SMC extends Alcano business deal, bonus

When it rains, it pours.

A day after receiving P1 million from President Arroyo as bonus for his victory in the World Pool Championship, Ronnie Alcano got another incentive, this time a check worth P305,000 from sports patron San Miguel Corp.

"As promised, we are paying tribute to our Filipino players’ achievement in the WPC with this bonus particularly to Ronnie Alcano," said Ramon Ang, president and chief operating officer of food and beverage giant San Miguel Corp.

"We at San Miguel welcome him to the elite circle of Filipino pool masters and hope that many would be inspired by his outstanding feat," he said.

Alcano, who won $100,000 (roughly P5 million) for beating German Ralf Souquet, 17-11, for the crown last weekend, also inked a business partnership deal with SMC.

"We’ll help them put up their business also, perhaps a billiards and restaurant business," said Ang.

"It’s one of my dreams, to have my own billiards and restaurant business for my family," said Alcano, who hopes to set up one in his hometown in Calamba, Laguna, in Filipino.

Alcano and the other Filipino cue artists who performed well in the recently-concluded 9-ball event were treated to a lunch hosted by Ang yesterday at San Miguel’s main office in Ortigas Center.

A separate cash incentive was also divided among Efren Bata, for being cited recently among Time Magazine’s 60 Asian heroes, and the other Filipino WPC standouts.

Other recipients of SMC incentives were Rodolfo Luat (quarterfinalist), Jeff de Luna (Final 16), Lee Van Corteza, Jarome Peña (Final 32), and Francisco "Django" Bustamante who also survived the initial knockout stages of the WPC.

In addition to the incentives, San Miguel was also among this year’s major sponsors of the World Pool event through its flagship brands San Miguel Beer and Ginebra San Miguel.