DAVAO CITY – Former double world champion Ronnie Alcano came up with a flawless game to demolished Warren Kiamco, 9-1, and show the way for six other Bugsy boys in barging into quarterfinals of the First Senate President Manny Villar Cup Davao Leg before a jampacked crowd at the Atrium of Gaisano Mall here.
The 35-year-old Alcano, who is searching for his first title since winning the 2007 World 8-Ball Championship, ran out all the racks he broke and took advantage of his opponent's erratic breaks to score the lopsided victory that moved him to within three wins of hoisting the prestigious plum and the P300,000 top purse at stake in this fourth stop of the island-hopping series presented by Villards: Tulong sa Pagsulong ng Philippine Sports..
“I really want to break out of a slump, and I've been working hard for that. I hope this is the start of my rise again,” said Alcano, a stalwart of the star-studded Bugsy Promotions of businessman Perry Mariano.
He will next face stablemate and 2007 World Pool runner-up Roberto Gomez, who defeated Elmer Haya, 9-5 in their Last 16 encounter of this event organized by the Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines (BMPAP) and sponsored by Camella Communities.
Villar Cup Cebu Leg titlist and top hometown bet Gandy Valle also joined the Bugsy onslaught, along with reigning world no.1 Dennis Orcollo, and rising stars Joven Bustamante, Carlo Biado and Benjie Guevarra.
Valle boosted his bid of becoming the first two-time winner of this event by beating stablemate Egie Geronimo, 9-6.
Orcollo, on the other hand, edged another Bugsy boy Jharome Pena, 9-8, while Bustamante waylaid Russian Petiza, 9-6. Biado subdued veteran internationalist Rodolfo Luat, 9-5, and Guevarra trounced Demosthenes Pulpul, 9-6.
Efren “Bata” Reyes is the only non-Bugsy left in contention.
The pool maestro made it to the Final 8 by outwitting reigning national champion Lee Van Corteza, 9-7, to stay in the hunt for his first title this year.
Reyes was to face Orcollo in the quarterfinals slated last night.
Other round-of-eight matches pit Valle against Bustamante, and Biado versus Guevarra.
