Gomez, Orcollo gain Asiad berths

MANILA, Philippines - Roberto Gomez and Dennis Orcollo clinched berths in the national team competing in the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou, China as they topped the grueling qualifiers at the Rizal Memorial Billiards Center in Malate, Manila recently.

Gomez, the 2007 World Pool Championship finalist, defeated Bugsy teammate Orcollo, 13-11, in the finals of 8-ball competition last Monday.

Orcollo, the reigning International Predator 10-ball champion, rallied from behind to repulse Hall of Famer Efren “Bata” Reyes, 13-12, in the finals of 9-ball competition last Wednesday.

“Right now, I feel we can win gold medals in the billiards competitions. We’re strong in the men’s 8-ball and 9-ball events and we can surprise our rivals even in women’s billiards,” said Perry Mariano, head of the Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines (BMPAP).

Aside from billiards, Mariano said the country has good chances in dragonboat, taekwondo, chess, boxing and athletics in the quadrennial games slated Nov. 12-27.