VILLAR LAUDS ORCOLLO; HOLDS VILLAR CUP IN LIPA

(photo caption): Senator Manny B. Villar greets newly-crowned International 10-Ball champion Dennis Orcollo upon his arrival at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Monday night. There, Orcollo offered his championship trophy to Villar, thanking him for his unwavering support to Philippine billiards and its players.

Senator Manny B. Villar yesterday filed Senate Resolution no..1072 commending former world no.1 cue artist Dennis Orcollo for winning the just-concluded 9^th Annual Predator International 10-Ball Championship in Las Vegas , Nevada .

Villar, the country’s foremost billiards godfather, hailed Orcollo’s victory in that prestigious tournament as another proof of “how a Filipino can triumph over adversities.”

“By winning the tournament participated by top cue artists from all over the world, Orcollo has once again done the Philippines proud and has shown to the world the spirit of Filipino competitiveness and excellence,” said Villar, who greeted Orcollo upon his arrival at NAIA Monday night.

Orcollo, who is known in the billiards circuit as the “Robocop”, captured the world crown by besting 112 topnotch players from all over the world. He defeated current world no.1 and multi-world titlist Ralf Soquet of Germany , 8-3, in the finals to also claim the $20,000 top purse at stake in the five-day event.

Villar also commended the rest of the Filipino players who competed in the tournament, including semifinalist Warren Kiamco and Alex Pagulayan, Roberto Gomez, Lee Van Corteza, Rodolfo Luat, Ramil Gallego, Jose “Amang” Parica and Al Lapena.

Villar said he will continue to support billiards, convinced that Filipinos will continue to shine in this sport in international competitions.

Villar has become the biggest benefactor of Philippine billiards, and his holding of the island-hopping Villar Cup series has provided Filipino pool players chance to further hone their skills.

The Villar Cup already had seven highly-successful legs held in key cities around the country.

The prestigious island-hopping series will have its next stop – the Calabarzon leg – beginning Friday at SM City Mall in Lipa City in Batangas with the cream of the Philippines billiards crop, led by pool icon Efren “Bata” Reyes, competing for the coveted crown.

The Villar Cup Calabarzon leg will also have a qualifying tournament exclusive for residents of Cavite , Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon provinces on Thursday also at SM Lipa. It will also serve as the kickoff stage of a series of Regional Championships, a qualifier for the National Championship slated late this year.