Orcollo, Alcano seal all-Pinoy semis duel

MANILA, Philippines - Dennis Orcollo tripped defending champion Francisco Bustamante, 11-6, in a clash of top Filipino bets in the Last 16 phase then dominated Great Britain’s Daryl Peach, 11-2, in the quarters to clinch the first semis berth in the World 9-ball Championship in Doha, Qatar Thursday.

But Orcollo, the reigning WPA World 8-ball champion, faces another talented bet for a crack at the championship as Ronnie Alcano survived two tough matches to force an all-Filipino duel.

Alcano, a former winner of the world 8- and 9-ball crowns, escaped with an 11-9 win over Chang Yu Lun of Taiwan then nipped Toru Kuribayashi of Japan in a hill-hill match, 11-10, to gain a seat in the semis and stay in the hunt for the top $36,000 purse.

Mark Gray of Great Britain and Yukio Akakariyama of Japan will dispute the other finals slot in the $250,000 event which gathered the world’s top players.

Gray whipped Antonio Gabica, 11-5, in the Last 16 then edged American Shane Van Boening, 11-9, while Akakariyama booted out two Filipino bets, edging Carlo Biado, 11-9, in the Last 16 and Vicencio Tanio, 11-10.

Orcollo is trying to become the third Filipino double world champion after Alcano and Reyes, who both won the World 9-ball and 8-ball titles.

“I hope to beat Ronnie because I really want to become a double world champion,” said Orcollo.

“But even if I fail, I hope Ronnie will win the crown again for the country.”

Reyes captured the world 9-ball title in Cardiff, Wales in 1999 then took the world 8-ball crown in 2004 in UAE.

Alcano, on the other hand, won the WPA World 9-ball crown in Manila in 2006 then topped the WPA World 8-ball competition in 2007 in UAE.

Earlier, Orcollo ousted another Filipino bet Villamor Caneda, 11-6, in the round-of-32 while Alcano trounced Raj Hundal of Great Britain, 11-9.