Orcollo wins Qatar 9-ball tilt

MANILA, Philippines – Dennis Orcollo outclassed Niels Feijen of the Netherlands in a duel of the world’s top-ranked players, fashioning out a 13-5 victory to capture the Qatar International Open 9-ball Championship Saturday night at the Qatar Billiards and Snooker Federation in Doha, Qatar.

It was Orcollo’s third crown this year after the Quezon City 9-ball Championship and the All-Japan Open last March, firming up his claim as the best cue artist in the world today.

“I am very happy with my win and I offer this victory to the Filipino people,” said Orcollo, a stalwart of the star-studded Bugsy Promotions of businessman Perry Mariano and one of the 12 Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines (BMPAP) members, in Filipino.

The 29-year-old Surigao del Sur native, whose campaign was also supported by Senate President Manny Villar’s “Villards: Tulong sa Pagsulong ng Philippine Sports,” pocketed the top purse of $40,000 (P1.8-million) in the event participated by over a hundred world-class players from around the world.

“I congratulate Dennis Orcollo for winning the Qatar 9-ball Championship. His victory showed to the whole world once again the greatness of the Filipino talent,” said Villar.

“Only a few days after the celebrated win of Manny Pacquiao as the new lightweight champ, Filipinos continue to harvest recognition in the international scene. This piece of good news is a welcome break from the daily pronouncements of rising food and fuel prices,” he added.

Orcollo, also the runner-up in the recently concluded Villar Cup Cebu leg, swept his group stage matches against Subah Habib of Bharain (9-1) and Darren Appleton of England (9-6) to easily barge into the knockout stage.

There, he blasted former world champion Oliver Ortmann (11-6) in the Last 32 and countrymen Warren Kiamco (11-6) in the Last 16 and Ramil Gallego (11-9) in the quarterfinals and reigning world 8-ball champion Ralf Souquet of Germany (11-8) in the semis.

Against Feijen, Orcollo romped off to a blazing start, quickly building an 8-3 lead to set the tone for a rout, unusual for a title-match.

Pagulayan moved into the Last 8 by trouncing 2007 World Pool runner-up Roberto Gomez, 11-6. His loss to Souquet denied the Philippines from having a sure finalist.

The other Filipinos who competed in the tournament are BMPAP’s former world titlists Efren “Bata” Reyes, Alex Pagulayan and Ronnie Alcano, former world no.1 Francisco “Django” Bustamante, 2007 World Pool runner-up Roberto Gomez, Villar Cup Cebu Leg winner Gandy Valle, Joven Bustamante, Lee Van Corteza and Benjie Guevarra, as well as Marlon Manalo, Antonio Gabica, Jeff De Luna and Middle East-based Alan Cuartero, Joyme Vicente and Ruben Cuna.