Give me a break
By Frank Lacambra
The title won recently by Rubelyn Amit of the Philippines in the JBET poker.net Women’s World 10-Ball Championship was a thrilling and a most satisfying news, coming as it did in a year marked by trouble and dissension on the Philippine billiards front.
For Ms. Amit the victory came as some kinds of redemption after a sorry lose in the 2007 Amway Women’s World Championship. She was so close and yet so far away. That was a real heartbreaker for someone so young who had to carry on her shoulders the hopes and expectations of the whole nation.
In the 2007 event, if you remember, Amit started out hot in the early going, But somewhere in the middle of the game, her game suddenly sputtered. She missed too many easy shots that ultimately did her in.
This time around, Rubelyn came to fight. She was more focused. She was relaxed. And learning from her disastrous experience two years earlier, she not only practiced a lot but also prepared herself mentally. In the end her poise and skills—and knowing that the hometown crowd was behind her—made all the difference in her world-class performance.
What made her win all the more memorable and priced was the fact that she topped a star-studded field graced by reigning champion Lien Shin Mei of Chinese Taipei, World No. 1 Kelly Fisher of England, and European 9-ball, 8-ball and straight pool champion Jasmine Ouschan of Austria.
Rubelyn, indeed, deserved to win a tough, high-caliber championship. Something we cannot say of the recent major Philippine men’s tournament (without taking anything away from the eventual champion Ricky Yang who played masterfully) held just a week before the women’s world 10-ball event.
As billiards aficionados ruefully observed, the Philippine Open 10-Ball Championship attracted some of the biggest names in men’s pool (Souquet, Hohmann, van Boening, Deuel, Petroni, Appleton plus strong contingents from Chinese Taipei, Japan, Indonesia and Malaysia) but what an embarrassment that the Philippines could not field its cream of the crop.
Internationally known players came all the way from all over looking forward to battling the cream of the crop of Philippine billiards, but they ended up playing against second- tier players, except for a few formidable players like Manalo, Gabica and de Luna.
How can we have a major billiards event without the likes of Bata Reyes, Django, Alcano, Pagulayan and Luat, just to mention a few? Unthinkable! But unfortunately, that’s what happened. And unless the people running the country’s billiards affairs wake up to this sorry situation, we see trouble ahead.
Perhaps it’s about time the POC—if not President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo herself—took a direct hand and look into what’s bugging our billiards community. The squabbling among our billiards leaders and top players, as we have said in an earlier piece, is not doing the country any good.
The whole world looks at the Philippines as the “new epicenter of international billiards” and we had better take this matter seriously.
This image is a tremendous asset that we should build on and not destroy just because of the narrow selfish interests and greedy motives of a few. The image is good for business, tourism especially. And it’s good for the game, too. Because of it the Philippines has become a powerful magnet, attracting the best and the finest billiards players to our shores.
But if we don’t fix the problem soon, we will fritter away our edge as a billiards mecca in no time.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Philippine Billiards: Commentary
Give Me A Break
By Frank Lacambra
The Philippine Open 10-Ball Championship came and went with Filipino pool fans wondering: What’s happening to Philippine billiards?
The question dogged the event even long before it got off the ground. Announcements of the tournament mentioned just about all the important details, except the names of the Filipinos who were participating. Big names add star power to an event and it’s good for the gate. But this time the superstars didn’t show up.
Rather unusual, considering that in times past a tournament like this would have seen a virtual parade of the biggest names in Philippine billiards. After all, the 10-ball is supposed to be a Filipino “invention”, or at least the Filipino variation on the game.
It’s supposed to be a game where Filipino players excel in, given their penchant for complications. And the event was something that shouldn’t be missed. But how come the biggies of the game were auspiciously absent?
Judging from the roster of participants, the Open looked more like a world tournament than a local thing, what with a formidable cast of famous and familiar faces that came from all over to play in the Philippines.
We saw and met, informally, on the sidelines, such pool stars as former 9-ball world champion Thorsten Hohmann of Germany, Corey Deuel and Shane van Boening of the US, Fabio Petroni of Italy and Ricky Yang of Indonesia. We also spotted World No.1 Ralf Souquet (Ger,), Darren Appleton, the reigning 10-ball world champion, women’s world No.1 Jasmin Ouschan, Marcus Chamat of Sweden, Radoslav Babica of Poland, several players from Taiwan, Japan, Malaysia and Indonesia. Well-known women pool players like Kelly Fisher and Melissa Little also showed up to try their luck with the men.
