Orcollo heads cast in Villar Cup Calabarzon leg

MANILA, Philippines - Dennis Orcollo, fresh from the Predator 10-ball victory, leads the chase for top honors in the Calabarzon leg of the Sen. Manny Villar Cup beginning Friday at the SM City Mall in Lipa City, Batangas.

“I hope I could continue my good performance, especially in this Villar Cup,” said Orcollo, who beat German ace Ralf Souquet, 8-3, to capture the Predator International 10-Ball title in Las Vegas over the weekend.

This only the second time in eight legs that the 30-year-old former world No.1 player will see action in the island-hopping series presented by Sen. Manny Villar’s Villards: Tulong sa Pagsulong ng Philippine Sports. He finished runner-up to Gandy Valle in Cebu in June 2008.

“I’ve been trying very hard to win the Villar Cup, but it’s like a world championship,” said Orcollo, the pride of Bislig, Surigao del Sur and Quezon City.

But while Orcollo has confirmed his participation in the event, two-leg winner Roberto Gomez will not be around since he is still campaigning in the US.

The field, however, remains talent-laden what with pool legend Efren “Bata” Reyes, former world champion Ronnie Alcano, 2007 national titlist Lee Van Corteza, and former leg champions Warren Kiamco (Alabang), Valle (Cebu), Ramil Gallego (Bulacan), Rodolfo Luat (Bacolod) and Francisco “Django” Bustamante also in the fold.

The three-day event is co-organized by the Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines (BMPAP), sponsored by Camella Communities and sanctioned by the Billiards and Snooker Congress of the Philippines (BSCP).

Joven Bustamante, Rene Mar David, Mike Takayama, Michael Feliciano, Ricky Zerna and Egie Geronimo head the young and upcoming stars in the tournament.