by Marlon Bernardino
Manila, Philippines---Filipino Dennis "Robocop" Orcollo added the 16th annual Derby City Classic’s 9-Ball Banks division to his growing list of tournament achievements when he won yesterday at the Horseshoe Southern Indiana Elizabeth, Indiana, USA.
Orcollo, the 2013 recipients of the President’s Award of the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA), Annual Awards Night, defeated countryman and last year's champion Francisco "Django" Bustamante, 3-1, in an all-Filipino finals.
Bustamante, top player of Philippine Billiards God Father Aristeo "Putch" Puyat, needed to beat American Earl "The Pearl" Strickland to arranged a titular showdown with Orcollo.
"Winning a tournament wherein you have to compete against the world's best players is a very big accomplishment, and I'm very happy for this win," said Orcollo, the top player of Perry Mariano's Bugsy International Promotions.
"I've hoped and prayed hard enough to win this crown for my countrymen as well as my boss Perry and Verna (Mariano) who has been helping me compete abroad," added the former fisherman from Bislig, Surigao del Sur Orcollo, who is celebrating his 35th birthday last January 28.
“Once again, congratulations Dennis (Orcollo). You have made every Filipino proud of your triumph,” said long-time benefactor sportsman/businessman Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines (BMPAP) founding head Ceferino “Perry” Mariano, also the president of Bugsy International Promotions.
"This is the reason why we managers are still holding the dream that someday our lawmakers can help this sport. We will also work in making Quezon City the Wimbledon of billiards," added Mariano who is planning to put up an international tournament this year dubbed as World versus Philippines.
Last year, Orcollo who teaming up with Lee Vann Corteza to beat Dutch tandem of Neils Feijen and Nick Van den Berg in the final, 10-8, to reclaim the crown last won by the country in 2009 behind legends Efren “Bata” Reyes and Francisco “Django” Bustamante, who were also the inaugural champions in 2006 World Cup of Pool.
Orcollo, dubbed as World Money Game King is also a gold medallist in the Myanmar Southeast Asian Games.
