Orcullo, Gomez seal title match

Roberto Gomez and Dennis Orcullo both rallied from the losers’ bracket to make the final of the first San Miguel Beer Quezon City 9-Ball Billiards Championship at the Trinoma Mall last night.

Gomez beat Francisco “Django” Bustamante in a duel of former World Pool Championship runners-up, 11-4, while Orcullo, the reigning BCA Open champion, topped Ramil Gallego, 11-7, in the Final Four.

Gomez and Orcullo reached the semifinals with victories over Dondon Razalan and Russian Petiza, respectively, in the last four in the losers’ bracket.

The race-to-13 finale in the event presented by the Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines with the backing of San Miguel Beer, the Quezon City government, Pagcor, Puyat Sports, PPT and The Philippine STAR were being played at press time.

Bustamante and Gallego went on a hot streak in the first two days only to get the boot in the knockout semis.

Gallego, a native of Bacolod, was the first to go, failing to get the rhythm against Orcullo.

“I took the early initiative. He was able to seize the lead (5-3) but made a crucial mistake which I pounced on. I held on till the end,” said Orcullo, fresh from a runner-up finish to Taiwanese Ko Pin Yang in the recent Thai Invitational Championship.

Gomez was more impressive in his conquest of Bustamante, sweeping the first five racks and holding on to the lead up to the finish.

Runner-up to Englishman Darryl Peach in the last World Pool Championship, Gomez dished out a near flawless game, losing just four racks on an erroneous safety shot and on three straight run-outs by Bustamante.

Gomez scored a cleanup after a dry break by Bustamante on the 10th rack to make it 6-4.