Orcollo stakes 10-ball crown

MANILA, Philippines - The 10th Annual Predator International 10-Ball Championship gets under way today with 96 of the world’s top players, headed by Filipino pool legend Efren “Bata” Reyes and fellow Hall of Famer Francisco “Django” Bustamante, clashing for the crown at SM North Edsa in QC.

The event, which starts at 10 a.m., comes on the heels of the country’s successful staging of the World Cup of Pool 2010 at the Robinson’s Place Manila where the Filipino pair of Dennis Orcollo and Roberto Gomez placed second to the Chinese tandem of Fu Jianbo and Li Hewen.

Practically all the WCP participants are also entered in the Predator 10-Ball Championship won by Orcollo over German Ralf Souquet in Las Vegas, Nevada last year.

Orcollo is out to defend his 10-Ball crown after disappointing the Filipino pool fans with their erratic performance in the WCP finals against the Chinese.

Focus will also be on Reyes and Bustamante, who are also raring to make up for their so-so stint in the World Cup which they ruled last year.

The duo’s title defense in the World Cup ended in the second round upset by Indonesians Ricky Yang and Muhammad Zulfikri.

The Predator event runs up to Sunday with the participants first figuring in a race-to-eight double elimination format. The Final 32 will be a race-to-nine single elimination.

The championship match is a race to 10 with the winner going home with $12,000.

Orcollo and Warrem Kiamco figured in an all-Filipino semifinal last year with the former advancing to the final on a 7-4 win.

Another Filipino in Alex Pagulayan made the Final Four but bowed to eventual second placer Souquet.

Orcollo took the crown with an 8-3 win over Souquet.