NEGROS 9-BALL TOURNAMENT

FEIJEN BEATS ALCANO IN NEGROS 9-BALL TILT

DUMAGUETE CITY---NEILS FEIJEN of the Netherlands crushed 2006 World Pool Champion Ronato Alcano of the Philippines, 9-4, late Wednesday at the start of the Negros Oriental International 9-Ball Championships at the Dumaguete Convention Center in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental here.

The 30-year-old Feijen swept to an early 6-1 lead after winning the opening lag in the race-to-9, alternate break format in the first TV table matches which will be aired on Solar Sports on Nov.22-29.

"I played very good, my shot is awesome and fantastic and the ball always favor in my side," said Feijen who showed dismay in the World Pool Championships because does not favor implementing the soft-break.

"I prepared to use the power break or hard break format for the WPC. This adds excitement to the game compared to the soft-break format," added Feijen who lost to Filipino Roberto Gomez, 11-0, in their quarter-final match using the soft-break method in the 2007 Philippines World Pool Championships.

Feijen, who is scheduled to play in the Euro Tour on Spain on Dec. 9-12 and Mosconi Cup on Dec. 15-17 will meet European no.1 player Konstantin Stepanov of Russia, who brought down Leonardo Didal of the Philippines, 9-6, in the $61,400 total pot four day event, jointly organized by Negros Billiard Stable and Puyat Sports in close cooperation with San Miguel Corporation, Nokia, and Kopiko.

In the battle of the former world 9-ball champions which offers top prize of $20,00, Wu Chia-ching of Taiwan proved that he is much better than Thorsten Hohmann of Germany after a 9-3 win to forge an early confrontation with another World 9-ball champion Alex "The Lion Pagulayan of the Philippines who trounced compatriot Arturo Publico, 9-1.

Other matches saw, 2006 Doha Asian games 8-ball gold medalist Satoshi Kawabata of Japan beat Billiards and Snooker Congress of the Philippines (BSCP) founding president Edgard Acaba, 9-7, to meet Japan based Pinoy Ramil "Bebeng" Gallego who edged countryman Elmer Haya, 9-8.

Meanwhile, RP's 1-2 punch and bosom buddy Efren "Bata" Reyes and Francisco "Django" Bustamante finally crossed the line last night in the other TV table matches when the duo facing each other last night.

"Wala tayong magagawa yan ang lumabas sa main draw eh," said Bustamante, who failed to sleep for 2 days after his defeat to eventual winner Daryl Peach of England in their semi-final match of the recent 2007 Philippine World Pool Championships at the Big Dome in Quezon City.

The 43-year-old 2002 WPC runner-up, said yesterday that he already accepted his setbacks in the prestigious World 9-Ball Tour.

"Marami pa naman ang pagkakataon (WPC) basta foucus lamang tayo ngayon dito sa Negros International 9-Ball," added Bustamante, prize fighter of Puyat Sports.

The survivor of Reyes and Bustamante's game will go up against either Dennis Orcollo and Elvis Calasang.

2007 WPC runner-up Roberto Gomez will test the mettle of 2006 WPC runner-up Ralf "Kaiser" Souquet of Germany in another exciting match yesterday.

"Masakit pa din 'yung pagkatalo ko sa WPC pero ganyan talaga ang buhay, baka sa susunod ay ukol na para sa atin," like Bustamante, Gomez also lost to Peach in WPC finals.

If Gomez luckily wins his initial round assignment, he will meet another heavyweight and current national open champion Lee Vann Corteza in the next round. The 28-year-old Corteza, the player of Negros Billiard Stable is expected to beat unheralded Boyet Drillon.

Corey Deuel, a former US Open 9-ball winner is expected win against his match with teen-ager Mike Takayama and a possible encounter to fellow American and another world 9-ball champion Johnny Archer who is still playing as of press time with new comer Chung-Chien-te of Taiwan.

(Report from MARLON BERNARDINO)