Alcano wins 8-Ball

MANILA, Philippines - Ronnie Alcano trounced fellow former world champion Johnny Archer, 9-5, in the finals to rule the 8-ball division of the Galveston Classic Billiards Extravaganza Sunday night at the Moody Gardens Hotel and Convention Center in Galveston City, Texas.

It was Alcano’s first major title in more than two years since winning the 2007 World 8-Ball Championship, where he became the third player in pool history to become a double world champion.

The title run was also the second for the star-studded Filipino contingent after Efren “Bata” Reyes won the One Pocket division earlier in the tournament.

Alcano, a member of the Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines and Sen. Manny Villar’s Team Villards, jumped the gun on Archer right at the start of their titular match, quickly racing to a 3-0 lead.

The American, however, bounced back by taking four of the next five racks to even the count at 4-all.