Those folks came all the way to the Philippines, perhaps looking forward to tangling with Filipino big guns. But they never got to see the stars.
What they encountered instead were the would-be stars. Ok, Marlon Manalo, Tony Gabica and Jeffrey de Luna were there, as well as a few guys on the way up. But let’s face it, these new blood are not yet in the league of the Magician, Django, Alex the Lion, or the Alcano the Volcano.
It was Petroni, watching from the sidelines beside me, who asked the question that I’m sure was on every billiards fan’s mind: “How come Efren and the others are not playing?”
The fact that a foreign player noticed something amiss about the tournament should give our billiards leaders food for thought. Again we ask: What gives?
Is Philippine billiards racked with so much disagreements and bad blood that our pool leaders and players cannot even declare a truce for the sake of the game and for the sake of upholding the reputation of the country as the “new epicenter of world billiards?”
This is a sad and unhealthy situation. Because of the squabbling within our billiards establishment, our image as a united, pool-savvy country could take a beating. And it could set back the country’s efforts in drumming up tourism, among other things.
The problem of Philippine billiards recalls an event that happened to chess a few decades back. Almost 40 years ago, the American chess genius Bobby Fischer almost abandoned his world chess championship match with Boris Spassky of the then USSR. Fischer was throwing tantrums in the run-up to the match and making “impossible” demands on organizers.
The US government saw red flags in Fischer’s conduct. In no time, Henry Kissinger, the US Secretary of State, was talking to Fischer. In so many words, Mr. Kissinger told Bobby to “cool it and just take care of business.” Fortunately for the sporting world-at-large, Bobby got the message and simmered down. He agreed to play. And the rest, as they say, is history.
Maybe the Philippine government should step in and get our warring billiards leaders to stop fighting and start playing—for flag and country. But I’m not sure if the chairman of the Philippine Olympic Committee is the right person for the job. He’s got problems himself. But that’s another story.
The thing is, more and more, foreign players are noticing the cracks in our billiards establishment. This is not doing us any good. And certainly, it’s not good for the game.
Note: Readers’ comments are welcome.
By Frank Lacambra
The Philippine Open 10-Ball Championship came and went with Filipino pool fans wondering: What’s happening to Philippine billiards?
The question dogged the event even long before it got off the ground. Announcements of the tournament mentioned just about all the important details, except the names of the Filipinos who were participating. Big names add star power to an event and it’s good for the gate. But this time the superstars didn’t show up.
Rather unusual, considering that in times past a tournament like this would have seen a virtual parade of the biggest names in Philippine billiards. After all, the 10-ball is supposed to be a Filipino “invention”, or at least the Filipino variation on the game.
It’s supposed to be a game where Filipino players excel in, given their penchant for complications. And the event was something that shouldn’t be missed. But how come the biggies of the game were auspiciously absent?
Judging from the roster of participants, the Open looked more like a world tournament than a local thing, what with a formidable cast of famous and familiar faces that came from all over to play in the Philippines.
We saw and met, informally, on the sidelines, such pool stars as former 9-ball world champion Thorsten Hohmann of Germany, Corey Deuel and Shane van Boening of the US, Fabio Petroni of Italy and Ricky Yang of Indonesia. We also spotted World No.1 Ralf Souquet (Ger,), Darren Appleton, the reigning 10-ball world champion, women’s world No.1 Jasmin Ouschan, Marcus Chamat of Sweden, Radoslav Babica of Poland, several players from Taiwan, Japan, Malaysia and Indonesia. Well-known women pool players like Kelly Fisher and Melissa Little also showed up to try their luck with the men.
Those folks came all the way to the Philippines, perhaps looking forward to tangling with Filipino big guns. But they never got to see the stars.
What they encountered instead were the would-be stars. Ok, Marlon Manalo, Tony Gabica and Jeffrey de Luna were there, as well as a few guys on the way up. But let’s face it, these new blood are not yet in the league of the Magician, Django, Alex the Lion, or the Alcano the Volcano.
