ORCULLO PROGRESS IN FUJAIRAH WORLD 8-BALL; TEN FILIPINOS MAKE IT TO THE KO STAGE

REIGNING International Predator 10-Ball Champion Dennis “Robocop” Orcullo showed better control of his nerves in the thrilling 8-6 win over local bet Ismael Yagob in the do or die rounds on the one-loss side matches to advance in the Etisalat WPA World 8-Ball Pool Championship 2010 in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates (UAE), making it to the knockout phase Round of 32 late Wednesday.

However, the bad news is that the former Bislig Surigao del Sur fisherman Orcullo, one of the top player of star-studded Bugsy Promotions will meet again countryman 2009 World Ten Ball Finalist Lee Vann “The Slayer” Corteza in the next level of the week-long event sanctioned by the World Pool-Billiard Association (WPA).

The Davao City native Corteza, the top gunner of Negros Billiards Stable earlier beat Orcullo, 8-5, in the second round of group stage match.

“Ganun talaga eh, y’un ang lumabas sa draw lots. Panalangin ko lamang sana Filipino pa rin ang palaring manalo sa World 8-ball sa taong ito,” said Orcullo, acknowledge’s Philippine Money game king in a long distance call to his agent/ manager Ceferino “Perry” Mariano, Bugsy Promotions president and Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines (BMPAP) head.

After a sorry lost to Mustafa Hassan of UAE, 8-5, in the opning round, Jeffrey de Luna,  the 2007 Manny Pacquiao International 9-Ball Open ruler come back from the grave by beating Hui Chan Lu of China, 8-6, and Kenny Kwok of Singapore, 8-3, to arrange a Last 32 encounter over Ricky Yang of Indonesia, who finished no.1 after the group stage play in the Last 64.

The winner of de Luna-Yang tussle will meet the survivor of Orcullo and Corteza for the “Sweet 16″.

“Malaki ang pag-asa nating manalo sa taong ito kasi yung matitigas nating player ay nakapasok sa knock-out stage.Y’un nga lamang nagkatapat-tapat sila agad,” said Bugsy Pormotions honcho Perry Mariano.

“Bagama’t may ilan-ilang Pinoy cue ang nagkatapat sa last 32, kung y’ung ang iba naman ay maipanalo nila ang kanilang laban sa foreigner, malaki chances natin sa titulo. Sa 12 na naglaro kasi sa group stage ay 10 ang nakapasok,” added sportsman/businessman Jonathan Sy of the rising Negros Billiards Stable.

Also make it to the Last 32 through gruelling do or die rounds on the one-loss side were former Asian snooker champion Marlon “Marvelous”Manalo, Venancio Tanio and Oliver Medanilla.

Manalo trounced Salah Al Remwy, 8-7,and Shaker Wahdan, 8-3, Tanio crushed Khaled Sebata,8-6, and Mehdi Rasheki,8-7, Medanilla beat Majid Sultan, 8-3, and David Alcaide of Spain,8-6.

Over-all, Ten Filipinos—Orcullo, Corteza, de luna, Manalo, Tanio,Medanilla, Antonio Gabica, Raymond Faraon, Joven Alba and 2007 World 8-ball Champion Ronato “Volcano” Alcano make it to the knock-out stage.

Only Ruben Bautista and Kim Aquino failed to progress. Bautista succumbed to Mateusz Sniegocki of Poland,8-4, while Aquino who won his match to Abdulatif Fawal 8-4, but suffered his second loses to 2008 Reno World Junior Champion Ko Pin-yi of Chinese-Taipei, 8-1.

Other Last 32 interesting match-up were Alcano versus Scott Higgins of Great Britain, Tanio opposite Jalal Al Saresi, Faraon versus Ko, Gabica versus Manalo and Medanilla versus Alba.

If Alcano luckily beat Higgins, he will face either Tanio or Saresi in the next round.

BY: MARLON BERNARDINO.