MANILA, Philippines - Efren “Bata” Reyes and Dennis Orcollo pulled through with contrasting wins as they stayed in the hunt in the US Open 9-ball Championship in Virginia Thursday.
Reyes, 58, edged Darren Appleton of Great Britain, 11-10, then fended off Wang Can of China, 11-7, to stay in the winners’ bracket.
The 34-year-old Orcollo, on the other hand, dominated Mike Davis of the US, 11-5, then clipped Niels Feijen of the Netherlands, 11-8.
Those victories, however, set up the two Filipino aces in a crucial sixth round duel Friday.
Alex Pagulayan,Jose Parica and Ronnie Alcano likewise posted inspiring victories to remain in the race in the $170,000 tournament which offers $25,000 to the champion.
Pagulayan, 36, nipped Daryl Peach of Great Britain, 11-10, then beat Chang Jung-lin of Chinese-Taipei, 11-6, to set up a duel with Johnny Archer, who outclassed Brandon Shuff of the US, 11-2, and Albin Ouschan of Austria, 11-3.
Parica repulsed Raj Hundal of India, 11-10, then routed Earl Strickland of the US, 11-5, for a clash with Jayson Shaw of the US, who brought down Jason Klatt of Canada, 11-7, and Corey Deuel of the US, 11-8.
Alcano, a former two-time world champion, smashed Mika Immonen of Finland, 11-4, and Li He-wen of China, 11-4. He will next face Shane Van Boening of the US, who outpointed Nick Van Den Berg of the Netherlands, 11-4, and Chris Melling of Great Britain, 11-4.
In the losers’ brackets, Warren Kiamco and Carlo Biado dropped a pair of sorry losses to bow out of competition. Kiamco lost to David Alcaide of Spain, 11-6, while Biado succumbed to Jin Hu Dang of China, 11-7.