MANILA, Philippines - Local bet Florencio Banar pulled off a big upset by defeating fourth-seed Jeffrey de Luna, 9-6, in the opening day of the Subic-Olongapo Open Pool Championship in Olongapo City yesterday.
Earlier, Banar also hacked out a 9-8 victory over Luis Saberdo in a hill-hill match to show the way in the early going of the event.
Daniel de la Rosa of Zambales also showed fine form in winning two of his three matches, beating Elmer Kalaquian, 9-7, and Ericson Navarette, 9-4.
He bowed to Demosthenes Pulpul, 8-9.
Top seed Ko Pin Yi of Chinese Taipei also disposed of his first two rivals to join the other unbeaten Filipinos in Mario Tolentino, Victor Arpilleda, Leonardo Didal, Elvis Calasang and Arnel Bautista.
Ko dominated Alex Nobleza, 9-2, and Indonesian Muhammad Bewi, 9-4.