Friday, May 09, 2008
Orcollo beats Villanueva at Villar pool
REIGNING world no.1 Dennis Orcollo recovered from a slow start to beat Eduardo Villanueva, 8-5, and barge into the knockout stage of the 1st Senate President Manny Villar Cup Billiards Tournament at the Sports Center of StarMall Alabang in Muntinlupa City last Wednesday.
Orcollo, who is eyeing his third title this year after his back-to-back conquest of the San Miguel Beer-Quezon City 9-Ball Championship and the Japan 9-Ball Open in March, pocketed four consecutive racks to erase a 4-3 deficit and reach the hill.
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He allowed Villanueva to take the 12th rack before running out the next frame to secure his second win in this P1 million-plus event.
“I admit that my first shots are bad but it's the good thing that I'd recovered. And Pikoy (Villanueva) is really a hard opponent,” said the 29-year-old stalwart of the star-studded Bugsy Promotions of businessman Perry Mariano.
The win put Orcollo in the Last 16, along with fellow Bugsy boys Gandy Valle, Carlo Biado and Jundel Mazon, as well as Rodolfo Luat and Elmer Haya of Jonathan Sy Negros Billiards Stable and Antonio Lining.
Valle, the 1998 Asian Games gold medalist and 2005 Asian Tour champion, kept his mastery of reigning national champion Lee Van Corteza with an 8-3 victory.
“I don’t know why I am always lucky when I played with Van-van (Corteza),” said Valle, who just last month defeated Corteza in the finals of the Magnificent 7 Winner-Take-All tournament in Cebu.
Biado, who made a name for himself following his successive wins over two-time world champions Efren “Bata” Reyes and Ronnie Alcano in the Quezon City 9-Ball tilt, took the scalp of veteran internationalist Ramil Gallego, 8-2, while Mazon, who is coming off a runner-up finish the Korean Pro Tour last week, upended former Southeast Asian Games gold medalist Warren Kiamco, 8-5.
Luat, on the other hand, waylaid Russian Petiza, 8-2, while Haya subdued Benjie Guevarra, 8-3, and Lining outlasted 2007 World Pool runner-up Roberto Gomez, 8-6.
Meanwhile, Joven Bustamante trounced Roel Esquillo, 8-4, to earn a second-round meeting with Reyes, who drew a first-bye and will make his much-anticipated tournament debut today. The winner of this match will be the eighth qualifier to the knockout stage, while the loser will meet Alcano in a do-or-die encounter.
In the Sipag at Tiyaga division, the field was trimmed to 64 players with Bugsy boys Jomar de Ocampo, Mike Takayama, Michael Feliciano, Renemar David, Emil Martinez, Egie Geronimo, Richard Pornelosa and Patrick Gonzales showing the way.
The other qualifiers to the knockout stage are Macky Leyba, Ernesto Sarmiento, Rolan dela Cruz, Romeo Sylvano, Eric Rodriguez, Ato Baliton, Danny Otacan, Eljun Abellana, Murphy Baroa, Chris Bombita, Michael Bolusan, Assunta Espejo, Johnson Vita, Jonald Garcia, Manolo Tanasas, Jireh Dugayo, Ryan Cimafranca, Benson Palce, JR Rubio, Danny Tayo, Rommel Gulen, Romeo Villanueva, Jech Limen, Alex Balintawak, JR Sorio, Allan Villa, Joel Bacunawa, Romeo Cornista, Ricky Gamboa, Roberto Dy, Dem Pulpul, Joey Pardales, Ryan Maglasang, John Rebong, Aldren Pajares, Roland Garcia, Ramon Masagkay, Marvin Gentapa, Reynante Andres, Henry Aldemida, Aram Serquinao, William Millares, Zoren Bantayan, Manuel Caro, Bernard Napiri, Mark Malayan, Rutchel Padal, Jarry Pelayo, Michael Piedad, Eric Navarrete, Arnel Bautista, Romar Villones, Steve Villamil, Mike Delgado, Romeo Dimatulac and Regienald Cortez. (Press release)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro. (May 9, 2008 issue)
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