ORCULLO BOOKS SEMIS SEAT IN WORLD POOL MASTERS

The top players of Perry Mariano’s Bugsy Promotions defeated Canadian John Morra (8-3), secured a seat in the semifinal round of this US$100,000 total pot prize event with the champion getting the lion share of US$20,000.

FILIPINO Dennis “Robocop” Orcullo got the better of his marquee duel against Canadian John Morra to storm into the semifinals with a 8-3 victory yesterday in the 2010 Party Poker World Pool Masters 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, jumped to a 4-0 lead before Morra close the gap at 4-2 winning two consecutive racks in the US$100,000 total pot prize week-long event.

“Medyo maganda po ang simula ng laro at nakauna ako sa kanya (John Morra). Ang hirap kasi humabol tapus winner’s break pa ang format at masyadong maikli ang race-to-8. ” said Orcullo, the 2009 International Predator 10-ball champion, a former fisherman from Bislig, Surigao del Sur.

Orcullo took the next rack but Morra answered to 5-3 lead, however Orcullo took the last three racks to progress.

Orcullo, arranged a possible an intriguing all-Filipino showdown if Bugsy Promotions stablemate Roberto “Pinoy Superman”Gomez luckily beat World 9-ball and World 8-Ball champion Ralf “Kaiser” Souquet in their scheduled today, quarter-final round match-up.

“Sana manalo si Gomez (Roberto) kay Souquet (Ralf) para tiyak may isang Filipino sa finals,” added Orcullo, whose stint here is being bankrolled by husband and wife tandem Perry and Verna Mariano of Bugsy Promotions.

“Ipinakita ni Dennis (Orcullo) ang tibay ng loob at determinasyong manalo para sa karangalan ng bayan. Hope Filipino ang mag champion” said sportsman/ businessman Perry Mariano

Earlier, Gomez, the 2007 World Pool Finalists defeated Jayson Shaw (8-3) of the United States in the Last 16 to meet Souquet, who brought downed Ricky Yang of Indonesia (8-6).

“Bagama’t mabigat na kalaban si Souquet (Ralf), gagawin ko ang aking best na manalo at makuha ang kampeonato para sa bansang Pilipinas,” said the Divisoria, Zamboanga native Gomez, a former field reporter of ABS CBN Zamboanga before turning professional pool player.

According to Ramon “Maestro Monching” Mistica, the spokesman of the Filipino cue artists in Las Vegas event, Alex “The Lion” Pagulayan failed to participate in the tournament proper as well Marlon “Marvelous” Manalo after having sore eyes. Warren “Warrior” Kiamco, on the other hand lost in the qualification tournament to failed to progress.

Hall of famer Efren “Bata” Reyes, Francisco “Django” Bustamante and Ronnie “Volcano” Alcano failed to advance in the knock-out stage.

Meanwhile, Charlie Williams of the United States and Toru Kuribayashi of Japan beat their respective rivals to face each other in the quarter-final round.

Williams ousted Naoyuki Oi of Japan (8-5) in the Last 16 while Kuribayashi blasted Daryl Peach of Great Britain (8-0), who defeated Gomez in the World Pool crown in 2007 at the Big Dome in Quezon City.

Thomas “The Lean Machine” Engert of Germany, meantime beat Rodney “Rocket” Morris of the USA (8-5) to cruise to the quarter-final round.

Engert, a former International Challenge of Champions kingpin will face fellow German Oliver “The Machine” Ortmann in the Last 8, who beat countryman Thorsten “The Hitman” Hohmann (8-6) in the Last 16 encounter yesterday.

BY: Marlon Bernardino