Alcano, Luat post big US Open starts

Two-time world champion Ronnie Alcano shook off an uneasy start to down American Mike Brown, 11-7, in the opening round of the 33rd Annual US Open 9-Ball Championship on Sunday at the Chesapeake Convention Center in Chesapeake, Virginia.

Arriving just in time for the $250,000 week-long tournament, Alcano had a tough time against Brown, a veteran internationalist, before pulling through to show the way for the nine-man Filipino squad.

The prestigious event drew a total of 237 players from around the world.

Rodolfo Luat joined Alcano in the second round after posting an 11-5 victory over Louis Ulrich.

Four other Filipinos—Francisco “Django” Bustamante, Lee Van Corteza, Warren Kiamco and Jose “Amang” Parica—likewise advanced after drawing byes.

“Medyo pagod pa ako sa mahabang biyahe (I’m still tired from the long trip),” said Alcano, the former double world champion from Calamba, Laguna, who is vying for the $40,000 top purse.

“Mabuti na lang at gumanda ‘yung tira ko nung bandang huli (I was lucky that I found my shots in the end).”

He will next face another American in Matt Clatterbuck, an 11-5 winner over compatriot Billy Anderson.

Alcano, last year’s US Open runner-up, is eyeing his first major title since ruling the World 8-Ball Championship in March 2007.

Bustamante will open his bid against Keith Brinton, who won over Adel Al-Shatti, 11-9. Corteza will take on Abdullah El-Yousef, an 11-9 victor against Randy Labonte.

Kiamco, on the other hand, will meet Jason Klatt, who prevailed in his first-round encounter with Ketie Chuberko, while Parica will have Aki Heiskanen as his next foe.

Ramil Gallego was the first Filipino to lose, absorbing an 11-3 whipping from Sam Monday while Leonardo Andam and Joven Alba were still competing at presstime.

Andam was playing Markus Juva of Finland while Alba battled Chris Melling of England.

Also through to the next round were reigning world 9-ball titlist Darryl Peach of England, Thorsten Hohman of Germany and Americans Earl Strickland and Shane van Boening, the defending champion.