ALCANO BREAKS LONG DROUGHT; WINS GALVESTON CLASSIC 8-BALL TILT

Ronnie Alcano trounced fellow former world champion Johnny Archer, 9-5, in the finals to rule the 8-ball division of the Galveston Classic Billiards Extravaganza Sunday night at the Moody Gardens Hotel and Convention Center in Galveston City, Texas.

It was Alcano’s first major title in more than two years or since winning the World 8-Ball Championship in March 2007 that made him the third player in pool history to become a double world champion.

The title run was also the second for the star-studded Filipino contingent after Efren “Bata” Reyes won the One Pocket division earlier in the tournament.

Alcano, a member of the Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines and Senator Manny Villar’s Team Villards, jumped the gun on Archer right at the start of their titular match, quickly racing to a 3-0 lead.

The American, however, bounced back by taking four of the next five racks to even the count at 4-all.

But Alcano, wouldn’t budge as he pocketed the next for racks to reach the hill. He then allowed Archer to claim his fifth rack before running out the 14^th frame to seal the victory that also earned him $15,500.

Senator Villar congratulated Alcano and Reyes for their victories.

“Ronnie and Efren once again proved that we Filipinos are really a dominant force in billiards. Their victories further inspired me to support this sport, which I’ve been saying is really suited for the Filipinos,” said Villar, acknowledged as the foremost billiards patron in the country.

BY: Bmpap Release