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TOP seed
Ronnie Alcano racked up two more victories to banner an
all-Filipino semifinals showdown in the Knightshot
Champions 9-Ball Challenge at the exclusive Sharjah Golf
and Shooting Club in Sharjah, the United Arab Emirates.
The
35-year-old two-time world champion blasted UAE’s Ismael
Yaqoob, 10-5, in the Last 16 before overwhelming another
local bet, Rotchild, 11-3, in the quarterfinals to move
to within two wins of winning the weeklong tournament
that offers a $10,000 top purse.
 Alcano,
who rose to prominence after winning the 2006 World Pool
Championship in Manila, is eyeing his first title since
ruling the 2007 World 8-Ball tilt in Fujairah.
“I
really want to get out of this slump, and I hope that I
could do it here,” said the stalwart of the star-studded
Bugsy Promotions, whose campaign is also supported by
the Billiards Managers and Players Association of the
Philippines and Senate President Manny Villar’s Villards:
Tulong sa pagsulong ng Philippine Sports.
Alcano
will next face Middle East-based compatriot Alan
Cuartero, who made the semifinals after defeating
Mohammad Al Hosani, 11-6, in the Last 8.
The
other Final Four match pits Negros Billiards Stable’s
Ricky Zerna and Jarry Pelayo. Zerna scored one of the
tournament’s upsets against former Asian Games gold
medalist Gandy Valle, 11-6, while Pelayo subdued Mustafa
Hasaan, 11-5, to advance and stay in the hunt for the
crown.
Pagulayan, Orcollo lead Pinoys’ quest
Singapore
leg winner and former World Pool champion Alex Pagulayan
and current world No. 1 Dennis Orcollo look to gain
momentum and resurrect their dominance in Asia when the
Guinness 9-Ball Tour resumes with its penultimate leg at
the Garden Hotel in Guangzhou, China, from September 19
to 21. The players’ draw for the group stages will take
place on Thursday.
Joining
Pagulayan and Orcollo in the five-man Philippine
contingent in Guangzhou are world No. 6 Joven
Bustamante, Jeffrey de Luna and Tour newcomer Elvis
Calasang. They will attempt to secure as many seats in
the much-awaited Grand Final in Jakarta in October.
‘Search’
resumes in Cubao
DOZENS
of aspiring cue artists gather anew when the Search for
the New Billiards Idol resumes with its 11th leg on
Saturday at the AMF-Puyat Billiards Center in New
Farmers Plaza in Cubao, Quezon City.
Besides
the chance to become the country’s new pool star,
players will also be vying for the top prize of P10,000.
The
runner-up will receive P5,000, while the two other
semifinalists will take P2,500 each.
Also up
for grabs in the event are Bmpap ranking points, which
will be one of the bases in the selection of players for
the soon-to-be-launched National Billiards League (NBL).
William
Millares will be back to defend the baton against hordes
of fellow upstarts.
The
21-year-old stalwart of Fe Promotions of Sta. Maria,
Bulacan councilor Fe Ramos won the series’ 10th leg last
August 23 to become the first two-time champion of this
tournament, which is open to all cue artists except
those who are already in the so-called “Class O” or
all-star level at a token entry fee of only P200.
Leading
the challengers to Millares’ hold of the title are
former leg winners Mark Mendoza, Jomar de Ocampo, Benjie
Guevarra, Egie Geronimo, Joey Pardales and Romar
Villones.
The
competitions will start at 11 a.m. and for further
details contact the Bmpap secretariat at 0926-724-9055,
0918-488-8624 or 0929-964-3350. |
