ORCULLO REACH LAST 32; CORTEZA FALL IN WORLD POOL MASTERS

FILIPINO Dennis Orcullo made the last 32 via the one loss side, however compatriot Lee Vann Corteza was booted out in the on-going 2010 Party Poker World Pool Masters yesterday at the Riviera Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, United Sates.

Orcullo, one of the top players of Perry Mariano’s Bugsy Promotions defeated Aussie Jasmin Ouschan, 9-4, in their do-or-die match in Group 5 to progress.

After tied at 3-all in the sixth rack, Orcullo clustered four straight racks for a 7-3 comfortable lead in this race-to-9, winner’s break 9-ball competition.

Ouschan trimmed down to 7-4 rack score but the former fisherman from Bislig, Surigao del Sur never looked back for a 9-4 win.

Earlier, Orcullo beat Shaun Wilkie ng USA, 9-1, but lost to Marcus Chamat of Sweden, 9-8, to face Osuchan in their do-or-die match.

Corteza, the reigning national open champion, meantime suffered two loses in Group 6 to joined compatriots Efren “Bata” Reyes, Francisco “Django” Bustamante and Ronnie “Volcano” Alcano in the exit door of the true double elimination format in the group play.

Corteza beat Carlo Cabello of Spain, 9-2, in the first match but bowed to former US Open 9-ball ruler John Schmidt of the USA, 9-8.

According to Ramon “Maestro Monching” Mistica, the spokesman of the Filipino cue artists, Corteza leading 8-6 but miscue in the No.2 ball in the 15^th racks as Schmidt close the match at 8-7. The next game won by Schmidt to tied the game at 8-all in the 16^th racks.

Corteza had a chance to win the game but suffered a scratch allowing Schmidt to escape a narrow 9-8 victory to progress.

After the setback, Corteza lost to Jayson Shaw of the USA, 9-4, in their do-or die match.

With the win, Orcullo made it to the Last 32 along with Bugsy Promotions stablemate Roberto “Pinoy Superman” Gomez.

Sportsman/ Businessman Perry Mariano is very confident that his ward will perform well in the next round.

“ Matibay naman ang dibdib nina Gomez (Roberto) at Orcullo (Dennis) kaya tiyak kong uusad sila sa next round,” said Perry Mariano, long-time benefactor of Gomez and Orcullo.

The Round-of-32 is schedule today, Saturday using the single knock-out format, according to Mistica.

Orcullo will meet again Chamat as well Gomez goes up against Huidje See of the Netherlands who beaten him in the group stage the other day..

If Orcullo luckily beat Chamat, he will face the winner of the match between Raj Hundal of India and Ernesto Dominguez of Mexico for the Last 16.

If Gomez survived against See, he will meet Dennis Hatch of the USA and Jayson Klatt of Canada.

The US$100,000 total pot prize event offers US$20,000 to the champion.

BY: MARLON BERNARDINO