FILIPINO BILLIARD CLUB

The Philippines’ Dennis Orcollo and Alex Pagulayan crashed out of the semis yesterday after losing to their respective opponents from Chinese Taipei in the Guinness 9-Ball Tour Grand Final at the Mal Taman Anggrek, in Jakarta.

Pagulayan, who won the Singapore leg, bowed to 2004 World Pool champion Wu Chia Ching, 9-6, while Orcollo, who claimed the title in the Guangzhou leg, fell to Yang Ching Shun, 9-5.

The two Filipinos settled for $5,400 each for reaching the semis of the six-city tour organized by ESPN Star Sports.

Yang went on to win the crown by beating Wu in the finals, 11-9. He pocketed $36,000.

In a battle of former champions, the 30-year-old Pagulayan trailed early on at 4-1 following a miss on the seven-ball in the fourth rack. The Filipino-Canadian managed to get within one rack, 4-3, but a series of miscues on his part allowed the 19-year-old Wu to win four straight racks and be on the hill at 8-4.

Pagulayan still kept it close as he moved within two racks following Wu’s miss on the eight ball in the 13th rack and a run-out in the 14th.

However, Wu easily ran out the very next rack to claim victory and reach the championship match.

Orcollo, currently No. 1 in the WPA ranks, failed to keep the country’s hopes alive as he faltered down the stretch against his long-time rival Yang.

Trailing by just one rack, 6-5, the native of Surigao missed an easy corner pocket shot on the three-ball. Yang pocketed the remaining balls in then ran out the next rack to stretch his lead to three and move within a rack of the win.

Orcollo had a chance to stay alive in the next rack, but a big miss on the two-ball yielded the table and eventually the match to Yang.

In a battle between two former champions, it was Alcano who blinked first, absorbing a crushing 13-7 defeat from Finland’s Mika Immonen in the 33rd US Open 9-Ball Championship yesterday at the Chesapeake Convention Center in Chesapeake, Virginia.

The loss was a bitter pill to swallow – again – for Alcano.

He was installed the odds-on favorite to win the grand prize of $ 40,000 after beating Immonen in the semis, 11-6.

But the touch that enabled the 35-year-old to win his first eight matches deserted him and Immonen took advantage of this to enshrine himself as the 23rd winner of the event.

The pool star from Finland bounced back from the semis defeat by holding off another Filipino Warren Kiamco, 11-9, in the losers’ bracket, before pulling the rug from under Alcano.

Still, Alcano’s runner-up finish was all worth it as he pocketed $ 20,000 (roughly P960,000). He was also beaten by American Shane Van Boening in the finals last year.

“Sayang,” uttered Alcano. “Ang ganda na ng laro ko nung unang laban namin, pero bigla na lang akong minalas sa break at sa kanya pumanig ’yung bola.”

In the finals, Immonen won the lag and quickly raced to a 6-0 lead.

After Alcano won his first rack, the Finn, who was a runner-up to Corey Deuel in 2001, uncorked a 4-1 run for a commanding 10-2 lead and never looked back, repulsing each of Alcano’s attempt to rally.

The loss means Alcano is title-less since he ruled the 2007 World 8-Ball Championship in March last year. He also failed in his bid to become the third Filipino to win the US Open after fellow former world titlist Efren “Bata” Reyes (1994) and Alex Pagulayan (2005).

“Bawi na lang sa susunod na tournament,” said Alcano, whose next tournament will be the First Senate President Manny Villar Cup Bacolod Leg on Nov. 13 to 16 in Bacolod City.

He will have a chance to get back at Immonen as they will be on opposite sides in the QC Invasion:Quezon City-Philippines vs the World Grand Billiards Showdown, a tournament pitting eight of the top Filipino pool masters against a selection of international stars slated on Dec. 2 to 4 at the Trinoma Mall in Quezon City.

Kiamco, who won 11 consecutive matches before succumbing to Immonen, took the third-place honor and the ,000 cash prize.

Sent into the one-loss side after the third round, Kiamco, a mainstay of Jonathan Sy’s Negros Billiards Stable, managed to stay alive and close in to the crown by posting a win after another, including against reigning world 9-ball champion Darryl Peach, Lee Van Corteza, former US Open titlist Nick Varner, reigning World Cup of Pool winner Rodney Morris and former world champion Johnny Archer.

www.g9bt.com

Guangzhou leg winner Dennis Orcollo of the Philippines picked up from where he left off as he dominated the first day of the preliminaries with three victories even as hometown bet Ricky Yang split his two assignments at the start of the Guinness 9 Ball Tour 2008 Grand Final at the jam-packed Mal Taman Anggrek.

