DENNIS ORCULLO TOPS WORLD POOL MASTERS; POCKETS $20,000

ADD World Pool Masters now to the name of Dennis “Robocop” Orcullo.
The former fisherman from Bislig, Surigao, winner of the 2008 Qatar 9-Ball International Open and 2009 International Predator 10-ball, added the 2010 Party Poker World Pool Masters to his growing list of tournament achievements when he topped yesterday at the Riviera Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Orcullo, the most feared Filipino player in the money-game, regarded as Perry Mariano’s Bugsy Promotions’ top bet, bested Japanese player Toru Kuribayashi (8-3) in the finals to bag the title and top purse of $20,000. Kuribayashi on the other hand receive the runner-up prize of $10,000.

Losing semi-finalists 2007 World Pool runner-up Roberto “Pinoy Superman” Gomez and former World 9-ball champion Oliver Ortmann of Germany, likewise received $ 5,000 each.

Actually, Kuribayashi, a relatively unknown in the pool world, jumped to a 3-1 lead in the race-to-8, winner’s break format $100,000 total pot prize tournament.

However, Orcullo came back and never looked back.

“Y’ung laro ko kay Kuribayashi (Toru) ay ganoon din ang laro ko kay Gomez (Roberto) na naunahan agad ako sa umpisa. Ang hirap humabol kasi race-to-8 lamang ang laro at winner’s break format pa. Buti na lamang pumabor y’ung bola sa sumunod na tagpo,” added Orcullo

“Heart before talent ang kailangan para mag champion. The likes of Efren (Reyes), Django (Bustamante), Ronnie (Alcano), Lee Vann (Corteza) and Alex (Pagulayan) mahirap hanapin,” said sportsman/ businessman Perry Mariano of Bugsy Promotions.

On the roads to the finals, Orcullo turned back Gomez (8-6) in their semi-final match to take the first finals berth.

Kuribayashi, meantime subdued Ortmann (8-3) in the second semi-final match to arranged a titular showdown with Orcullo.

Earlier, Gomez, trounced World 9-ball and 8-ball champion Ralf “Kaiser” Souquet of Germany (8-5) in the quarter-final round to forged an-all Filipino semi-final affair. Orcullo, routed John Morra of Canada (8-3) in the quarter-final round.

Other Last 8 results saw Kuribayashi ousted Charlie Williams of the USA (8-6) as well Ortmann nipped countryman Thomas Engert (8-6).

Other Filipino who competed in this $100,000 total pot prize tournament were most Filipino popular cue artists Efren “Bata” Reyes, Francisco “Django” Bustamante, Ronato “Volcano” Alcano and Lee Vann “The Slayer” Corteza.

Ramon “Maestro Monching” Mistica, acted the spokesman of the group said that the Filipino pool wizards will resume their quest for honor and glory when the inauguration of US 10-ball tournament unfolds today at the same venue.

BY: MARLON BERNARDINO