Orcollo stays world No. 1 player, earner

MANILA, Philippines - Dennis Orcollo kept his No. 1 ranking in world pool with a semifinal finish in the world 9-ball and remained the sport’s top money earner halfway through the World Pool-Billiards Association season.

The Surigao del Sur native has racked up $81,740 in earnings, including the $10,000 purse he pocketed in reaching the Final Four of the recent world 9-ball won by Japanese Yukio Akagariyama in Doha.

“He was able to win rich purses early which enabled him to stay on top of the money list up to the latest ratings,” said long-time pool patron Perry Mariano of Bugsy Promotions.

Despite his failed bid in the world 9-ball, where he gained 640 points, Orcollo, a gold medalist in the Guangzhou Asian Games, stayed on top of the WPA rankings with 2,510 points.

Akagariyama, who beat former double world champion Ronnie Alcano in the finals, jumped from 13th to second with 2,100 points.

Alcano slid to third while Lee Vann Corteza remained in eighth with 1,501 points.

Antonio Lining dropped from third to 10th with 1,395 points while Carlo Biado improved from 26th to 14th with 1,304 points.

Meanwhile, Francisco “Django” Bustamante tumbled down to 38th from ninth after being eliminated by Orcollo in the Round of 16.

Former women’s world 10-ball titlist Rubilen Amit amassed 964 total points for 10th place in the distaff side paced by Fu Xiao-fang of China with 1,750 total points.