Biado Settles for 2nd place in US Open 8-Ball Championship

by Marlon Bernardino

Filipino Carlo "The Black Tiger" Biado yielded to eventual champion American Shane Van Boening, 13-11, in the finals of this year’s US Open 8-Ball Championship held at the Rio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, yesterday.

The Bugsy International Promotions ace Biado, who was also the winner in the Hard Times 10-Ball open last week at the Crooks and Castle in Bellflower, Los Angeles, California, received the second place prize of $8,500 for his effort. Van Boening, meanwhile, took the crown and the $15,000 top prize after trouncing Biado in the tough tournament.

Biado needed to beat Sean Cheng of Taiwan, 7-5, in the one-loss side to arranged a titular showdown with undefeated Van Boening. He earlier beat compatriots Francisco "Django" Bustamante, 8-7, and Warren "Warrior"Kiamco, 8-6.

It what an intense finals between Van Boening and Biado saw the two players trade break and runs an incredible 14 times in a row until the score lay at 10-10. 

According to AZbilliards.com report, Biado was on a roll when he drew the cue ball into the side pocket in 21st racks. However,the scratch left Van Boening with an out and he cashed it. This left Van Boening only needing a break and run to earn his first major 8-Ball title. After making a ball on the break, Van Boening shocked the crowd by missing his first shot of the run and Biado ran out to tie things again at 11-11.

Rack 23 saw the pressure get to Biado again, as he ran to a tough shot in the side pocket, which he missed. Van Boening quickly ran out to take a 12-11 lead.

Rack 24 would be the final rack, as Van Boening crushed the rack and every ball had a pocket. He gave the crown one last bit of excitement when he overran shape on the 8-ball and was left with a shot similar to the one that Biado had missed a rack earlier. After sizing up the shot, Van Boening drained in like a hanger and Van Boening dropped to his knees with relief.

The Filipinos’ campaign in the US pool circuit is supported by the Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines, Bugsy International Promotions, Puyat Sports, Boss Tapa, Hermes Sports Bar, King of Sports Resto Bar and Malungai Life Oil.

Orcollo Wins US Open One Pocket Title

by Marlon Bernardino

Philippines Dennis "Robocop" Orcollo  is once again at the top of his game after winning the US Open One Pocket Championship 2013 at the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Monday Manila Time (Sunday in US Time). 

The top player of Bugsy International Promotions Orcollo defeated Derby City One Pocket Champion Corey Deuel of the United States, 5-3, in the finals to run away with the title.

Orcollo jumped to a 2-0 lead in the race-to-five final before Deuel fought back to level at 2-2. Orcollo got his nose in front again 3-2 but the American and former U.S. Open 9 Ball champ battled back to level again at 3-3 count. Deuel made a mistake on his break return in rack seven and allowed Orcollo a quick run to get to the hill at 4-3. 

Rack eight saw Deuel put togeher multiple small runs to take a 7-2 lead in ball count and most fans on the rail were certain we were in store for a hill-hill match. Deuel passed on multiple semi-risky shots that Orcollo baited him with, but it was finally a fairly straight forward safety that spelled the end for Deuel. He left Orcollo a shot with a very tough table and Orcollo ran the final six balls on the table for the 5-3 win and first place.

Sportsman/businessman Ceferino "Perry" Mariano hailed the victory of Orcollo saying it is proof that Filipino players are at par if not the best in the world. “Once again our flag has been raised in the foreign land after our kababayan (Dennis) Orcollo won the US Open One Pocket Championship 2013 in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA," Mariano said.

The Filipinos’ campaign in the US pool circuit is supported by the Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines, Bugsy International Promotions, Puyat Sports, Hermes Sports Bar, Boss Tapa Food and Restaurant, King of Sports Resto Bar and Malungai Life Oil.

Orcollo marched to the finals after blanking Deuel, 4-0, in the Hot Seat Final.

Deuel's trip to the One-Loss side was short as he dealt Carlo " The Black Tiger" Biado his second loss of the tournament, knocking him out via a 3-2 scoreline. That result propelled the Ohioan to the final to force a finals rematch showdown with Orcollo. 

