MANILA, Philippines - Filipino cue artist Dennis Orcollo defeated Taiwan’s Yang Ching-shun bagging the top prize of the Philippine Bigtime Billiards Face-Off series Saturday at the Airport Pagcor Casino in Parañaque.
Orcollo, World Pool and Billiard Association (WPA) 2011 Player of the Year, won two straight racks to edge Yang, 9-7, in the winner’s break format.
It was sweet revenge for Orcollo who lost to Yang in their first two meetings in the Philippines.
“I’m happy I finally beat him in our country,” said Orcollo, who also won the 8-ball gold medal in this year’s Southeast Asian Games in Palembang, Indonesia.
In 2007, Orcollo and Yang, regarded as the money game kings in the respective countries, faced off in a race-to-60 marathon match at the Gateway Mall in Quezon City with the visiting former Asian Games gold medalist emerging the winner. They never met again until Orcollo issued a challenge for a rematch which Yang accepted.
In the 2009 Face Off Series 2-One More Time, Yang agains defeated Orcollo, 50-45, at the Club Capo Exclusive in Quezon City.
Orcollo took home the top prize worth $5,000. Yang received $2,500.