It was Petroni, watching from the sidelines beside me, who asked the question that I’m sure was on every billiards fan’s mind: “How come Efren and the others are not playing?”
The fact that a foreign player noticed something amiss about the tournament should give our billiards leaders food for thought. Again we ask: What gives?
Is Philippine billiards racked with so much disagreements and bad blood that our pool leaders and players cannot even declare a truce for the sake of the game and for the sake of upholding the reputation of the country as the “new epicenter of world billiards?”
This is a sad and unhealthy situation. Because of the squabbling within our billiards establishment, our image as a united, pool-savvy country could take a beating. And it could set back the country’s efforts in drumming up tourism, among other things.
The problem of Philippine billiards recalls an event that happened to chess a few decades back. Almost 40 years ago, the American chess genius Bobby Fischer almost abandoned his world chess championship match with Boris Spassky of the then USSR. Fischer was throwing tantrums in the run-up to the match and making “impossible” demands on organizers.
The US government saw red flags in Fischer’s conduct. In no time, Henry Kissinger, the US Secretary of State, was talking to Fischer. In so many words, Mr. Kissinger told Bobby to “cool it and just take care of business.” Fortunately for the sporting world-at-large, Bobby got the message and simmered down. He agreed to play. And the rest, as they say, is history.
Maybe the Philippine government should step in and get our warring billiards leaders to stop fighting and start playing—for flag and country. But I’m not sure if the chairman of the Philippine Olympic Committee is the right person for the job. He’s got problems himself. But that’s another story.
The thing is, more and more, foreign players are noticing the cracks in our billiards establishment. This is not doing us any good. And certainly, it’s not good for the game.
Note: Readers’ comments are welcome.
Sunday, November 16, 2008
AMANG PARICA REGAINS HIS OLD DEADLY FORM BY WINNING COMET BILLIARDS
FILIPINO legendary Jose "Amang" Parica flashed his old deadly form by winning the 2008 Joss Northeast 9-ball tour stop at the Comet Billiards in Parsippany, New Jersey.
The West Covina-based Parica, acknowledged as the leader of the Filipino invasion in the US Pool circuit in the mid 80's defeated American Adam Kielar, 9-3, in their rematch in the finals enroute to the coveted plum plus $1,500 champion's purse in this 45 player field double elimination format.
Kielar, on the other hand settled runner-up place and cash worth $1,100. Parica, earlier brought down American Mike Zuglan, 9-6, for the hot-seat match and earned ticket to the race-to-9 finals while Kielar needed to beat Zuglan, 9-5, to arrange a titular showdown with Parica.
contributed by MARLON BERNARDINO, edited by Jovie Sison
The West Covina-based Parica, acknowledged as the leader of the Filipino invasion in the US Pool circuit in the mid 80's defeated American Adam Kielar, 9-3, in their rematch in the finals enroute to the coveted plum plus $1,500 champion's purse in this 45 player field double elimination format.
Kielar, on the other hand settled runner-up place and cash worth $1,100. Parica, earlier brought down American Mike Zuglan, 9-6, for the hot-seat match and earned ticket to the race-to-9 finals while Kielar needed to beat Zuglan, 9-5, to arrange a titular showdown with Parica.
contributed by MARLON BERNARDINO, edited by Jovie Sison
Sunday, November 2, 2008
TAIWAN SUCCESSFULLY DEFEND ITS GUINNESS GRAND FINALE CROWN
BY: MARLON BERNARDINO
THE Philippines suffered double black eye yesterday when Alex "The Lion" Pagulayan and Dennis "Robocop" Orcollo lost their respective semifinal matches finals in the Guinness 9 Ball Tour 2008 Grand Final being held at the the Mal Taman Anggrek in Bali, Indonesia.
Pagulayan bowed to former double world champion Wu Chia-ching, 6-9, in the first semifinals encounter while Orcollo yielded to Yang Ching-shun that led an all Taiwanese-finals.
Despite the setbacks, Pagulayan and Orcollo, both receive $5,400 for reaching the semi-finals of the six-city tour organized of ESPN STAR Sports.
In the 2007 edition, Taiwanese Chang Jung-lin took the crown and top prize $36,000 after beating Filipino Lee Vann "The Slayer" Corteza in the finals.
