Four Filipino cue artists, led by former double world champion Ronnie Alcano, will see action in the 2010 Damas World 8-ball Championship which starts April 4 to 10 in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates.

Joining Alcano are former world No. 1 Dennis Orcollo, world 10-ball finalist Lee Van Corteza and former national champ Marlon Manalo.

The pride of Calamba, Laguna, Alcano, who is seeking his second 8-ball title, and Orcollo, are set to leave for UAE on Easter Sunday, according to their manager Perry Mariano.

Alcano won his first world 8-ball title by beating Orcollo in the final, 11-8, in 2007, or a year after he annexed the world 9-ball title in Manila.

“I think both players have a great chance to win considering their domination in 2007,” said Mariano, adding that the tournament will feature a 64-man field, with the champion taking home $28,000 (roughly P1.26 million) from the total $100,000 (roughly P4.5 million) cash prize.

Like Alcano and Orcollo, Corteza and Manalo gained automatic berths in the seven-day meet on the strength of their high rankings in the WPA. Corteza is currently ranked fourth in the world while Manalo is 10th.

Meanwhile, another Filipino, Joven Bustamante, a distant relative of Francisco “Django” Bustamante, was bidding to secure a slot in the qualification phase which started early today, Maundy Thursday. – [source: Francis Santiago | mb.com.ph]