With double world champion Ronnie Alcano and Antonio Lining scoring impressive wins, Team Philippines blasted Team England-I, 4-0, last Monday to lead the opening day winners in the 2010 World Team Pool Championship in Hannover, Germany.

The Filipinos won the 8-ball events against the English twice, 6-5, and 6-4, before Alcano thumped Michael Valentine, 8-6, and former All-Japan titlist Lining blasted Chris Melling, 8-4, in the 9-ball event as the Philippines advanced to the next round.

The remaining two 10-ball matches – the third and last discipline featured in this prestigious event – were no longer played since the Filipinos have already chalked four wins in this 48-nation tournament that dangles a total purse of $400,000 (P19.2 million).

The RP team, also composed of two-time national pool champion Lee Van Corteza, former world No. 1 Dennis Orcullo, former Asian Snooker champion Marlon Manalo, veteran campaigner Warren Kiamco, was set to meet Czech Republic in another race-to-4 battle.

Czech Republic made it to the next round after downing Korea, 4-3.

Also cruising to the next stage were Poland, Crotia, Netherlands, Russia, Sweden, England I, Germany, Greece, Slovakia, China, Switzerland and Denmark. — Francis Santiago