Sunday, March 09, 2008
RP top cue artists to join Tokyo Open
FILIPINO billiards masters will troop to Japan for the cash-rich 2008 Japan 9-Ball Open on March 22 in Tokyo.
Defending champion Alex Pagulayan will be joined by the country’s money-game king and the reigning world No.1 Dennis Orcollo, former double world champion Ronnie Alcano, former world champion Efren “Bata” Reyes, former world No.1 Francisco “Django” Bustamante, 2007 World Pool runnerup Roberto Gomez, former Asian Games gold medalist Gandy Valle and top rising star Joven Bustamante in their quests for the prestigious tournament.
Pagulayan won his first major title last year when he beat Taiwanese Ro-Li Wen (9-6) in the finals.
To bag his finals seat last year, Pagulayan beat compatriot Antonio “Nickoy” Lining, 9-5, in the round of four; Naoyuki Ooi of Japan, 9-6, in the quarterfinal and countryman Rodulfo “Samson” Luat, 9-4, in the round of 16.
Also set to see action in this year’s tournament are reigning national champion Lee Van Corteza, Warren Kiamco, Lining, Dondon Razalan and Roel Esquillo along with Antonio “Gaga” Gabica, Jeff de Luna, Eduardo Saracho, Odon Antollin Cruz will also vie for the coveted title.
On the other hand Orcollo, who is coming off a second-place finish in the Brunswick 9-Ball Open last month in Thailand, is aiming to finally become a world champion this year and make this tournament as one of his major stops in his quest to join Reyes, Pagulayan, and Alcano as the country’s world champions. (NSM)
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