Orcollo-Alcano escapes rash of big upsets

MANILA, Philippines - Dennis Orcollo and Ronnie Alcano stormed past Austrians Mario He and Jasmin Ouschan, 8-2, on the day the Americans and the Dutch became the latest giants to fall in the 2011 World Cup of Pool at the Block Atrium in SM North EDSA Mall in Quezon City.

Orcollo and Alcano, who are former World 8-Ball and World 9-Ball champions respectively, strung up eight straight racks after losing the first two to join the other Philippine pair of Efren “Bata” Reyes and Francisco “Django” Bustamante in the second round.

The second-seeded Orcollo-Alcano tandem showed so much class against the lone mixed (man and woman) entry in the tourney, booking a berth in the next round versus the winner of the Canada-Malta showdown.

Holland fell to Thailand, 4-8, and the United States lost a hill-hill decider against Singapore, 7-8, adding to a rash of reversals in the first two days of the prestigious event.

Fancied teams falling by the wayside early on were No. 1 China, No. 3 England, No. 8 Spain and No. 16 Indonesia.

Seventh seed Chinese Taipei, No. 10 Italy and 11th ranked Poland restored order yesterday by disposing of Russia, Hong Kong and Poland, respectively.

Taiwanese Ko Pin-yi and Ko Ping-chun clobbered Russians Konstantin Stepanov and Ruslan Chinakhov, 8-4; Italians Fabio Petroni and Bruno Muratore outlasted Hong Kong bets Lee Chenman and Kenny Kwok, 8-6, and Poles Karol Skowerski and Radowslaw Babica blanked Vietnamese Nguyen Phuc Long and Luong Chi Dung, 8-0.

With World 10 Ball champion Huidji See partnered by rising junior star Marco Teutscher, the Dutch were expected to make short work of the Thai pair of Nitiwat Kanjanasri and Kobkit Palajin.

They were stunned with the Thais jumping to a 5-0 lead and refusing to look back.

Singaporeans Chan Keng Kwang and Bernard Tey made it a big day for Southeast Asian teams, pulling the rug from under Americans Corey Deuel and Mike Dechaine, dressed in American flag trousers with matching shoes.

Orcollo and Alcano won’t be outdone.

The Filipino pair outclassed the Austrians on breaking, potting and safeties to the delight of a good Wednesday crowd in the venue.

A foul by Ouschan gave the Philippines ball in hand, and the Filipinos made it 7-2.

A good break by Orcollo then set up a run-out to finish the match at 8-2