Pinoy cue masters bow to Britons

MANILA, Philippines - Team Philippines failed to sustain a solid start in the 8-ball Scotch doubles as it dropped the next four matches and lost the World Team Pool Cup crown to Great Britain, 1-4, at the Hannover Exhibition Grounds in Hannover, Germany Sunday.

The Filipinos romped off with a 6-1 win in the first game but succumbed to the Britons strong comeback in the 9-ball and 10-ball events, settling for runner-up finish in the inaugural event they were fancied to win.

The Britons, headed by reigning world 9-ball champion Daryl Peach, 2008 world Ten-Ball titlist Darren Appleton, Karl Boyes, Mark Gray and Imram Majid, took the top prize of $100,000.

Team RP, composed of former world 9-ball and 8-ball champion Ronnie Alcano, Dennis Orcullo, Marlon Manalo, Lee Vann Corteza, Antonio Lining and Warren Kiamco, settled for $50,000.

Losing semifinalists Greece and Russia received $30,000 each.

After yielding the first match, the Britons bounced back by taking the second game of 8-ball Scotch doubles event, 6-1, then Gray, Boyes and Appleton came through with victories to anchor Great Britain’s 4-1 triumph.

Gray downed Lining, 8-2, in the first 9-ball game; Boyes edged Corteza, 8-7, in the second 9-ball game; while Appleton toppled Orcullo, 7-1, in the second 10-ball game.

Alcano was actually leading Peach, 2-1, in the first 10-ball game but Appleton’s one-sided victory over Orcullo rendered the Alcano-Peach duel non-bearing.