http://www.worldpoolchampionship.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=3004
Luckless Alcano gets it flush on the chinwice
Inquirer
Last updated 05:24am (Mla time) 11/05/2006
Published on page A19 of the November 5, 2006 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer
IT was a scene straight out of a Hollywood movie.
In one corner of a billiard hall, a Taiwanese player was checking his winnings, as if making sure that no part of his P150,000 winning was skimmed off.
In another, a deal-maker was trying to pair off pool sharks in an elite and high-stakes money game but no one seemed to agree on his match-ups.
It was the eve of the World Pool Championships, and none of the world-class players who stole off from their hotel rooms was in the mood for rest.
One of them, local bet Ronnie Alcano, was in no mood for anything at all.
The most feared rotation players in the country could only watch as Taiwanese Yang Ching-shun counted the crisp bills he won under the parlor o Gambling?sign.
The lanky 34-year-old Alcano battled Yang in a tight contest that went ill-hill?and blinked first in the staring match, 15-14.
The former AZBilliards rookie of the year watched his bad luck spill over to the start of the World Pool Championships, bowing to little-known Luong Chi Dung of Vietnam, 7-8, in the group stages.
t been tough,?said Alcano in Filipino. e been having bad luck since [Friday].?
It was a night billiards fans would have enjoyed being a part of.
While Alcano was getting licked, reigning world champion Wu Chia-ching and two-time world titlist Chao Fong-pang were fine-tuning their pocketing in another table.
When the resident match-maker of the tried to cook up other matches, no one seemed to bite, although the pool aces milled around waiting for whatever game would ensue.
Mike Takayama, an emerging force in local billiards, refused to play against Kuo Po-cheng, runner-up to Wu last year.
Chao also said no when pitted against Jharome Pe鎙, a wildcard qualifier in the event this year.
It looked to be a long night for the cue artists and the deal-maker.
When it looked like nobodyspecially the Taiwaneseas going home until a money match was set, a familiar figure emerged from the stairs with his pregnant wife and four-year-old son.
It was Dennis obocop?Orcollo, the undisputed money game king in the country.
In a snap of a finger, the Taiwanese decided it was time to rest, packed up their bags and left.