Alcano drops Django, joins Kiamco in US 9-ball semis

Former double world champion Ronnie Alcano kept his perfect run, blasting compatriot Francisco “Django” Bustamante, 11-6, and American Rodney Morris, 11-7, yesterday to move within two wins of ruling the 33rd Annual US Open 9-Ball Championship being held at the Chesapeake Convention Center in Chesapeake, Virginia.

Warren Kiamco, meanwhile, continued to crawl back from the losers’ side as he racked up three more wins to likewise barge into the Final Four of this week-long competition that attracted a total of 238 players from around the world.

With seven straight victories, Alcano is one of the only two undefeated players in this $250,000 event. The other is fellow former world 9-ball titlist Mika Immonen, who he will meet for the first finals slot.

Immonen made this far by beating US-based Filipino Jose “Amang” Parica, 11-8, and former champion Johnny Archer, 11-7, successively.

“I’m happy to be still in the winners’ side. But I’m not contented, I won’t be contented until I won the title,” said Alcano, who last year swept his way to the finals before getting upset by Shane Van Boening.

Alcano, a member of the Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines (BMPAP) and Senate President Manny Villar’s Team Villards: Tulong sa Pagsulong ng Philippine Sports, is eyeing to become the third Filipino to win this ultra-tough tournament after fellow world champions Efren “Bata” Reyes (1994) and Alex Pagulayan (2005).

Alcano, who is one of the eight Filipinos taking on a selection of international stars in the Q.C. Invasion: Quezon City-Philippines vs the World Grand Billiards Showdown in December, has not won a major tournament since he ruled the 2007 World 8-Ball Championship.

Kiamco, relegated to the one-loss side in the third round but managed to stay in contention after winning six straight matches, won another three, eliminating reigning world 9-ball champion Darryl Peach, 11-3, countryman Lee Van Corteza, 11-10, and Rodney Morris, 11-10.

He will next face Archer, who bounced back from his loss to Immonen by defeating Corey Deuel, 11-8.

Bustamante was shown the exit door after he absorbed his second setback at the hands of Deuel , 11-7, in his first match in the one-loss side.

Parica, on the other hand, was booted out by Corteza, 11-5.