Pulpul outsmarts lady foe; Didal survives

Little-known Demosthenes Pulpul provided the World 10-Ball Championship a name and a feat to recall.

Pouncing on a late, costly miss by world women’s No. 1 Jasmin Ouschan, Pulpul, a virtual unknown, snatched a thrilling 9-8 victory yesterday to crash into the Last 32 of the championship at the Philippine International Convention Center.

Staring at defeat, Pulpul got a new lease on life when Ouschan, the 2005 World Games winner who humbled German Thomas Engert to clinch a spot in the knockout stage, muffed her shot on the orange-five, enabling the Filipino bet to the snatch the victory.

“Nagdasal akong manalo (I prayed to win),” said Pulpul, a 23-year-old native of Cagayan de Oro who gave up his studies after his father died eight years ago.

The win sent Pulpul, now assured of a $3,000 purse, into a Last 32 clash with Japanese Kazuo Furuta, who bundled out German Oliver Ortmann, 9-6.

Pulpul also said he doesn’t mind having a funny-sounding name.

“Okay lang, sanay na ako (It’s okay I’m used to that),” said Pulpul.

Earlier, Leonardo Didal trounced Zhang Shuchun of China, 9-5, to become the first Filipino to reach the next stage. But he will have his hands full against Yang Shin Chung of Chinese Taipei, who booted out compatriot Chung Hung-ming, 9-4, in their side of the duel.

Arnel Bautista, however, failed to advance as he dropped a 4-9 setback to 2007 World Pool champion Daryl Peach of Great Britain.

Actually, seven Filipinos made it to the knockout phase with Marlon Manalo, one of the favorites to win in this weeklong meet, Victor Arpilleda and teenage phenom Jerico Banares, all playing at press time.

Pulpul also had miscues in his duel with the pretty Ouschan, including one in the 16th rack where, ahead at 8-7, he overshot the yellow-one that held back his bid to finish off the blond Austrian, who went on to take the point for a hill-hill game.

After she sank three balls on her break and hitting the yellow-one, Ouschan miscalculated the orange-five in what seemed to be an easy shot for a player of her caliber.

“Medyo sinuwerte na rin (Somehow I got lucky),” Pulpul said.

The big guns, meanwhile, lived up to their billing with Shane van Boening of the United States, Mika Immonen of Iceland, Wu Chia Ching of Chinese Taipei and Ralf Souquet of Germany all advancing with convincing victories.

Van Boening slammed Tony Drago of Malta, 9-3; Wu blasted Stevie Moore of the US, 9-4; Immonen eliminated Jonni Fulchar of Scotland, 9-5, and Souquet, bucking stomach pains, brought down Majid Iman of Great Britain, 9-5.