the Grand Finals of the Guinness 9-Ball Tour in Jakarta, Indonesia, which is slated on October 24.

Alcano, who was a runner-up to American Shane Van Boening last year, is hoping to become the third Filipino to win the prestigious event after Reyes (1994) and Pagulayan (2005).

“I’ll do my best to go all the way this time."  said Alcano, who is searching for his first major title since winning the 2007 World 8-Ball Championship.

Meanwhile, the Quezon City Council has passed a resolution commending Orcollo for his recent string of triumph in the international and local arena.

Led by Majority Floor Leader Ariel Inton, the councilors, with the concurrence of Mayor Sonny Belmonte and Vice-Mayor Herbert Bautista, cited the 29-year-old Orcollo for his title conquest in the 2008 Quezon City 9-Ball Champion, the All-Japan Open, the Qatar International 9-Ball Open, the Guinness 9-Ball Tour leg in Guangzhou, China, and just recently, his and Bustamante’s third-place finish in the PartyPoker.net World Cup of Pool.

“Orcollo’s string of triumphs only proved that the Philippines is still considered as the powerhouse when it comes to billiards because of the achievement of the Filipinos in different prestigious billiards competitions here and abroad,” the resolution states.

“Whereas, he is one of the Outstanding Citizens of Quezon City and a true Quezon City pride, is worthy of emulation and an inspiration for the Quezon City aspiring athletes who will join in all international competition.”

The resolution will be presented to Orcollo today during the SCOOP Forum at Kamayan Restaurant in Ermita, Manila.

ACKDO Supports QC Vs The World Grand Billiards Showdown

The QC-Philippines vs the World Grand Billiards Showdown received another boost with the Association of Clubs, Karaoke and Disco Operators (ACKDO) throwing its all-out support to the much-anticipated event slated December 2 to 4 at the Trinoma Mall in Quezon City .

With promoting Quezon City as the country’s sports tourism capital, ACKDO did not think twice in backing the project when approached by its chief proponent, City Council Majority Floor Leader Ariel Inton.

“We are very happy to be part of this big event. Entertainment is one of the premier tourist attractions here in Quezon City, so we in the industry are giving our all-out support to this project, which in more than one way will also benefit us,” said ACKDO secretary-general Amil Yap.

ACKDO has been supporting a number of sports events, including the Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines (BMPAP)'s Search for the New Billiards Idol series.

Also known as the “City of Stars ”, Quezon City boasts of having the biggest and liveliest entertainment spots in the country.

Already home to major television broadcasting networks, including giants ABS-CBN and GMA-7, Quezon City also houses dozens of restaurants, bars, night clubs, massage parlors, KTVs and the likes.

Pool icon Efren “Bata” Reyes banners the eight-man Team Q.C.-Philippines, which will pit prowess against a selection of topnotch cue artists from other countries in this three-day competition supported by the Quezon City Government led by Mayor Sonny Belmonte, QC Tourism Council headed by chairman Raffy Chico, and BMPAP with Solar Sports, RPN and the Philippine Star as media partners.

Besides Reyes, the other members of the Team QC Philippines are fellow former world champions Alex Pagulayan and Ronnie Alcano, reigning world no.1 Dennis Orcollo, Francisco “Django” Bustamante, 2007 World Pool runner-up Roberto Gomez, Lee Van Corteza and Warren Kiamco.

They will go up against a foreign team also led by three former world titlists in Chia-Ching Wu of Chinese-Taipei, Mika Immonen of Finland and Thorsten Hohmann of Germany. The other players of Team World are 2006 Asian Games gold medalist Satoshi Kawabata of Japan , Ching-Shun Yang of Chinese-Taipei, and Charlie William and Rodney Morris of the United States and another top European player.

They will compete for the $40,000 winner purse.

Alcano Leads All-Pinoy Semis in UAE

Top seed Ronnie Alcano racked up two more victories to banner an all-Filipino semifinals in the Knightshot Champions 9-Ball Challenge being held at the exclusive Sharjah Golf and Shooting Club in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.

The 35-year-old two-time world champion blasted UAE’s Ismael Yaqoob, 10-5, in the Last 16 before overwhelming another local bet Rotchild, 11-3, in the quarterfinals to move within two wins of winning this weeklong tournament and pocket the $10,000 top purse at stake.

Alcano, who rose to prominence after winning the 2006 World Pool Championship in Manila, is eyeing his first title since ruling the 2007 World 8-Ball tilt in Fujairah.
“I really want to get out of this slump, and I hope that I could do it here,” said the stalwart of Perry Mariano’s star-studded Bugsy Promotions, whose campaign is also supported by the Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines (BMPAP) and Senate President Manny Villar’s Villards: Tulong sa pagsulong ng Philippine Sports.

Alcano will next face Middle East-based compatriot Alan Cuartero, who made it to the semis after defeating Mohammad Al Hosani, 11-6, in the Last 8.