Orcollo started the day with a 9 - 7 conquest of fellow Filipino Alex Pagulayan then survived Wang Hung Hsiang of Chinese Taipei, 9 - 8, in Group A. The current WPA number one made it a clean sweep and virtually assured himself an automatic semi-final spot after beating Ryu Seung Woo of Korea, 9 - 5.

Meanwhile, local favorite Yang remained alive for a berth in the semi-finals despite falling to Joven Bustamante of the Philippines, 9 - 8, in the nightcap over in Group B. Bustamante lost his earlier match 5-9 to fellow countryman Antonio Gabica.

The 36-year old Indonesian, who earned a wild card spot in the Grand Final as the country’s best player, started the day with an impressive 9 - 4 triumph over Ibrahim Bin Amir of Malaysia. Yang can guarantee himself a place in the last four should he sweep his three matches tomorrow.

One player who is in a precarious position after the first day of competition is defending Grand Final champion Chang Jung Lin of Chinese Taipei. Chang only managed one win in his first three assignments over in Group A.

Chang dropped his first assignment to countryman Wang Hung Hsiang, 9 - 7, but bounced back to win over Ryu Seung Woo of Korea, 9 - 5.

However, the 23 - year old fell to Alex Pagulayan of the Philippines, 9 - 5, and must now win over Orcollo tomorrow and hope that both Pagulayan and Wang also drop one more match each for any chance at a title repeat.

In other matches played today, Chinese-Taipei’s Wu Chia Ching suffered a surprise 7-9 loss to Malaysia’s Ibrahim bin Amir. However, Amir also lost to Chinese-Taipei’s Yang Ching Shun 4-9 in his other game. read more www.g9bt.com

www.azbilliards.com
After six days of play, the 33rd Annual US Open 9-Ball Championship is now down to just four players.

On the winners side, last years runner up Ronnie Alcano will face 2001 runner up Mika Immonen. Both players have been on top of their games all weeklong and have taken down every opponent placed in their path. Immonen has possibly been the best player all week and has wins over Nick Varner, Shawn Putnam, Jose Parica and Johnny Archer to his credit. Alcano has shown the form that took him to the finals last year and has notable wins over Mitch Ellerman, Tyler Edey, Lee Van Corteza, Francisco Bustamante and Rodney Morris.

On the one loss side, Warren Kiamco will face Johnny Archer. Kiamco lost his second match of the event, but has cruised through the one loss side with notable wins over Daryl Peach, Lee Van Corteza, Robb Saez, Nick Varner, Tony Chohan and a come-from-behind win over Rodney Morris in his last match of the night. Archer had a much shorter route to the final four as he stayed undefeated until Friday when he dropped a match to Mika Immonen. Archer came back with an 11-8 win over Corey Deuel to earn his place in the final four…  read more www.azbilliards.com

www.philstar.com
Alcano trims US bet; Luat cruises

Former two-time world champion Ronnie Alcano bucked a poor start to beat American Mike Brown, 11-7, at the start of the US Open 9-ball Championship at the Chesapeake Convention Center in Chesapeake, Virginia Sunday.

Alcano groped for form against Brown in the early going but settled down just in time to clinch the victory in the $250,000 tournament that lured 237 players from around the world.

“I was a bit tired from a long trip but I was able to recover my rhythm towards the end,” said Alcano in Filipino.

The Bugsy Promotions-backed bet will next face Matt Clatterbuck, who posted an 11-5 win over Billy Anderson.

Alcano, whose campaign is supported by the Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines (BMPAP), is eyeing to improve his runner-up finish last year and win his first major title since ruling the World 8-Ball Championship in March 2007.

Rodolfo Luat also cruised to the next round as he overwhelmed Louis Ulrich, 11-5, in the other contest.

Francisco “Django” Bustamante, Lee Van Corteza, Warren Kiamco and Jose “Amang” Parica drew opening round byes to likewise advance.

Bustamante struts his wares in the second round against Keith Brinton, who won over Adel Al-Shatti, 11-9, while Corteza will take on Abdullah El-Yousef, an 11-9 winner against Randy Labonte.

Kiamco will face Jason Klatt, who prevailed in his first round encounter with Ketie Chuberko, while Parica will square off with Aki Heiskanen.

Ramil Gallego, Leonardo Andam and Joven Alba were still playing with Sam Monday, Markus Juva of Finland and Chris Melling of England, respectively, at presstime.