Pagulayan, Gomez reach pool KO stage

MANILA, Philippines - Former world champion Alex Pagulayan and reigning Villar Cup titleholder Roberto Gomez pocketed their third straight victories yesterday to barge into the knockout stage of the ninth Annual Predator International 10-Ball Championship at the Riviera Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Pagulayan continued to flash fine form as he trounced Mike Davis, 10-3, while Gomez demolished Charlie Bryant, 10-1, to advance to the Last 32 in the winners’ bracket of the event organized by Dragon Promotions.

Pagulayan earlier beat Melissa Little, 10-3, and Kurt Kobayashi, while Gomez won his first two matches against Matt Krah, 10-0, and Max Eberle, 10-2, boosting their bid for the top $20,000 purse.

Former Villar Cup leg winner Warren Kiamco also gained after an opening day bye as he downed Kim Shaw, 10-3, and stopped compatriot Lee Van Corteza, 10-4.

But former world No.1 Dennis Orcollo bowed to Tony Robles, 10-6, to join fellow RP bets Rodolfo Luat, Ramil Gallego, Jose “Amang” Parica, Santos Sambajon, Al Lapena and Corteza in the losers’ bracket.

Orcollo, who defeated Allen Hopkin, 10-2, in the second round, must win his fourth round match to advance to the KO phase.

Luat dropped to the one-loss side following a 10-8 setback to Manuel Gamma of Portugal in the second round, while Gallego lost his opening match against Japanese Hiroshi Takenaka, 10-5, but scored a 10-8 win over Sam Wilkie.