Alcano bows to Immonen in US Open finals

MANILA, Oct. 27 (PNA) -- Ronnie Alcano swept his way to the finals but failed to erupt in the game that mattered most, as he bowed to fellow former world champion Mika Immonen, 13-7, in the titular match of the 33rd Annual US Open 9-Ball Championship on Sunday at the Chesapeake Convention Center in Chesapeake, Virginia.

It was a sorry loss for the 35-year-old stalwart of the star-studded Bugsy Promotions of businessman Perry Mariano who won all his first eight matches, including an 11-6 trouncing of Immonen in the Final Four.

The pool star from Finland bounced back from that setback by holding off another Filipino Warren Kiamco, 11-9, in the losers’ bracket, before pulling the rug from under Alcano to become the 23rd player to hoist the coveted crown with a total of 238 cue artists from around the world who vied this year.

Immonen also pocketed the $ 40,000 top purse, while Alcano settled for the second prize worth $ 20,000 for the second straight year. He was also the runner-up of this tournament last year, losing to American Shane Van Boening in the finals.

“I failed,” uttered Alcano, a member of the Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines and Senate President Manny Villar’s Team Villards. “I controlled our first game but I lost my momentum. I was not lucky with my breaks and the ball favored my opponent."

In the finals, Immonen won the lag and quickly raced to a 6-0 lead. After Alcano pocketed his first rack, the Finn, who was a runner-up to Corey Deuel in 2001, uncorked a 4-1 run for a commanding 10-2 lead and never looked back, repulsing each of Alcano’s attempt to rally.

The loss means Alcano is title-less since he ruled the 2007 World 8-Ball Championship in March last year. He also failed in his bid to become the third Filipino to win the US Open after fellow former world titlist Efren “Bata” Reyes (1994) and Alex Pagulayan (2005).

"I will just try my best in the next tournaments," added Alcano, whose next tournament will be the First Senate President Manny Villar Cup Bacolod Leg on November 13 to 16 in Bacolod City .

He will have a chance to get back at Immonen as they will be on opposite sides in the Q.C. Invasion: Quezon City-Philippines vs the World Grand Billiards Showdown, a tournament pitting eight of the top Filipino pool masters against a selection of international stars slated on December 2 to 4 at the Trinoma Mall in Quezon City.

Kiamco, who won 11 consecutive matches before succumbing to Immonen, took the third-place honor and the $ 10,000 cash that goes with it.