BY CHRISTINE MONCADA
LITTLE-known snooker player Benjie Guevarra stunned former world 9-ball champion
Ronnie Alcano 8-4 at the start of the 1st Senate President Manny Villar
Billiards Tournament yesterday at Starmall Alabang.
Alcano actually took a 2-0 lead but the 30-year-old Guevarra
refused to panic and rallied to take the upper hand 7-3. Alcano won the 11th
rack to make it 7-4 but Guevarra took the next rack to seal the win.
"Hindi naman ako na-intimidate kay Ronnie. I’ve faced him
before at natalo ko na rin siya dati," said Guevarra, who defeated Alcano in the
2006 Kuwait Open but bowed to the latter in the 2007 BSCP National
Championships.
Guevarra, winner of 2007 Thailand Southeast Asian Games
snookers doubles bronze with Al Ortega , next faces Elmer Jaya, who drew a
first- round bye.
"Hindi pa naman tapos ang tournament, nag-uumpisa pa lang ang
laban," said Alcano, who will now try to survive the loser’s bracket.
Reigning national champion Lee Van Corteza downed Mary Ann
Basas 8-4, Antonio Lining beat Mark Mendoza 8-5 and Russian Periza defeated
Panfilo Damuag 8-2.
Corteza set up an encounter with 1998 Asian Games gold
medalist Gandy Valle, Lining will collide with WPC runner-up Roberto Gomez and
Periza tangles with veteran internationalist Rodolfo Luat.
Meanwhile, Renemar David beat Ryan Cimafranca 5-3 while Mike Takayama and
Michael Feliciano scored 5-0 wins over Ferdinand Villanueva and Jireh Pugayo in
the Search for the New Billiards Idol Sipag at Tiyaga edition.
