Pagulayan sustains hot US pool run

MANILA, Philippines - Alex Pagulayan kept his winning run on the American pool circuit, ruling the 2012 Southern Classic 9-Ball Championship in Tunica, Mississippi, United States Tuesday.

Pagulayan nipped fellow former world 9-ball champion Johnny Archer, 7-6, in the finals. He beat Shane Van Boening of the US in the semis while Archer foiled what could’ve been an all-Filipino finale by downing Warren Kiamco.

Kiamco earlier humbled former world No. 1 and world 8-ball titlist Dennis Orcollo.

It was Pagulayan’s second straight crown on the circuit after beating Landon Shuffett of the US, 15-10, to capture the Diamond 10-Ball Challenge crown over the weekend. 

“Alex did his best to put the country once again on the world pool map,” said billiards patron Aristeo “Putch” Puyat.