RONATO ALCANO HAS ERUPTED IN US OPEN 9-BALL
RONATO Alcano, known in the pool world as the "Volcano," has erupted. And everybody at the Chesapeake Convention Center in Chesapeake, Virginia is bracing for a historic feat. Alcano, unshaken by a loss in his previous outing, raced to a 10-0 lead in his 11-3 win over Louis Ulrich in the 32 nd US Open. Three more wins and he will become the first player ever to reign in the World Pool Championship, World 8-Ball Championship and US Open at the same time.
He won the world 9-ball title last year and the world 8-ball title early this year.
The top player of Bugsy Promotion was untouchable in his first six matches, beating compatriots Efren "Bata" Reyes, Jose "Amang" Parica and Warren Kiamco along the way.
But he crashed and burned opposite youthful hotshot Shane Van Boening, 4-11, stopping short his bid for a shot on the hot seat.
"Parang panggising 'yung talo ko kay Van Boening," said Alcano in a long distance call. "Hindi ka talaga p'wedeng maging over-confident sa ganito kalaking event. Kahit sno p'wede kang talunin."
Alcano will next face the winner between Ramil Gallego and Ralf Souquet. Souquet is leading at 7-5 in his match against Gallego.
Gallego, the lone Filipino to lose his opening match, is on a zone all by himself.
After losing to Markus Juva in the first round, Gallego clustered 11 straight victories, moving him three wins from an improbable title conquest.
His last prey was former US Open champion Corey Deuel, 11-7. Gallego ended the match by cleaning up the 18th frame off a scratch on the break by Deuel.
Both were tight at the onset, settling for several deadlocks after 10 racks in the winner's break affair.
But Gallego was too hot to handle at the moment. The prized fighter of Negros Billiards Stable (NBS) took the next two racks and was hardly threatened the rest of the way. He's on fire. Unfortunately, some of his compatriots got burned on the course of his sizzling streak. Among his victims were countrymen Efren "Bata" Reyes, Jose "Amang" Parica, Francisco "Django" Bustamante and Edwin Montal.
Along the way the Japan-based son of Bacolod City also beat former world champion Thorsten Hohmann and heavyweight Mike Davis.
To make his run more impressive, Gallego eliminated Hohmann, Bustamante, Davis, Reyes, Parica and Deuel – all major championship winners – on a single night.
It's one of the most amazing runs I've ever seen in billiards," said Philippine billiard godfather Aristeo "Putch" Puyat. "Bebeng's endurance is unbelievable and he's winning over top caliber players."
(Report from MARLON BERNARDINO)
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