WPC RESULTS DAY -1

JAPANESE UCHIGAKI ADVANCES TO ROUND-OF-64

QUEZON CITY, PHILIPPINES---BEFORE the World Pool Championships started, Kenichi Uchigaki was a no body in world of pool but after his first match ended yesterday, the Japanese gave the signal to his counterpart to be ready … Why not? The 38-year-old Japanese blasted pool maestro and Filipino icon Efren "Bata" Reyes, a 9-2 victory in their Group 6 TV table matches.

"It's a wonderful game," said Uchigaki, pool instructor in his country regarding his upset win over Reyes. "The Japanese play very well," explained Reyes after his match.

The unknown Japanese player took a 2-0 lead in the opening round. He might be a possible 3-0 lead but missed the No.2 ball gave Reyes his first rack. A golden break in the 4th frame put Reyes back in the game to tie the match at 2-all count.

However, a dry break by Reyes in the fifth frame gave Uchigaki a 3-2 lead in the race-to-9, winner's break format which will be aired on ESPN Star Sports and Studio 23. Four consecutive racks put Uchigaki ahead 7-2, but missed a 7-ball proved costly for Reyes as his opponent then clinched the last two racks.

The 53-year-old Reyes, meantime nipped Liu Cheng-chuan of Taiwan, 9-7, in his second game to remain in contention. Uchigaki, on the other hand booked his seat to the round-of-64 with a 9-3 win over Canada's Alain Martel.

RONATO ALCANO ENTERS ROUND OF-64

QUEZON CITY, PHILIPPINES---Ronnie Alcano flashed his toothless smile and winning form yesterday to lead the charge of Filipino cue artists in the World Pool Championship yesterday at the Araneta Coliseum.

With the knockout round on his sight, Alcano didn't waste time – and much effort – in dispatching Harold Stolka, 9-1, and grabbing a seat in the next round. Alcano earlier downed Saeed Ahmed Al-Mutawa of the United Arab Emirates, 9-3.

"Kapag winner's break kailangan talaga maganda ang start mo (We need to play good at the start of the game in the winner's break system," said Alcano.

Same couldn't be said on Efren "Bata" Reyes. The charismatic pool icon was ambushed in the opening match by Japanese upstart Kenichi Uchigaki, 2-9. He barely staved off elimination by rallying from several three-rack deficits before beating Taiwanese Liu Chun-chuan, 9-7. Liu jumped the gun on Reyes, 3-0, and maintained a 6-3 cushion midway in match. But when push came to shove, Reyes was at his best.

After a scratch by Liu on the 10th, Reyes clustered five straight racks to take the lead, 8-6, and stay alive.

Antonio "Ga-Ga" Gabica took a different route to the ropes, winning his opener before dropping his second match.

The 2006 Asian Games gold medalist clobbered Bruno Muratore of Italy, 9-1. But he fell to Lu Hui-chan of Taiwan, 2-9.

Joven Bustamante, one of the dark horses in the tournament organized by Matchroom Sport and Raya Sports, made good on his debut, toppling Ibrahim Bin Amir, a Filipino representing Malaysia, 9-8, in the event aired on ESPN Star Sports and Studio 23.

With the double elimination format taking effect, Reyes and Gabica should prevail on their last outing to make it past the group play.

Former world champion Wu Chia-ching was also on the ropes, losing to Vilmos Foldes of Hungary, 7-9.

Yang Ching-shun, considered by many as the best Taiwanese player today, lost to countryman Lu Hui-chan, 5-9. Uchigaki, a qualifier, followed up his win over Reyes with a 9-3 dismantling of Alain Martel of Canada.

Reports from MARLON BERNARDINO