Earlier, Orcollo beat Michael Reddick, 4-1,  Danny Smith, 4-2, L. C. Carter 4-0, Larry Nevel, 4-2, and Chris Bartram, 4-2, of the USA before facing Deuel in the Hot Seat Final  between the only two unbeatens in the field.

The former fisherman from Bislig, Surigao del Sur Orcollo earned the top prize of US$7,500, Deuel settled for US$4,800 in second place prize money, Biado takes home US$3,300 while another Pinoy, Francisco "Django" Bustamante, banked US$1,500. Two other Pinoys, Warren "Warrior" Kiamco and Jose "Amang" Parica, also finished in the money, as did Filipino-born and US based Santos "The Saint" Sambajon.

According to billiards/pool commentator Bob Guerrero, one Pocket is a game using all fifteen balls that, as the name suggests, only allows players one pocket, (either of the corner pockets near the foot spot) to pot balls. The first player to pot eight balls wins the rack. It can be a highly tactical game with lots of safety exchanges but oftentimes the best players in the world, once given an opening, can make the eight balls vanish in mere minutes. The discipline is considered to be a fine test of strategic thinking, safety, and pocketing as well. Efren "Bata" Reyes is generally considered to be one of the top One Pocket players in the world; although he was not in Vegas for this event. One-pocket is one of the most stringent tests of excellence in all of pool, as it requires great shot-making skills, bank shot excellence, planning, and patience.

FILIPINO CARLO BIADO HARD TIMES 10 BALL OPEN CHAMPION; POCKETS $5,300

by Marlon Bernardino

Rising star Carlo Biado emerged this year’s Hard Times 10 ball Open champion with an 11-1 victory over countryman Alex Pagulayan in the finals held at the Crooks and Castle in Bellflower, Los Angeles California on Monday (Sunday in US Time).

“I believe that Carlo (Biado) had good chances of becoming world champion,” said sportsman/businessman Ceferino "Perry" Mariano, head of Bugsy International Promotions.

As overall champion, the La Union native Biado, a former caddie-turned-billiards player, took home the $5,300 champion's prize while Pagulayan bagged the runner-up purse of $3,200 in the 4th edition of the said annual tournament.

Biado follow the foot step of Hard Times billiards winners in the likes of compatriots Lee Vann Corteza (2010), Pagulayan (2011) and Dennis Orcollo (2012). Orcollo settled overall third place honor this time to enroute 1-2-3 finish for the Filipino pool sharks.

The Filipino campaign in the US pool circuit are supported by Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines (BMPAP), Bugsy International Promotions and Puyat Sports.

Filipino Billiards Stars set to invade Japan 10-ball

by Marlon Bernardino

Billiards masters Efren "Bata" Reyes and Francisco "Django" Bustamante will spearhead the Philippine campaign when the Japan Open 10-ball gets underway on July 13 to 15 in Tokyo, Japan.

Other notable cue masters will seeing in action are Lee Vann "The Slayer" Corteza, Ramil "Bebeng" Gallego, Jundel "Jano" Mazon, Rodrigo "Edgie Marilao" Geronimo, Johann "Bubwit" Chua, Val Pajuay, Roel Esquillo and Jerome Andrino. 

The 31-year-old Pasay City resident Andrino made prominent in the local shore after winning the 2012 Balamban, Cebu 10-Ball Challenge.

" First-time ko po maglalaro sa ibang bansa at hindi ko sasayangin ang binigay ng pagkakataon sa akin ng mga taong naniniwala sa kakayahan ko," said Andrino, who beat former WPA 9 ball and 8-ball champion Ronato "Volcano" Alcano thru handicapped game last year.

"Dinayo ako ni champ (Ronnie Alcano) sa isang bilyaran sa Pasay. Medyo maganda tumbok ko kaya pinalad ako na manalo sa 10 ball game. Pero may handicapped ang game kasi pag na shoot ko na  ang 7-ball panalo na ako," he added.

