CEBU, Philippines - The title hopes of Filipino players vanished in thin air after they all got axed in the 2015 World 9-Ball Championship at the Al Arabi Sports Club in Doha, Qatar.
Dennis "Robocop' Orcollo came out as the best placed Pinoy finisher in the week-long poolfest that offers a total of $200,000 in prize fund. The Surigao-native shotmaker made it to the quarterfinal round after thrashing Darren Appleton of Great Britian, 11-2, only to be booted out by Shane Van Boening of the United States in a disppointing manner, 1-11, in the Final 8.
Cebuano shotmaker Warren Kiamco hurdled his Final 32 assignment aginst Jalal Yousef of Venezuela, 11-7, but was eventually eliminated by Ko Pin Yi of Chinese Taipei, 9-11, in the round of 16 knockout stage.
The likes of Jeffrey Ignacio, Carlo Biado, and Oliver Medenilla could only make it to the Final 32. Ignacio was booted by Aloisius Yapp of Singapore, 6-11, Biado fell prey to Ko Pin Yi of Taipei, 4-11, while Medenilla fumbled at the hands of Chang Yu Lung also of Taipei, 4-11.
The last time a Pinoy topped the world's most prestigious billiards event was in 2010 when Francisco 'Django' Bustamante bested Kuo Po-cheng of Chinese Taipei to take home the coveted trophy.
Ronnie "The Volcano' Alcano and Cebu's pride Antonio 'Gaga' Gabica made it to the finals in 2011 and 2013, but lost to Yukio Akagariyama of Japan and Thorsten Hohmann of Germany, respectively.— EBV (FREEMAN)