Orcollo targets 10-ball revenge vs Taiwanese

MANILA, Philippines - Dennis Orcollo and Yang Ching-shun renew their rivalry as they clash today in a race-to-50, 10-ball match billed as”Face Off Series 2-One More Time” at the newly opened Club Capo Exclusive on Tomas Morato Avenue, Quezon City.

Orcollo, who with Ronnie Alcano fell short of their finals bid in the just-concluded World Cup pool won by Efren “Bata” Reyes and Francisco “Django” Bustamante, tries to get even with the Taiwanese ace, who beat the top Filipino cue artist in their first encounter nearly three years ago at the Gateway Mall in Quezon City.

“I’ve learned a lot from that defeat, and right after that, I’ve worked very hard to improve my game,” said the 30-year-old mainstay of the star-studded Bugsy Promotions of businessman Perry Mariano.

The Surigao del Sur native has since racked up a number of local and international titles, including the money-rich Qatar World Open 9-Ball Championship in 2008 and the international 10-Ball Championship last May in Las Vegas.

“I think I’m a lot better now than the last time we met, and I think the result will also be different this time,” he said.

But Yang has remained consistent and continued to make waves in the international scene, posting a string of victories that included the overall championship of the 2008 Guinness 9-Ball Tour.

“It’s going to be a very thrilling match with a big possibility of a down-to-the-wire finish,” Mariano said.

“Dennis has improved tremendously but Yang remains one of the best cue artists in the world today, so it’s too close to call,” said Mariano.

Aside from the bragging rights, Orcollo and Yang will be disputing the top $10,000 purse in the two-day event which will be shown live on Solar Sports and in MJC Network (Channel 113 in Sky Cable and Channel 80 in Destiny) with a live streaming over the Internet through www.jbet.net and www.clubcapo.tv.

The Orcollo-Yang rematch also serves as the start of a series of challenge matches Club Capo is putting up.

The exclusive membership club is planning to pit eight to other pairs of world-class cue artists each year.

After the Orcollo-Yang duel, Club Capo Exclusive will stage another blockbuster match featuring Reyes against his fellow Asian pool legend Chao Fong-pang on Oct. 5. It has also lined up a match pitting former double world champions Ronnie Alcano and Ralf Souquet of Germany.

The second edition of The Philippines versus the World will also be part of the Face-Off Series along with the match pitting Bustamante against American Rodney Morris and Lee Van Corteza opposite Shane van Boening in November.