Alcano, Lining trim British duo in WTC opener

MANILA, Philippines - Former world 9-ball and 8-ball champion Ronnie Alcano and Japan-based Antonio Lining toppled their respective rivals to power the Philippines to a 4-0 rout of Great Britain II at the start of the inaugural of World Team Cup at the Hannover Exhibition Grounds in Hannover, Germany yesterday.

Alcano trounced Michael Valentine, 8-6, in the 9-ball competition while Lining outclassed Chris Meiling, 8-4, to kick off the Philippines’ title drive in the annual event featuring the best two-man teams in the world.

“It’s a big start for the Philippines. We hope they sustain the momentum,” said billiards patron and Bugsy Promotions chief Perry Mariano.

The RP bets also pulled off a pair of 6-5 and 6-4 victories in the 8-ball Scotch doubles competition, according to Billiards and Snooker Congress of the Philippines (BSCP) chairman Yen Makabenta.

Dennis Orcullo, meanwhile, goes up against Mick Hill while Negros Billiard Stable top player and reigning two-time BSCP National Pool champion Lee Vann Corteza takes on Craig Osborne at the start of the 10-ball event in the $400,000 tournament which attracted 200 pool players from 50 nations using the point-system patterned after the Davis Cup.

Marlon Manalo and Warren Kiamco are the other members of the six-man Team Philippines.

Over in Indiana, US, Efren “Bata” Reyes pocketed his fifth Master of the Table crown, beating American Rodney Morris, 7-4, worth $16,000.

He also won $6,500 for topping the Fat Boy 10-ball Challenge and took $5,000 for his runner-up finish in the 9-ball Banks while raking in $20,000 for winning The Master of the Table Crown for a total of $47,500.

Reyes also ruled the event in 1999, 2004, 2005 and 2007 while buddy Francisco “Django” Bustamante topped the 2008 edition of the event.