" Pangarap ko din na makapagbigay ng karangalan sa bayan at makatulong din sa pamilya ko sa paglalaro sa bilyar sa ibang bansa," last word of Andrino, a habitue in pool haus in Harrison Plaza mall.

Corteza rules China 9-ball Open

By: Marlon Bernardino

Filipino Lee Vann Corteza mastered Taiwanese Fu Che-wei, 11-6, to pocket the 2013 China 9-Ball Open crown at the Shanghai Pudong Yuanshen Stadium arena in Shanghai, China on Sunday.

Corteza, a former two-time National Open champion bagged the $40,000 purse while Fu settled for $20,000.

Corteza marched to the finals after beating Omar Al-Shaheen of Kuwait, 11-3, in the semifinals while Fu trounced Wu Jiaqing of China, 11-8,  in the other semis encounter.

China 9-Ball Open: Pagulayan reach pool KO stage

Alex "the Lion" Pagulayan moved on to the last-32 stage of the 2013 China 9-Ball Open at the Shanghai Pudong Yuanshen Stadium arena in Shanghai, China.

The top player of Puyat Sports Pagulayan, the 2004 WPC champ, defeated Kenny Kwok of Hongkong, 9-5, and led the march to the knockout stages.

Also advancing to the next stage are Ryu Seungwoo of Korea, who brought down Ke Bign Zhong of Chinese-Taipei; Salah Alriwani of the United Arab Emirates, who subdued Nguyen Ann Tuan of Vietnam, 9-5; Fu Che Wei of Chinese-Taipei, who dealt Dang Jinhu of China, 9-2; Li Hewen of China, who nipped John Morra of Canada and Afrinneza Isral Nasution of India, who edged Jeffrey de Luna of the Philippines, 9-8.

Other notable cue masters seeing action in the China meet are Dennis Orcollo, Carlo Biado, Lee Van Corteza, Johann Gonzales Chua and Rubilen Amit for the distaff side.                                             
  - Marlon Bernardino-

Filipino Lee Van Corteza scores back-to-back wins in China 9-Ball Open

Filipino Lee Van Corteza scored back-to-back wins in the 2013 China 9-Ball Open in Shanghai, China.

His latest victory was against Naoyuki Oi of Japan, 9-3, in Group G. The Davao City native Corteza, earlier beat Marcus Chamat of Sweden, 9-5, in the first round. His next opponent against Cheng Chieh Liu of Chinese-Taipei, who brought downed compatriots Ying Chieh Chen, 9-6, and Fu Che-wei, 9-7, respectively.

Also with two wins were Kenny Kwok of Singapore and Thorsten Hohmann of Germany in Group A; Chang Jung-lin and Lu Hui Chan of Chinese-Taipei in Group B; Liu Wei and Wang Can of China in Group C; Yukio Akagariyama of Japan and Fu Jian Bo of China in Group D; Nick Ekonomopoulous of Greece and Dang Jin Hu of China in Group E and Jason Klatt of Canada and Yang Ching-shun of Chinese-Taipei in Group F.

In other Filipino results, Alex Pagulayan beat Carlo Biado, 9-7, but bowed to Dang Jin Hu, 9-4, in the next round in Group E. Dennis Orcollo was yielded to Andreas Gerwen of Luxembourg, 9-8, but bounced back in contention after edging Nick van den berg of the Netherlands, 9-7, in Group F.

Biado will meet Ko pin-yi of Chinese-Taipei, who lost to Nick Ekonomopoulous, 9-3. Ko, earlier beat Mike Dechaine of the USA, 9-2. Pagulayan, meantime goes up against Hus Kai Lun of Chinese-taipei while Orcollo versus Wang Ming of China.

Iris Ranola subdued Jiang Teng, 7-2, in the first match but was succumbed to Chen Siming and Charlene Chai Huey, in similar ,7-4, loses in Group H. However, countryman Rubilen Amit lost her first match to Wu Zhi Ting, 7-5, and prevailed her second match to Wei-Tzu-Chien, 7-2, in Group A.    -Marlon Bernardino