Other Filipino saw action were Antonio "Ga-Ga" Gabica and Joven "The Shark" Bustamante who failed to advance in the knock-out stage.
THE Philippines suffered double black eye yesterday when Alex "The Lion" Pagulayan and Dennis "Robocop" Orcollo lost their respective semifinal matches finals in the Guinness 9 Ball Tour 2008 Grand Final being held at the the Mal Taman Anggrek in Bali, Indonesia.
Pagulayan bowed to former double world champion Wu Chia-ching, 6-9, in the first semifinals encounter while Orcollo yielded to Yang Ching-shun that led an all Taiwanese-finals.
Despite the setbacks, Pagulayan and Orcollo, both receive $5,400 for reaching the semi-finals of the six-city tour organized of ESPN STAR Sports.
In the 2007 edition, Taiwanese Chang Jung-lin took the crown and top prize $36,000 after beating Filipino Lee Vann "The Slayer" Corteza in the finals.
Other Filipino saw action were Antonio "Ga-Ga" Gabica and Joven "The Shark" Bustamante who failed to advance in the knock-out stage.
ORCOLLO, PAGULAYAN ENTERS FINAL FOUR IN GUINNESS GRAND FINALE
BY: MARLON BERNARDINO
FILIPINOS Alex "The Lion" Pagulayan and Dennis "Robocop" Orcollo cruised in the semifinals after they finished in the top two of Group A in the preliminary round of the Guinness 9 Ball Tour 2008 Grand Final yesterday at the Mal Taman Anggrek in Bali, Indonesia.
Orcollo, the reigning WPA world number one was still playing defending Grand Final champion Chang Jung Lin of Chinese Taipei as of press time, but his three wins on Friday coupled with Pagulayan's wins over Wang Hung Hsiang of Chinese Taipei and Ryu Seung Woo of Korea yesterday, clinched spots in the last four for the two Filipino aces.
Orcollo, who hails from Bislig, Surigao del Sur who won the previous leg in Guangzhou, China, swept all three of his assignments on Friday. Orcollo native opened his bid with a 9 – 7 triumph of Pagulayan then followed it up with demolishing over Wang, 9 – 8, and Ryu, 9 – 5.
Pagulayan, who ruled the Singapore leg, bounced back from his setback against Orcollo with a relatively easy 9 – 5 victory over Chang late Friday evening. The 2004 World Pool champion barged into the semi-finals after edging Wang, 9 – 8, and routing Ryu, 9 - 2. Chang's two losses to Pagulayan and Orcollo eliminated the defending champion.
Eleven players were divided into two groups and players played in a single round robin format. The top two players from each group advanced to the semi-finals with the final two meeting in the final match tomorrow.
The champion will earn the top prize of US$36,000. Orcollo and Pagulayan are already assured of at least $5,400 for reaching the semi-finals of the six-city tour organized by ESPN STAR Sports.
The Top Ten of the Tour's Order of Merit following the first five legs automatically qualified for the Grand Final. An additional wild card spot was awarded to Ricky Yang as he was the host country's top ranked player.
Meanwhile, a third Filipino, Antonio Gabica, also remained in contention for a semi-final spot after staying unbeaten after three matches over in Group B. Gabica outclassed fellow Filipino Joven Bustamante, 9 – 5, on Friday then beat Malaysia's Ibrahim Bin Amir, 9 – 5, and survived Chinese Taipei's Wu Chia Ching, 9 - 7, yesterday.
The former Asian Games gold medalist needed just one more win in his last two assignments yesterday. He was still playing hometown bet Ricky Yang as of press time and was scheduled to meet Yang Ching Shun of Chinese Taipei yesterday evening.
Bustamante, the fourth Filipino in the group, is virtually eliminated from semi-final contention after dropping two of his three matches. The current WPA world number six fell to Gabica, 5 – 9, but nipped Indonesia's Yang, 9 – 8, Friday. Bustamante then bowed down to Yang Ching Shun, 4 – 9.
Up for grabs in the Grand Final is total prize money of US$72,000, with the winner taking home US$36,000. The Guinness 9 Ball Tour remains the only ranking tour in Asia for players to qualify for the WPA World Pool Championship. The six-city Tour previously had stops in Chinese-Taipei, Penang, Genting Highlands, Singapore, and Guangzhou.