The other Final Four match pits Negros Billiards Stable’s Ricky Zerna and Jarry Pelayo. Zerna scored one of the tournament’s upsets as he pulled the rug from under former Asian Games gold medalist Gandy Valle with a 11-6 win in their quarterfinals encounter, while Pelayo subdued Mustafa Hasaan, 11-5, to advance and stay in the hunt for the crown.

World 9-Ball tourney won't happen in Manila in November

Matchroom Sport has told world pool officials that it will not stage the World 9-Ball Pool Championship (WPC) in Manila this November since it failed to get sponsors for the event, information reaching abs-cbnNEWS.com said Wednesday.

"The Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines (BMPAP) claim that the WPC would be held in Manila was just talk," the text message said.

According to Matchroom, it hopes to revive the WPC early next year. A check on the Matchroom Web site (http://matchroomsport.com) provided a November 1-9 date for the WPC. However, it said that the venue was "to be confirmed."

In a related development, Manila-based sports analyst Ronnie Nathanielsz was able get a reaction from Matchroom media director Luke Riches regarding the event's postponement. “The WPC is not dead yet. But most likely it will be early 2009 [when it will be staged again]," Nathanielsz quoted Riches as saying.

Reached for comment, Perry Mariano, one of the founders of the BMPAP, said that he has yet to be informed of Riches' statement. He clarified that as of last report, the WPC merely lost its venue after Senate President Manuel Villar backed out as one of the event's main sponsors. "We got 50 percent but the other 50 percent, was supposed to come from Senator Villar. So nawala ang 50 percent," Mariano told abs-cbnNEWS.com.

Mariano, however, clarified that they are doing everything they can to follow-up the pledges from potential sponsors so that the WPC will take place as scheduled.

Despite Villar's withdrawal of support, Mariano said nothing is final yet. "We're still trying to convince the senator pero siyempre hindi na kamukha noon," he said, adding that politics may have been the main reason behind Villar's withdrawal. At any rate, Mariano said, "it's still Villar's money." "Pera niya 'yon. Wala pa siyang pinipirmahan. Hanggang walang dokumentong pirmado, everything is in limbo," Mariano said.

The WPC held in Manila last year saw England's Daryl Peach beating hometown hero Roberto Gomez, 17-15, in the finals.

Previous Filipino winners of the WPC were Efren “Bata” Reyes (1994), Alex “The Lion” Pagulayan (2005) and Ronnie "The Volcano" Alcano (2006).

Alcano seeks title drought end in UAE

Former double world champion Ronnie Alcano returns to the site of his last triumph as he joins Roberto Gomez and Gandy Valle in the hunt for the $10,000 top purse at the start of the Ramadan 9-Ball Invitational Championship starting Wednesday in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates.

Alcano has not won a tournament since topping the 2007 World 8-Ball Championship in Fujairah.

“It was there in Fujairah where I last won a title,” said Alcano in Filipino. “So I hope it will also be there where I will start winning again.”

On the other hand, Gomez and Valle hope to capitalize on their recent wins in the Manny Villar Cup.

After a string of runner-up finishes, Gomez won the Villar Cup’s Davao leg last month while Valle ruled the Cebu leg in June.

“I hope to continue the momentum I’ve got from my Villar Cup victory,” said the 29-year-old Gomez, who rose to prominence after his runner-up finish in the 2007 World Pool Championship.

The three Filipinos, whose campaign is supported by the Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines (BMPAP) and Villards: Tulong sa Pagsulong ng Philippine Sports, were personally invited by the organizers of the five-day event.

“I hope I could win more tournaments before 2008 ends,” said Valle, also the runner-up to Gomez in the Davao Leg.

Gomez, Alcano, Valle launch campaign at Ramadan 9-Ball Challenge

Filipino cue artists Roberto Gomez, Ronnie Alcano and Gandy Valle opens their campaign Tuesday for the Ramadan 9-Ball Invitational Championship in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates.

A report on AzBilliards.com said Gomez is hoping to ride on his momentum following his successful stint at the Davao leg of the First Senate President Manny Villar Cup.

“I hope to continue the momentum I’ve got from my Villar Cup victory,” said the 29-year-old Gomez, who rose to prominence with his runner-up finish in the 2007 World Pool Championship.

Like Gomez, Valle is also looking to sustain his good performance this year, which started after ruling the Villar Cup Cebu Leg in June.

“I want this 2008 to become a bounce back year for me, and I hope I could win more tournaments before it ends,” said Valle, who was the runner-up to Gomez in the Villar Cup Davao Leg.

Alcano, on the other hand, will break into the tournament looking to end a long title drought.

The former double world champion has not won a title since reigning in the 2007 World 8-Ball Championship held in Fujairah.

“It was there in Fujairah where I last won a title. So I hope it will also be there where I will start winning again,” said Alcano.