BY CHRISTINE MONCADA
AFTER teetering on the brink of collapse
the past three days, reigning world 9-ball and 8-ball champion
Ronnie Alcano finally gave way yesterday, absorbing a 3-9
defeat to upstart Joven Bustamante in the 2nd National Pool
Championship at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
Bustamante, nephew of former world No. 1
Francisco "Django" Bustamante, pounced on the listless play of
Alcano who has been dogged by rape charges filed against him
by his 14-year-old daughter last Monday. He was never in the
match, except in the 9th rack when he made it 3-6.
Bustamante shared the limelight with
defending champion Alex Pagulayan and Dennis Orcollo who
sustained their charge to forge a duel for a semis slot later
in the day.
Pagulayan scored a 9-4 win over Godofredo
Ducanes while Orcollo, the reigning World Pool League titlist,
dismantled Bugsy Promotion stablemate Jherome Pena 9-1.
Also staying unscathed in four matches were
Antonio Lining and Ramil Gallego who beat unfancied Jomar de
Ocampo and Carlo Biado via 9-6 scores, respectively. They were
also set to clash later in the day for a semis berth.
Aside from Alcano, other big names who
bowed out of the running yesterday were fourth-seed Antonio
Gabica, No. 9 Jeff de Luna and No.15 Leonardo "Dodong" Andam.
Several matches were still being played at
press time. What is certain is that only six players will
return to action today, the penultimate day of the tournament
co-organized by BSCP and Raya Sports and presented by San
Miguel Corp.
Alcano, 34, battled back from a 0-3 deficit
and made it 3-6. But he miscalculated a safety shot on the
8-ball, giving Bustamante, 28, the opening he needed to secure
victory.
"Hindi maganda ‘yung tira namin pareho pero
mas malas talaga siya (Alcano) sa bola ngayon," Bustamante
said.
"Sana magtuloy-tuloy pa ang swerte ko at makapasok ako
kahit sa semis lang para mag-qualify ako sa World Pool," added
Bustamante, who won his first two matches before being
relegated to the losers’ bracket after absorbing a 2-9 defeat
to Orcollo the other day.
