Sunday, April 15, 2007 Yang overtakes Orcullo, 40-28
YANG Ching-shun displayed the prowess that earned him the moniker “Son of Pool” in dismantling Dennis Orcollo, 21-8, Friday to take a commanding 40-28 lead after Day Two of their race-to-60 Money-Game King showdown at the Gateway Mall’s Trade Hall in Cubao, Quezon City.
The 29-year-old 1998 Bangkok and 2002 Busan Asian Games gold meda-list combined booming breaks, superb pocketing and great control of the cue ball to wipe out his opening day 19-20 deficit, and gain every advantage over the hometown bet going into the final round of the event today.
He scored 10 racks on a run out, and nine others off Orcollo’s missed shots.
Yang only needs to pocket 20 more racks to win the match, the $10,000 purse, and the title—albeit unofficial—as the “money-game king of the world.”
Adjusted
“Yesterday (Day One), I was trying to get the feel of the table. But today, I already got adjusted, that’s why I played well,” said Yang through his interpreter, Robert Huang, president of the Asian Pocket-Billiards Union.
“But it’s not yet over. I still have to play good tomorrow (today) to win. No lead is safe, especially with the winner-break format and against a very good guy like Dennis,” added Yang, currently the no.1 player in Chinese-Taipei.
For Orcollo, he needs to score 32 racks to claim the victory, protect the “cradle of pool” from a Taiwanese invasion, and cement his status as the most dreaded player in the money-game side of the sport.
“I had no luck in the break,” said Orcollo. “If it wasn’t a dry break, I didn’t get a shot. Good thing there is still tomorrow, I have a chance to fix my game.”
The 28-year-old reigning World Pool League titlist was actually the one who started out strong in the second day, winning four of the first five racks to zoom to a 24-20 lead. But a dry break on the 45th frame forced him to yield the table to Yang, who strung up seven consecutive racks to seize the driver’s seat.
Orcollo won the 52nd rack, but the Taiwanese continued his onslaught, claiming 12 of the next 13 to blow the game open, and reach the hill at 39-26.
The Filipino stopped the bleeding by winning two racks, but there was no stopping Yang in closing out the day on the 68th rack. (PR)
