ALCANO, ORCULLO, CORTEZA GOT OFF TO A GREAT START IN WORLD 8-BALL

FORMER double world champion (WPA World 9-ball and 8-ball) champion Ronato “Volcano” Alcano, reigning International Predator 10-ball champion Dennis “Robocop” Orcullo and 2009 World Ten Ball Finalist Lee Vann “The Slayer” Corteza lived up to expectations by hurdling their respective rivals at the start of the group stage of Etisalat World 8-Ball Pool Championship 2010 being held at the Fujairah Tennis Club in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates late Monday.

Alcano, one of the top players of Bugsy Promotions smashed Radoslaw Babica of Poland, 8-1, on Group 1.

The Calamba hotshot Alcano is scheduled to face local bet Mohammed Hosani in the next round late Tuesday, who beat John Mora of Canada, 8-7.

“Hindi ko talaga siya binigyan ng pagkakataon, hindi kasi biro-birong kalaban si Radoslaw (Babica), beterano na din siya at marami na ding napanalunan sa international event,” Alcano said to his manager Bugsy Promotion president and Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines (BMPAP) founding head Ceferino “Perry” Mariano in a long distance interview.

“I believe we have a good chances to win the World 8-ball crown considering our players dominating the international tournament in the past events,” said Perry Mariano.

Orcullo, also playing under the banner of Bugsy Promotions, on the other hand defeated countryman Oliver Medanilla, 8-2, in Group 4 to meet compatriot Corteza in the next round.

The Davao City native Corteza, the top player of Negros Billiards Stable outpointed Majid Sultan, 8-5.

Raymund Faraon, Joven Alba, Antonio Gabica and Ruben Bautista also won their matches.

Faraon, who hails from Bicol province blasted Lee Chenman of Hongkong, 8-4, in Group 1, Alba, a former snooker specialist trounced Ali Nasih , 8-0, in Group 2, Gabica, who is best to remember winning the gold medal in 2006 Doha Asian Games 9-ball competition crushed Mateusz Sniegocki of Poland , 8-4, in Group 8 while Bautista beat Magid Al Azmi, 8-5, in Group 8.

However, Marlon Manalo lost to Basher Hussain, 8-7, in Group 7, Venancio Tanio lost to Taiwan’s Pei Wei Chang, 8-3, in Group 3, Jeffrey de Luna bowed to Mustafa Hassan, 8-5, in Group 5and Kim Aquino was yielded to Andreas Roshkowski of Poland, 8-2, in Group 6.

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

BY: MARLON BERNARDINO.