Orcollo bagong world champion

MANILA, Philippines - Isang bagong Filipino world billiards champion ang itinang­hal kahapon.

Pinagharian ni Dennis Orcollo ang 9th Annual Predator International 10-Ball Championship na nilahukan ng kabuuang 112 cue artists sa Riviera Hotel and Casino sa Las Vegas, Nevada.

Tinalo ni Orcollo, da­ting top-ranked pool master, si world no.1 at multi-world titlist Ralf Souquet ng Germany, 8-3, sa finals ng natu­rang torneo.

“I’m very happy that, finally, I won the big one,” wika ni Orcollo ng Bislig, Surigao del Sur sa kanyang pagbubulsa sa top prize $20,000.

“I offer this victory to my countrymen, especially to those who have been and my fellow billiards players like my managers Boss Perry and Ma’am Verna, the BMPAP, the new BSCP and of course to Senator Manny Villar, whose Villar Cup has become training ground for us,” dagdag ng 30-anyos na si Orcollo.

Hindi naging madali para kay Orcollo ang pag­­harian ang na­turang $86,000 event na inor­ga­nisa ng Dra­gon Promotions.

Matapos ma­nalo sa kanyang unang dala­wang laro sa qualification phase, nabigo si Orcollo kay American Tony Robles, 6-10, na nag­hulog sa kanya sa one-loss side.

Tinalo naman ni Orcollo sa naturang yugto si American Jeremy Sossei, 10-2, para makaabante sa 32-man knockout stage.

Iginupo ni Orcollo si defen­ding champion Tony Drago ng Malta, 10-6, sa Last 32 at pi­nayukod ang kababa­yang si Ro­dolfo Luat, 10-6, sa Last 16 ka­su­nod ang 10-6 pa­nalo kay top US pro Charlie Williams sa quar­ter­finals at 7-4 pa­ nanaig kay War­ren Ki­amco sa se­ mis.