ALCANO, CORTEZA ADVANCE IN WORLD 8-BALL

RONATO “Volcano” Alcano was perfect, even as Lee Vann “The Slayer” Corteza flexed enough muscle to win.

Alcano and Corteza, two of the country’s best hopes in the Etisalat WPA World 8-Ball Pool Championship 2010, fashioned out smashing victories to secure berths in the knockout phase round-of-32 late Tuesday being held at the Fujairah Tennis Club in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates.

The top player of Bugsy Promotions Alcano, the 2007 WPA World 8-Ball Champion and 2007 WPA World 9-Ball Champion, scored come from behind win over Mohammed Hosani of UAE, 8-6, in Group 1 while the Davao City native Corteza, playing under the banner of Negros Billiards Stable defeated countryman Dennis “Robocop” Orcullo, 8-5, the reigning International Predator 10-ball Champion in Group D.

According to Bugsy Promotions president and Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines (BMPAP) founding head Ceferino “Perry” Mariano, Alcano also trailed early in this match against Hosani, 1-5, but the never say die attitude of the Calamba hotshot Alcano rally to 8-6 win.

“Sana magpatuloy ang magandang nilalaro ni Ronnie (Alcano) at ng iba pang player natin,” said Perry Mariano.

“Naniniwala ako na maganda ang magiging performance ng mga player natin kasi malaking factor na magkakahiwalay sila sa group stage, may iilan na nagkasama pero apat naman ang kukunin para makapasok sa Last 32,” said Jonathan Sy, co-founder of BMPAP and president of Negros Billiards Stable.

Last Monday, Alcano won his opening matches against Radoslaw Babica of Poland, 8-1, while Corteza, who also the 2009 BSCP National Pool Championships ruler Majid Sultan of UAE, 8-5.

With the back-to-back victories, Alcano and Corteza advance in the Last 32 knock-out stage format in the week-long event sanctioned by the World Pool-Billiard Association (WPA).

Raymund Faraon, Joven Alba and Antonio Gabica also won their second matches to progress.

The Bicol pride Faraon toppled Vincent Facquet of France, 8-6, in Group 1, the snooker specialist Alba turned back Scott Higgins of Great Britain, 8-6, in Group 3 and the Cebuano ace Gabica, who is best to remember winning the gold medal during the 2006 Doha Asian Games 9-ball competition crushed Huidje See of the Netherlands, 8-5, in Group 8.

Little-known Ruben Bautista bowed to reigning World 8-Ball Champion Ralf “Kaiser” Souquet of Germany, 8-1, in Group 8 that put him in the do or die rounds on the one-loss side that includes Orcullo, Marlon Manalo, Oliver Medanilla, Kim Aquino, Venancio Tanio and power-breaker Jeffrey de Luna.

Also advance in the next level are Ricky Yang of Indonesia, Stephan Cohen of France, Shane Van Boening of the United States, Yukio Akakariyama of Japan, Ruslan Chinakhov of Russia, 2009 World Ten Ball titlist Darren Appleton of Great Britain,Andreas Roschkowsky of Poland, Jalal Al Sarisi of UAE, Karl Boyes of Great Britain and Niels Feijen of the Netherlands.

The top four finishers after the group stage matches will advance in the Last 32, knock-out stage format.

BY: MARLON BERNARDINO.