FILIPINOS Alex "The Lion" Pagulayan and Dennis "Robocop" Orcollo cruised in the semifinals after they finished in the top two of Group A in the preliminary round of the Guinness 9 Ball Tour 2008 Grand Final yesterday at the Mal Taman Anggrek in Bali, Indonesia.
Orcollo, the reigning WPA world number one was still playing defending Grand Final champion Chang Jung Lin of Chinese Taipei as of press time, but his three wins on Friday coupled with Pagulayan's wins over Wang Hung Hsiang of Chinese Taipei and Ryu Seung Woo of Korea yesterday, clinched spots in the last four for the two Filipino aces.
Orcollo, who hails from Bislig, Surigao del Sur who won the previous leg in Guangzhou, China, swept all three of his assignments on Friday. Orcollo native opened his bid with a 9 – 7 triumph of Pagulayan then followed it up with demolishing over Wang, 9 – 8, and Ryu, 9 – 5.
Pagulayan, who ruled the Singapore leg, bounced back from his setback against Orcollo with a relatively easy 9 – 5 victory over Chang late Friday evening. The 2004 World Pool champion barged into the semi-finals after edging Wang, 9 – 8, and routing Ryu, 9 - 2. Chang's two losses to Pagulayan and Orcollo eliminated the defending champion.
Eleven players were divided into two groups and players played in a single round robin format. The top two players from each group advanced to the semi-finals with the final two meeting in the final match tomorrow.
The champion will earn the top prize of US$36,000. Orcollo and Pagulayan are already assured of at least $5,400 for reaching the semi-finals of the six-city tour organized by ESPN STAR Sports.
The Top Ten of the Tour's Order of Merit following the first five legs automatically qualified for the Grand Final. An additional wild card spot was awarded to Ricky Yang as he was the host country's top ranked player.
Meanwhile, a third Filipino, Antonio Gabica, also remained in contention for a semi-final spot after staying unbeaten after three matches over in Group B. Gabica outclassed fellow Filipino Joven Bustamante, 9 – 5, on Friday then beat Malaysia's Ibrahim Bin Amir, 9 – 5, and survived Chinese Taipei's Wu Chia Ching, 9 - 7, yesterday.
The former Asian Games gold medalist needed just one more win in his last two assignments yesterday. He was still playing hometown bet Ricky Yang as of press time and was scheduled to meet Yang Ching Shun of Chinese Taipei yesterday evening.
Bustamante, the fourth Filipino in the group, is virtually eliminated from semi-final contention after dropping two of his three matches. The current WPA world number six fell to Gabica, 5 – 9, but nipped Indonesia's Yang, 9 – 8, Friday. Bustamante then bowed down to Yang Ching Shun, 4 – 9.
Up for grabs in the Grand Final is total prize money of US$72,000, with the winner taking home US$36,000. The Guinness 9 Ball Tour remains the only ranking tour in Asia for players to qualify for the WPA World Pool Championship. The six-city Tour previously had stops in Chinese-Taipei, Penang, Genting Highlands, Singapore, and Guangzhou.
ALCANO SETTLES FOR SECOND PLACE IN US OPEN 9-BALL
BY: MARLON BERNARDINO
FORMER double world champion (WPA 9-ball and WPA 8-ball) Ronato "Volcano" Alcano yielded to eventual champion Mika "The Iceman" Immonen of Finland, 13-7, in the finals, but still wound up as the best Filipino finisher in the just concluded 33rd Annual US Open 9-Ball Championship being held at the Chesapeake Convention Center in Chesapeake, Virginia, USA, over the weekend.
Alcano, who also settled runner-up place in the last year's edition receive 2nd place prize of $20,000 for his effort.
Immonen, meanwhile took the crown and the $40,000 that goes with it after trouncing Alcano in this $250,000 total pot prize tournament which lured by 238 players from around the world.
The 36-year-old Calamba native Alcano, who failed to duplicates Efren "Bata" Reyes (1994) and Alex "The Lion" Pagulayan (2005) title feat, earlier brought downed Immonen, 11-6, during their hot-seat match in the winner's brackets to advance in the championships' round.
