Alcano takes second place honors

American Shane Van Boening reaffirmed his mastery over the reigning World 9-Ball and 8-Ball champion Ronnie “Volcano” Alcano of the Philippines via a 13-10 decision in the finals to rule the 32nd US Open 9-Ball Championships at the Chesapeake Conference Center in Chesapeake, Virginia.

Van Boening, who pocketed US$50,000, was also responsible for dealing Alcano his first defeat in the week-long poolfest. After Alcano missed a 3-ball at a 9-4 combination, Van Boening cleaned up the table and then broke and ran out en route to an 11-4 demolition of the Pinoy shotmaker in their winner’s bracket semifinal duel.

Van Boening then subdued Japanese Tomoko Mekari, 11-9, to advance into the finals without any glitch. He took an early 5-0 lead, but two lucky 9-balls by Mekari allowed the Japanese to pull closer, 3-5.

Van Boening zoomed ahead, 7-3, but Mekari staged another daring rally to even the count at 9-all. That was the best Mekari could muster as Van Boening mopped up the next two racks.

Alcano, on the other hand, stayed alive after crushing Louis Ulrich, 11-3, in his first assignment at the loser’s bracket. Ulrich was the conqueror of Dennis “Robocop” Orcollo.

Alcano then edged out Germany’s Ralf Soquet, 11-3, to march into the championship round and earn a rematch with Van Boening. The win was also a sweet revenge as Soquet was the villain in booting out the other Pinoy survivor Ramil Gallego, 11-9.

Alcano, however, did not succeed in exacting vengeance as Van Boening fought with a lot of heart and personified fortitude when the game was on the line to dominate the Filipino cue master anew.

Indeed, the 24-year-old Van Boening is on a rampage. Before clinching the US Open crown, he finished second to Orcollo in the EnjoyPool.com 9-Ball Championships last May and then bagged his first major title by topping the World 10-Ball Championships later in the month.

Alcano, for his part, took home US$25,000 and will shift his focus next to his title defense in the 2007 World Pool Championship to be hosted by the country for the second straight year on November 3 to 11 at the cavernous Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City. — EBV