Billiards
Former world champs Hohmann, Alcano shown door in Pacman 10-Ball
The race for the $30,000 top prize has become an All-Filipino battle.
Thorsten Hohmann, the former world champion from Germany, was booted out in the Pacman International 10-Ball Cup late Thursday night.
Hohmann, who won his first major title in the Philippines, considered the pool capital of the world, last summer after beating pool idol and compatriot Ralf Souquet in the Philippine Open, got the boot after losing to unheralded Manolo Tanasas, 9-7, in their loser’s bracket encounter.
“Thorsten played bad. He’s not in his usual form in this tournament,” said pool analyst Biboy Soriano, a close friend of the German player.
Hohmann is one of the two world champions eliminated on the third day of competition put up by the eight-division world champion and new pool godfather Manny Pacquiao.
Ronnie Alcano, a double world champion, was stunned by another lesser-known opponent – Edgie Geronimo, 9-5.
Dennis Orcullo, the world No. 1 player and current holder of the World 8-Ball crown, survived for another day after beating Overseas Filipino Worker Elmer Haya, 9-5, in their loser’s bracket match.
The Pacman International 10-Ball Cup has had its share of upsets and new discoveries. Another unknown player, Ricky Puno of Leyte, shocked reigning national pool champ Carlo Biado, 9-5.
Puno joined Jeff de Luna, Jundel Mazon, Lee Van Corteza, Antonio Lining and Roberto Gomez and others in the winner’s bracket.
