PAGULAYAN, GOMEZ MAKE INT’L 10-BALL KO STAGE; ORCOLLO, ALCANO, KIAMCO WON’S PLAY IN RP OPEN

Former world champion Alex Pagulayan and reigning Villar Cup titleholder Roberto Gomez racked up their third straight wins yesterday to barge into the knockout stage of the 9^th Annual Predator International 10-Ball Championship being held at the Riviera Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Pagulayan continued his dominating performance by overwhelming veteran internationalist Mike Davis, 10-3, while Gomez also sustained his fiery form by demolishing Charlie Bryant, 10-1, to advance into the Last 32 via the winners’ bracket in this prestigious event organized by Dragon Promotions.

Pagulayan had earlier beaten Melissa Little (10-3) and Kurt Kobayashi, while Gomez won his first two matches against Matt Krah (10-0) and Max Eberle (10-2), moving them to the next phase in the race to the title and the $20,000 top purse that goes with it.

Former Villar Cup leg winner Warren Kiamco also hurlded the third round unscathed. After luckily drawing a first round bye, he blasted Kim Shaw, 10-3, and followed it up with a 10-4 win over compatriot Lee Van Corteza.

Not as lucky was former world no.1 Dennis Orcollo, who was upset by Tony Robles, 10-6, and was sent to the losers’ bracket, joining countrymen Rodolfo Luat, Ramil Gallego, Jose “Amang” Parica, Santos Sambajon, Al Lapena and Corteza.

Orcollo, who defeated Allen Hopkin, 10-2, in the second round, must win his next match to advance into the KO phase.

Luat was sent to the one-loss side following a 10-8 loss to Manuel Gamma of Portugal in the second round, while Gallego dropped his opening match against Japanese Hiroshi Takenaka, 10-5, but continued to survived with victories over Sam Wilkie 10-8.

Meanwhile, Orcollo, Kiamco and former double world champion Ronnie Alcano all denied that they will play in the Philippine 10-Ball Open.

Reacting to the report that they were given a slot to the event, the three said they have not received a formal invitation from its organizers.

“Wala pa kaming natatanggap imbitasyon mula sa kanila, at sa pagkakaalam namin ay may mga kundisyong inilatag ang Raya Sport (the event organizer) bago kami makasali at iyon ay hindi pa namin sinasang-ayunan,” said Orcollo.

It shall be recalled that the country’s top cue artists had declared that they will not participate in all events organized and promoted by Raya Sport and its president Yen Makabenta after getting shabby treatment during the latter’s stint as chairman of the Billiards and Snooker Congress of the Philippines.

BMPAP release