INQUIRER Sports

FORMER WPA 9-ball and 8-ball world champion Ronato “Volcano” Alcano, Southeast Asian Games gold medalists Lee Vann “The Slayer” Corteza and Warren “Warrior” Kiamco lived up to their lofty billings by hurdling their respective rivals yesterday at the start of the 34th Annual US Open 9-Ball Championship at the Chesapeake Conference Center in Chesapeake, Virginia.

The Calamba City, Laguna ace Alcano, winner of this year’s Galveston World Classic 8-Ball championship in Texas last month, subdued Japanese Hisataka Kamihasi, 11-3, to arrange a second round battle with another Japanese, Tomoo Takano who blasted Brendan Crocket, 11-5 in their opening round match.

Corteza, who hails from Davao City, on the other hand, crushed Randy Pelton, 11-1, to meet Kimi Alaksonen, who won by default over Omar Alserkal.

Kiamco from Pasil, Cebu, overpowered James Kelly, 11-2. He will meet James Roberts in the second round of the winner’s brackets. Roberts had an easy, 11-6 victory over Chris Bunner.

Meanwhile, US-based Al Lapena also advanced to the next round with an 11-4 demolition over Rick Glasscook. Lapena will test the mettle of Rory Hendrickson in the next round. Hendrickson earned a first round bye.

Jose “Amang” Parica, who also got a first round bye, meanwhile will face the winner of the match between Carsten Due and Tony Chohan.

The US Open is touted as the longest running and most prestigious 9-ball tournament in the world. The tournament champion this year will receive $100,000.