The Guinness 9-ball tour is finally coming to Singapore from Jul 13-15 and Ronato Alcano, the 34-year-old reigning international pool champion from the Philippines is here in Singapore 2 weekends prior to kick-start the event.

He has been visiting pubs and clubs around Singapore over the past few days to share a few tips and tricks with pool enthusiasts. Armed with an interpreter, Ronnie spoke to UrbanWire at The Dubliner Irish Pub before his meet-and-greet session.

UrbanWire (UW): So Ronnie, how has life changed since your last major win at WPA Men’s World 9-Ball Championships last year?

Ronato Alcano (RA): “There have been a lot of changes since my win at the Championships. For example, I’m now always invited for events everywhere – both local and international ones.”

UW: Being the current champion for both the 9-ball and the 8-ball, you are undoubtedly the hot favourite for this year’s event. Tell us how you’ve been feeling ever since you’ve started training for the tournament.

RA: First of all, my confidence has geared up since winning the 8-ball and 9-ball. Aside from gaining much confidence, I believe that in the game of 9-ball, you can’t rely on skills alone. A lot also depends on good luck.

UW: During the Chinese Taipei leg, you met with Chao Fong-Pang, who is a former WPA nine-ball champ. Did you have any special techniques or game plan for this match of the champions?

RA: I did have some special techniques but it was quite unfortunate that it did not quite work out. That was why I lost the game.

UW: In your player profile on the official tour website, you named fellow countryman Efren Reyes as your pool idol. Why is he your favourite player and do you aspire to be as successful as him?

RA: Efren is a famous personality not just in the Philippines but all over the world and I believe I’m not the only one who aspires to be like him. I aspire to be like him because he has all the qualities a good billiard player should have. In fact, most of my style came from him.

UW: Was or is there anyone whom you specially looked forward to meet at the tables in this tournament?

RA: Yes. I want to Chang Jung-Lin, who is the current champion for the Guinness competition. He’s the player from Taiwan.

UW: Throughout the two legs in Jakarta and Taipei, you didn’t manage to clinch the top prize then. What do you think are your chances of emerging victorious during the Singapore leg?

RA: For the Singapore leg of the Guinness 9-ball tour, I am very confident of winning as I brought along with me the cue, which I used to win both the 9-ball and 8-ball Championships in the Philippines and the UAE (United Arab Emirates) [respectively]. In the previous legs, I didn’t get to use that cue as there was some problems with it.

UW: Is there anything that you are particularly looking forward to during the Singapore leg?

RA: I just want to win in the Singapore leg of the Guinness 9-ball.

UW: Moving away from the tournament for a while, did you ever expect to become a professional pool player?

RA: Ever since I was young, I already wanted to become a pool player. But I am quite surprised to emerge as the world champion. In fact, since I was 9-years-old, I was already interested in pool. My father is also into billiard and we had a billiard table at home and that was what sparked my interest in billiard.

UW: You’ve been nicknamed “Ronnie Calamba” and “The Volcano”. Please tell us how these nicks came about and what are the meanings behind them?

RA: I come from Calamba, which is a local province in the Philippines. That’s how “Ronnie Calamba” came about. “The Volcano” actually came about because Alcano sounds like “volcano”. It’s as simple as that.

UW: As a professional, can you describe to us what your training schedule is like?

RA: I train everyday because I have my own pool table at home. I do not have a professional trainer. I just play as and when I like. There’s no fixed hours so there’s really no stress at all.

UW: Can you imagine yourself as a pool player still 5 years down the road?

RA: Yes, of course. I’m still very young and I can still imagine myself as a pool player not just 5 years from now but even 10-20 years from now.

UW: In your opinion, what would you say is an important skill for anyone to have in order to play pool well?

RA: There is a special skill and I think it really is the discipline that goes into the training. If you play everyday, of course you expect to get better.

UW: Moving on, how has the sight seeing been in Singapore while you’ve been here?

RA: This is my second time in Singapore but I haven’t had the chance to really go around yet. The weather is pretty similar to Manila but as compared to Manila, Singapore is better because it is not as organised in the Philippines. There isn’t a specific place I particularly like though.

UW: On the topic of travelling, being a family man of 6 children, is it difficult dividing your time between your career and your family?

RA: It is very difficult for my family as my career requires me to travel a lot. But whenever I’m in the Philippines, I’ll make sure I’ll spend quality time with them. That is very important.