The Game Belongs To Us
Written by Major Tom
Filed under: Sports
November 13, 2006
With the way he had performed all throughout the knockout stages, I had known then that it wouldn’t much of a surprise if he wins it all. Now, Ronato Alcano sits on top of the world after winning the 2006 World Pool Championship (WPC) held at the PICC and is now $100,000 (about 5 Million Pesos) richer. It was a bit ironic that he had been at the very bottom of the qualifiers after the first round that the commentator could not help pointing that out. It could be the first time that a player that went so low in the eliminations and then went all the way to the top—a sort of a Cinderella story. But Alcano is far from being a flash in the pan since his record boasts of two gold medals in the last Southeast Asian Games and had a spectacular showing in the last Philippine 9-Ball Open.
The final match between Alcano and Ralf “The Kaiser”Souquet was a classic although it was clear that Souquet had been haunted by numerous bad breaks that the final score would have been closer if it wasn’t for some unlucky streaks. In fairness to Souquet, his game was patently powerful still—being a one-time winner of this tournament—but difficult ball placings earlier in the match had clearly costed him the title. Overall, The Kaiser was a worthy opponent that makes it sweeter for Alcano in winning this year’s version of WPC.
Ronato Alcano is clearly a pool player to watch in the coming years and he may be a fitting heir to the legendary pool careers of Filipino masters like Efren “Bata”Reyes and Django Bustamante—along with the very young and one-time champion Filipino Canadian Alex Pagulayan.
If a Filipino keeps on winning in the world pool stage—just like this time—then the game of billiards clearly belongs to us.
I watched the match yesterday. It was truly exciting and I was jumping up and down when he won!
I’m so proud of Alcano! I wish all Filipino pool players lots of success. It seems that we’re quite good in this sport.
Comment by Toe — November 13, 2006 @ 4:07 pm
Wow, another champion. Yes, I hope there’ll be more Filipino pool champions in the future!
Comment by ipanema — November 13, 2006 @ 8:49 pm
To Toe: We all can’t help but be proud of this new Filipino hero. Alcano’s winning the WPC proves that we can be at par with the rest of the world.
To ipanema: To be sure, with the way our pool players are exhibiting their prowess, we can always expect more winnings from them.
Comment by Major Tom — November 14, 2006 @ 9:10 am
I am so happy for this guy and his family. I wih him a long life in the sport circuit.
I hope that we also claim the badminton game as ours one of these days.
Comment by eric — November 14, 2006 @ 10:17 am
major Tom - looks like Pinoys are increasingly becoming masters of this game. Several pINOY names have gained prominence in view of championship wins!
Comment by bw — November 14, 2006 @ 12:25 pm
To eric: I guess if our badminton players can have more international exposures, they can do similar wonders. If the Indonesians can excel in it, I don’t see no reason why we Filipinos can’t.
To BW: Clearly, masterful is the right adjective for these bunch of great Filipino players.
Comment by Major Tom — November 14, 2006 @ 2:17 pm
i don’t get to watch much billiards coz they don’t show much billiards in ESPN here. too bad i didn’t get to see this on tv. another Filipino making us proud. like you said, we really do own this sport. it’s about time for cue artists other than Efren “Bata” Reyes to step up and show the world how good Filipinos are. i’m sure this is just the start of good things to come for Alcano.
Comment by Jaypee — November 15, 2006 @ 12:48 am
To Jaypee: Looks like he’s bound towards a marvelous pool career–the sort that makes one a legend and a hero; as long as he maintains this level of play.
Comment by Major Tom — November 15, 2006 @ 5:06 am
This win is a source of pride for us. I’m a bit sad why it’s taking so long to make this an Olympic sport. By that time, our masters may no longer be there. Good thing Alex and Alcano are carrying the torch.
Comment by Fred — November 15, 2006 @ 5:28 pm
Congratulations to Alcano.
I know that one of the three remaining Filipinos would emerge as champion. I even told my son that this will be an all-filipino showdown.
If only the government, private individuals or corporations would support our players in the sports that Filipinos may excel, then we will be seeing more Pinoy champions.
One sarcastic question: Sinong bulok na pulitiko ang dumidikit kay Alcano ngayong kilala na sya?
Comment by myepinoy — November 15, 2006 @ 9:25 pm
napanood ko yung game nila at talagang natuwa ako ng husto nung nanalo siya, buti nalang binigyan din ng attention ng media ang billiards kasi lagi nalang boxing ang inaabangan ng mga tao, hehe. mabuhay ang pinoy!
Comment by cruise — November 16, 2006 @ 11:56 am
tuwang-tuwa ako winner tayo. it’s one of my favorite sports. hah. sumakay ka pa.
Comment by atticus — November 16, 2006 @ 5:42 pm
Hmm, good for him. But I’m not exactly elated, bro. I’ll just explain it in my post.
Comment by snglguy — November 17, 2006 @ 8:37 pm
To Fred: Sadly nga. We might have our first ever olympic gold medal from pool.
To myepinoy: Yun nga, baka pagpiyestahan siya ng mga politacal posers just like they did to Manny Pacquiao.
To cruise: Sa pagkapanalo pa ngayon ni Manny Pacquiao laban kay Erik Morales, talagang mabuhay ang Pilipino.
To atticus: It’s my fave sports too that in fact, I spend lots of my free time playing it.
To sngl: nakakaintriga and pananaw mo bro…let us see why.
Comment by Major Tom — November 20, 2006 @ 1:19 am
I’m happy he won. Another Pinoy did it. I just hope he’d put his prize money to good use.
Comment by Abaniko — November 21, 2006 @ 10:49 pm