With the loss, Immonen relegated to the one-loss side and beat another Filipino entry Warren "Warrior" Kiamco, 11-9, to forge a rematch with Alcano. Before losing to Immonen, the 36-year-old Pasil, Cebu native Kiamco, playing under the banner of Jonathan Sy's Negros Billiard Stable ousted lone American survivor Johnny "The Scorpion" Archer, 11-4.
Kiamco pocketed third place worth of $10,000 while Archer didn't go empty-handed with fourth prize of $8,000.
Other Filipinos who saw action were former world no.1 Francisco "Django" Bustamante, Japan based Ramil "Bebeng" Gallego, Jose "Amang" Parica, Lee Vann "The Slayer" Corteza, Rodolfo "Boy Samson" Luat, Leonardo "The Rattle Snake" Andam, Joven Alba, Edwin Montal and Danny Petralba.
The Filipinos' performance was a big letdown as they dominated the 2005 edition, with Pagulayan emerging as champion, Parica and Bustamante settled 2nd to 3rd placers, respectively. The weeklong-event is the longest running 9-ball event in the United States.
FORMER double world champion (WPA 9-ball and WPA 8-ball) Ronato "Volcano" Alcano yielded to eventual champion Mika "The Iceman" Immonen of Finland, 13-7, in the finals, but still wound up as the best Filipino finisher in the just concluded 33rd Annual US Open 9-Ball Championship being held at the Chesapeake Convention Center in Chesapeake, Virginia, USA, over the weekend.
Alcano, who also settled runner-up place in the last year's edition receive 2nd place prize of $20,000 for his effort.
Immonen, meanwhile took the crown and the $40,000 that goes with it after trouncing Alcano in this $250,000 total pot prize tournament which lured by 238 players from around the world.
The 36-year-old Calamba native Alcano, who failed to duplicates Efren "Bata" Reyes (1994) and Alex "The Lion" Pagulayan (2005) title feat, earlier brought downed Immonen, 11-6, during their hot-seat match in the winner's brackets to advance in the championships' round.
With the loss, Immonen relegated to the one-loss side and beat another Filipino entry Warren "Warrior" Kiamco, 11-9, to forge a rematch with Alcano. Before losing to Immonen, the 36-year-old Pasil, Cebu native Kiamco, playing under the banner of Jonathan Sy's Negros Billiard Stable ousted lone American survivor Johnny "The Scorpion" Archer, 11-4.
Kiamco pocketed third place worth of $10,000 while Archer didn't go empty-handed with fourth prize of $8,000.
Other Filipinos who saw action were former world no.1 Francisco "Django" Bustamante, Japan based Ramil "Bebeng" Gallego, Jose "Amang" Parica, Lee Vann "The Slayer" Corteza, Rodolfo "Boy Samson" Luat, Leonardo "The Rattle Snake" Andam, Joven Alba, Edwin Montal and Danny Petralba.
The Filipinos' performance was a big letdown as they dominated the 2005 edition, with Pagulayan emerging as champion, Parica and Bustamante settled 2nd to 3rd placers, respectively. The weeklong-event is the longest running 9-ball event in the United States.
KIAMCO, ALCANO GAIN US OPEN SEMIFINALS
BY: MARLON BERNARDINO
VETERAN Internationalists Warren "Warrior" Kiamco and Ronato "Volcano" Alcano came up with yet another scintillating performance to kept Philippine Flag high in the on-going 33rd US Open 9-ball championships yesterday being held at the Chesapeake Convention Center in Chesapeake, Virginia, USA.
The pride of Bugsy Promotion Alcano, who is aiming to surpass his last year's runner-up place finish beat American Rodney "Rocket" Morris, 11-7, to post his seventh straight wins and move into the final four against former World 9-ball champion Mika "The Iceman" Immonen of Finland, who brought downed another host bet Johnny "The Scorpion" Archer, 11-7.
Alcano and Immonen, both undefeated in this double-elimination format which offers $40,000 to the champion in this $250,000 total pot prize event.
The Cebuano native Kiamco, playing under the banner of Jonathan Sy's Negros Billiard Stable, on the other hand ousted Morris, 11-10, to extend his winning run in the loser's side with eight straight wins to face Archer in another semifinals pair.
