The country’s hottest cue artist is coming off another masterful win in the World 8-Ball championship. He’s also the reigning World 9-Ball titlist.

Former World 9-Ball champion Alex Pagulayan opens defense of his title against unheralded Rolando dela Cruz.

Pagulayan takes centerstage at 5 p.m. while Alcano gets to see action at 7 p.m. with both players expected to provide the fireworks in the absence of crowd favorites Efren "Bata" Reyes and Francisco "Django" Bustamante.

Reyes and Bustamante skipped the six-day tournament owing to previous commitments abroad.

"I hope I’ll win it this year," said Alcano, who lost to Jeffrey de Luna for third place last year.

In other featured matches, last year’s runner-up Gandy Valle battles Jech Jech Lemen while de Luna collides with Geronimo Rodrigo.

Other notable players vying for the top purse of R500,000 are 2006 Asian Games 9-ball gold medal winner Antonio Gabica, Antonio Lining, Lee Van Corteza, Ramil Gallego, Dennis Orcullo, Rodolfo Luat, Leonardo Andam, Warren Kiamco and Marlon Manalo.

Gabica collides with Jerry Palayo while Lining, Corteza, Gallego, Orcullo, Luat, Andam, Kiamco and Manalo take on Johann Choa, Richard Pornelosa, Michael Feliciano, Allan Soliman, Manalo Tanasas, Daniel dela Rosa, Renemar David and Jimmy Cheng, respectively.

Also worth watching is 28-year-old Roberto Gomez who is coming off a creditable performance in the last world pool tilt where he shocked American Corey Deuel and a victory in the Scandinivian Open in Norway early this year. Gomez will be paired against Dondon Rasalan.

At women’s 9-ball event, headed by national team mainstays Rubilen Amit, Mary Grace Basa and Iris Ranola, will also be held simultaneously at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum with the champion getting the R200,000 purse.

The meet stakes slots not only to the world pool tournament the country his hosting this November for the second straight year but also berths in the RP squad seeing action in the 24th SEAG slated Dec. 6-16 in Thailand.