Orcollo, Biado smother US 9-ball rivals

MANILA, Philippines - World-rated Dennis Orcollo and Carlo Biado sustained their hot starts and picked up their second straight victories in the 40th US Open 9-ball Championship Monday at Sheraton Waterside in Norfolk, Virginia.

Orcollo, the world No. 3, romped off with an 11-1 demolition of Vietnamese Pham Phuong Hong while 10th-ranked Carlo Biado outclassed American Brandon Shuff, 11-5, to stay in the winners’ side of the double-elimination format tourney featuring 128 players.

Veteran Warren Kiamco also scored back-to-back victories, his latest at the expense of countryman Francisco Felicilda, 1-9.

Last year’s runner-up Orcollo faces Chinese Dang Jin Hu, 11-0 winner over American Scott Brazier, in his next assignment while Biado meets fancied German Thorstenn Hohmann, 11-3 victor over American Michael Wong; and Kiamco tangles with Canadian Jason Klatt, 11-7 conqueror of Jorge Rodriguez.

Roberto Gomez, though, bowed to four-peat-seeking Shane Van Boening, 9-11, to find himself in the losers’ bracket along with Felicilda and three Pinoys who dropped their opening outings – Ramil Gallego, Jundel Mazon and Jeffrey Ignacio.

Alex Pagulayan of Canada likewise got relegated to the left side of the draw sheet after absorbing a 3-11 loss to Greek Alex Kazakis.