Orcullo trims Japanese, pockets World Pool title

MANILA, Philippines - Dennis Orcullo trounced Japanese Toru Kuribayashi, 8-3, in the finals to rule the World Pool Masters at the Riviera Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada Sunday.

Orcullo, winner of the 2008 Qatar 9-Ball International Open and 2009 International Predator 10-ball, actually trailed in the early going, 1-3, but pulled ahead in the race-to-8, winner’s break finale by winning the next seven racks to pound out the victory worth $20,000.

Kuribayashi settled for $10,000 runner-up prize.

Losing semifinalists 2007 World Pool runner-up Roberto Gomez and former World 9-ball champion Oliver Ortmann of Germany received $5,000 each.

On the road to the finals, Orcullo repulsed Gomez, 8-6, in the semis to take the first championship slot while Kuribayashi downed Ortmann, 8-3, in the other semis duel.

Earlier, Gomez trounced World 9-ball and 8-ball champion Ralf Souquet of Germany, 8-5, in the quarterfinal round to arrange a semis match with Orcullo, who routed John Morra of Canada, 8-3, in the last 8.

The other RP bets who saw action in the $100,000 tournament were Efren “Bata” Reyes, Francisco “Django” Bustamante, Ronnie Alcano and Lee Vann “The Slayer” Corteza.

Ramon “Maestro Monching” Mistica, who acted as the spokesman of the groups, said that the Filipino pool wizards will resume their quest for honor and glory when the inauguration of US 10-ball tournament unfolds today at the same venue.