http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/sports/view_article.php?article_id=32392
By Marlon Ramos
Inquirer
Last updated 03:31am (Mla time) 11/14/2006
Published on Page A17 of the November 14, 2006 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer
CALAMBA CITY -- On the eve of her son’s triumph, Teresita Alcano, 57, was the picture of the worried mother.
She admitted that she did not have enough nerve to watch her son Ronato “Ronnie” Alcano play German Ralf Souquet in the televised finals of the 2006 World Pool Championship.
“I was very nervous. That was why I glanced at the television only once. I could not bear to look at my son while playing,” Teresita told the Inquirer in Filipino on Monday.
“I tried to ignore the shouts of my other children. But I prayed hard that he would realize his dream,” she added.
She said she only knew Ronnie had won when her younger son Rick told her that the game was over.
“I am very happy for him. I know he has already reached his dream of becoming a billiards champion,” Teresita said, holding back her tears. “I just hope he will put his money to good use.”
Alcano, 34, became an overnight sports hero after handily beating Souquet, 17-11 -- a victory which President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said made “the Filipino people proud once again.”
Senate President Manuel Villar Jr. filed Resolution No. 484 which says: “Alcano has done the nation proud and has shown the world the Filipinos’ capacity to excel.”
The country’s new sports hero won $100,000 (about P5 million) in the tournament, which drew the world’s best players from 42 countries.
Alcano was one of 21 Filipinos who qualified for the event.
Teresita said the comforts of life that her son now enjoys was a far cry from the hard-up, albeit horrid, life he grew up with.
“I hope he will use the money to buy a house,” she said. “I also hope he will fulfill his promise to his brothers. He’s the only one with a good income now.”
Alcano, the third of five children, lived a simple life and grew up in an impoverished community in Pasilyo 5, Barangay 4 here.
The Alcanos’ one-bedroom, 50-square-meter house is located on a privately owned lot. Aside from a television set and two electric fans, the house is bare of electric appliances.
When the Inquirer visited on Monday, Teresita was hesitant to let this correspondent in.
“Our house is a mess,” she said humbly.
The house has rusting roof and no ceiling, causing the sweltering heat inside. The walls are made of unfinished hollow blocks.
Teresita said the owner of the lot had warned them several times to leave the property because it will soon be demolished.
“That’s why Onnie (as she calls her son) decided not to repair the house because it would be demolished anyway,” she said.
With her son’s earnings, Teresita said he might buy her a house.
Humble beginning
Alcano and his four brothers were introduced to the game of billiards by their late father Ricardo, a former professional basketball player who once played for the 7-Up team.
Ricardo used to rent a commercial stall at the old market plaza where he ran 13 billiards tables. It was there where Alcano and his brothers honed their skills.
Although his father saw the potential of his eight-year-old son then, he wanted him to give priority to his education, Teresita said.
“I used to stop him from playing because he was skipping his classes just to play billiards. But now that he’s a champion, I don’t regret the life he chose,” the mother said. With reports from Christine O. Avendaño and TJ Burgonio
By Marlon Ramos
Inquirer
Last updated 03:31am (Mla time) 11/14/2006
Published on Page A17 of the November 14, 2006 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer
CALAMBA CITY -- On the eve of her son’s triumph, Teresita Alcano, 57, was the picture of the worried mother.
She admitted that she did not have enough nerve to watch her son Ronato “Ronnie” Alcano play German Ralf Souquet in the televised finals of the 2006 World Pool Championship.
“I was very nervous. That was why I glanced at the television only once. I could not bear to look at my son while playing,” Teresita told the Inquirer in Filipino on Monday.
“I tried to ignore the shouts of my other children. But I prayed hard that he would realize his dream,” she added.
She said she only knew Ronnie had won when her younger son Rick told her that the game was over.
“I am very happy for him. I know he has already reached his dream of becoming a billiards champion,” Teresita said, holding back her tears. “I just hope he will put his money to good use.”
Alcano, 34, became an overnight sports hero after handily beating Souquet, 17-11 -- a victory which President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said made “the Filipino people proud once again.”
Senate President Manuel Villar Jr. filed Resolution No. 484 which says: “Alcano has done the nation proud and has shown the world the Filipinos’ capacity to excel.”
The country’s new sports hero won $100,000 (about P5 million) in the tournament, which drew the world’s best players from 42 countries.
Alcano was one of 21 Filipinos who qualified for the event.
Teresita said the comforts of life that her son now enjoys was a far cry from the hard-up, albeit horrid, life he grew up with.
“I hope he will use the money to buy a house,” she said. “I also hope he will fulfill his promise to his brothers. He’s the only one with a good income now.”
Alcano, the third of five children, lived a simple life and grew up in an impoverished community in Pasilyo 5, Barangay 4 here.
The Alcanos’ one-bedroom, 50-square-meter house is located on a privately owned lot. Aside from a television set and two electric fans, the house is bare of electric appliances.
When the Inquirer visited on Monday, Teresita was hesitant to let this correspondent in.
“Our house is a mess,” she said humbly.
The house has rusting roof and no ceiling, causing the sweltering heat inside. The walls are made of unfinished hollow blocks.
Teresita said the owner of the lot had warned them several times to leave the property because it will soon be demolished.
“That’s why Onnie (as she calls her son) decided not to repair the house because it would be demolished anyway,” she said.
With her son’s earnings, Teresita said he might buy her a house.
Humble beginning
Alcano and his four brothers were introduced to the game of billiards by their late father Ricardo, a former professional basketball player who once played for the 7-Up team.
Ricardo used to rent a commercial stall at the old market plaza where he ran 13 billiards tables. It was there where Alcano and his brothers honed their skills.
Although his father saw the potential of his eight-year-old son then, he wanted him to give priority to his education, Teresita said.
“I used to stop him from playing because he was skipping his classes just to play billiards. But now that he’s a champion, I don’t regret the life he chose,” the mother said. With reports from Christine O. Avendaño and TJ Burgonio
