Cebuano Warren Kiamco and four other Pinoys downed separate rivals to stay in contention for the championship of the 32nd US Open 9-Ball Championships at the Chesapeake Conference Center in Chesapeake, Virginia.
Kiamco kept his pursuit of the US$50,000 grand prize after edging out compatriot Lee Van Corteza, 11-6.
Kiamco though faces an uphill climb as he battles next reigning world 9-Ball and 8-Ball champion Renato “Volcano” Alcano, who sent Efren “Bata” Reyes into the loser’s bracket after pulling off an 11-7 decision over the Filipino ‘Magician.’
In another all-Pinoy showdown, Jose “Amang” Parica rolled past Franciso “Django” Bustamante, 11-8.
Parica will keep his hands busy against Tyler Edey, who kicked out Germany’s Thorsten Hohmann, 11-8.
Dennis “Robocop” Orcollo is the last undefeated Pinoy in the week-long poolfest that guarantees a total of US$200,000 in prizes. Orcollo bested Tony Crosby, 11-4, to reach the Final Eight against James Walden, who snapped out of Rodolfo “Boy Samson” Luat’s three-game win streak, 11-10.
In the loser’s bracket, Bustamante will take on the victor of the James Roberts-Tomoo Takano match, Corteza will tackle the Lee Chenman-Shin Young Park winner, while Reyes will tangle with the winner of the Markus Juva-Jeff Abernathy duel.
Ramil Gallego also kept his flickering hopes alive with an 11-3 victory over Dave Bollman. He will challenge next Hohmann, while Luat will meet the winner of the match between R. Martinez and Finland’s Mika Immonen.