After losing to Immonen in the winner's brackets, Archer eliminated compatriot Corey "The Prince" Deuel, 11-8, to meet Kiamco, the 2008 Villar-Alabang leg champion.
Negros Billiard Stable (NBS) head coach Christopher "Toper" Palses lauded the impressive performance of Alcano and Kiamco."Sana manalo sila sa kani-kanilang final four matches para all Filipino-finals." He added.
On the road's to the final four, Kiamco bested Josh Lewis ,11 – 9, reigning World 9-ball champion Daryl Peach of Great Britain, 11 – 3, fellow NBS stablemate Lee Vann "The Slayer" Corteza, 11 – 10, Morris ,11 – 10, Robb Saez ,11 – 8, Scott Rabon ,11 – 7, Nick Varner ,11 – 10, Imran Majid ,11 – 8, Adam Smith ,11 – 5, Tony Chohan 11 – 3, and Morris, 11-10.
Alcano, meanwhile nipped Mike Brown 11 – 7, Matt Clatterbuck 11 – 4, Mitch Ellerman 11 – 10, Tyler Edey 11 – 8, Corteza 11 – 9, Francisco "Django" Bustamante 11 – 6, and Morris 11 – 7.
The much anticipated final four showdown between Alcano and Immonen and Kiamco opposite with Archer with the top two survival will slug it out for this year's over-all championships' trophy.
Alcano and Kiamco, both member of the star-studded Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines (BMPAP) are looking to duplicate's Efren "Bata" Reyes (1994) and Alex "The Lion" Pagulayan (2005) title-feat.
VETERAN Internationalists Warren "Warrior" Kiamco and Ronato "Volcano" Alcano came up with yet another scintillating performance to kept Philippine Flag high in the on-going 33rd US Open 9-ball championships yesterday being held at the Chesapeake Convention Center in Chesapeake, Virginia, USA.
The pride of Bugsy Promotion Alcano, who is aiming to surpass his last year's runner-up place finish beat American Rodney "Rocket" Morris, 11-7, to post his seventh straight wins and move into the final four against former World 9-ball champion Mika "The Iceman" Immonen of Finland, who brought downed another host bet Johnny "The Scorpion" Archer, 11-7.
Alcano and Immonen, both undefeated in this double-elimination format which offers $40,000 to the champion in this $250,000 total pot prize event.
The Cebuano native Kiamco, playing under the banner of Jonathan Sy's Negros Billiard Stable, on the other hand ousted Morris, 11-10, to extend his winning run in the loser's side with eight straight wins to face Archer in another semifinals pair.
After losing to Immonen in the winner's brackets, Archer eliminated compatriot Corey "The Prince" Deuel, 11-8, to meet Kiamco, the 2008 Villar-Alabang leg champion.
Negros Billiard Stable (NBS) head coach Christopher "Toper" Palses lauded the impressive performance of Alcano and Kiamco."Sana manalo sila sa kani-kanilang final four matches para all Filipino-finals." He added.
On the road's to the final four, Kiamco bested Josh Lewis ,11 – 9, reigning World 9-ball champion Daryl Peach of Great Britain, 11 – 3, fellow NBS stablemate Lee Vann "The Slayer" Corteza, 11 – 10, Morris ,11 – 10, Robb Saez ,11 – 8, Scott Rabon ,11 – 7, Nick Varner ,11 – 10, Imran Majid ,11 – 8, Adam Smith ,11 – 5, Tony Chohan 11 – 3, and Morris, 11-10.
Alcano, meanwhile nipped Mike Brown 11 – 7, Matt Clatterbuck 11 – 4, Mitch Ellerman 11 – 10, Tyler Edey 11 – 8, Corteza 11 – 9, Francisco "Django" Bustamante 11 – 6, and Morris 11 – 7.
The much anticipated final four showdown between Alcano and Immonen and Kiamco opposite with Archer with the top two survival will slug it out for this year's over-all championships' trophy.
Alcano and Kiamco, both member of the star-studded Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines (BMPAP) are looking to duplicate's Efren "Bata" Reyes (1994) and Alex "The Lion" Pagulayan (2005) title-feat.
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