ORCOLLO WINS US OPEN 10-BALL CHAMPIONSHIP; POCKETS $15,000

FILIPINO Dennis “Robocop” Orcollo added the 4th US Open 10-Ball Championship (formerly Billiards Congress of America) to his growing list of tournament achievements when he won on Saturday (Sunday morning in Manila) at the Riviera Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. Regarded as the top player of Bugsy Promotions, Orcollo defeated compatriots 2004 WPA World 9-Ball Champion Alex "The Lion" Pagulayan, 9-8, in the semi-final round and 2010 WPA World 9-Ball Champion Francisco "Django" Bustamante, 11-5, in the finals to win the top prize of US$15,000. The top player of Puyat Sports Bustamante, on the other hand, received the runner-up prize of US$8,500. On the road to the semi-finals, the 2011 WPA World 8-Ball Champion Orcollo needed to beat Oscar Dominguez of Mexico, Kostas Paspatis of Greece, Mike Dechaine and Manny Chau of USA and Rain Chiang of Taiwan, respectively. Orcollo, a former fisherman from Bislig, Surigao del Sur’s trip to United States was supported by Malungay Life Oil, Bugsy Promotions, BRKHRD Corporation, Hermes Sports, ACCEL, B-League Corp., BMPAP (Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines) and Quezon City government headed by mayor Herbert Bautista, vice-mayor Joy Belmonte and rep. Winston Castelo. "I want to show through my actions that athletic excellence can be achieved with dedication, hard-work and support." said the reigning Philippine Sportswriter Association (PSA) Co-Athlete of the Year Orcollo, a feared money-game shark anywhere in the world. "I would like to dedicate my victory to my countrymen and as well as my boss Perry and Verna (Mariano) who has been helping me compete abroad,” added Orcollo, 2011 Southeast Asian Games gold medallist. According to sportsman/businessman Ceferino “Perry” Mariano, president of the star-studded Bugsy Promotions and long-time benefactor of Orcollo, winning the prestigious 4th US Open 10-Ball Championship (formerly Billiards Congress of America) is another good news for Philippine Sports. Mariano, also the founder of the National Collegiate Billiards League (NCBL) or B-League was ecstactic of Orcollo’s feat. Last May 6, Orcollo dismantled Shane Van Boening of USA, 11-3, in the finals enroute the 3rd Annual Hard Times 10-Ball Open title at the Hard Times Billiards in California, USA. Other Filipinos who competed in the formerly Billiards Congress of America tournament were Jose "Amang" Parica, Santos "The Saint" Sambajon and Jun Almoite. Ramon “Maestro Monching” Mistica, who acted the spokesman of the Philippine contingent, said that Filipino pool wizards will resume their quest for honor and glory when the 2012 WPA World 9-Ball Championship gets underway on June 22 to 29 the Al Sadd Sports Club Al Sadd St. Sport Roundabout in Doha, Qatar. Orcollo will be teaming up with Bustamante and Filipino billiards maestro Efren "Bata" Reyes as well former World Women's 10-ball ruler Rubilen "Bingkay" Amit for the 2012 World Team Tournament on June 30 to July 6 in China. -Marlon Bernardino-

DJANGO EXACTS REVENGE, WINS PBB FACE OFF SERIES

Manila, Philippines---FILIPINO pool wizard Francisco "Django" Bustamante squeaked past Taiwanese Pin Yi-ko to avenged the loss of his fellow Puyat Sports player to win the Philippine Bigtime Billiards (PBB) Face Off Series late Saturday (February 25) at the Pagcor Airport Casino in Parañaque City.

The 48-year-old pool legend showed vintage form to pull off a come-from-behind win against Ko, 9-7, in the winner's break format, dubbed as Philippines versus Asia,  jointly organized by the Mega Sports World and BRKHRD Corp and aired live over Solar Sports, Sky Channel 70 and Destiny Channel 34, and also aired worldwide through the Internet, live streaming at www.megasportsworld.com andwww.philippinebigtimebilliards.com.

The Tarlac City cue master, one of the top players of sportsman/businessman Aristeo "Putch" Puyat, acknowledged Philippine Billiards God Father, trailed, 7-5, before securing the next four racks to lift Team Philippines into a 1-all deadlock against Team Asia.

Actually, the two-time World Junior Champion Ko, took a 3-1, to 6-4 commanding lead until Bustamante fought back from the grave.

"In the start of the match I was so nervous when Ko took a 3-1, 6-4 to 7-5 lead," said Bustamante who reigned supreme in the 2010 WPA World Pool Championships (World 9-Ball), defeating Taiwanese “The Little" Monster” Kuo Po-cheng, 13-7, in the final was held in Doha, Qatar.

"However i didn't lose hope because of the winner's break format. Maybe it can turn around the situation but i need to play solid," he added.

Last February 18, Ko downed Filipino pool maestro Efren "Bata" Reyes, 9-4, for the first win of Team Asia in the Philippine Bigtime Billiards introduces a fresh new format for 2012.

The PBB Face Off series backed up by Sorsogon Province Sports Patron Philip Escudero of Malungai Life Oil, Airport Casino Filipino, Hermes Sports Bar, I-Bar, Golden Leaf Restaurant, Bugsy Promotions, Mandarin Sky Sea Food Restaurant, Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines (BMPAP) and The Philippine Star 
resumes with a match pitting 2012 World 8-Ball Champion Jung Lin Chang of Chinese-Taipei against Lee Vann "The Slayer" Corteza on March 3 and Chang versus Dennis "Robocop" Orcollo on March 10.-Marlon Bernardino-

WORLD 8-BALL: BIADO, GOMEZ JOINS 7 OTHERS PHL BETS IN LAST 64

REIGNING National Open champion Carlo "The Black Tiger"Biado defeated Francisco Diaz-Pizarro of Spain, 7-2, while countryman and fellow Bugsy Promotion ace Roberto "Pinoy Superman"Gomez crushed Luke Rollinson of Great Britain, 7-3, respectively in Group M to salvage a spot in the Last 64 of the 2012 World 8-Ball Championship at the Fujairah Tennis and Country Club in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates yesterday.


Raymund Faraon also breezed through the main draw as he ripped Ahmed Al Hosani of UAE, 7-1, and Nick Van den Berg of the Netherlands,7-4, in Group N, while Demosthenes "Plong-Plong"Pulpul held off Albin Ouschan of Austria,7-6, in a do-or-die match in Group J as well Elmer Haya routed Yousfi Chaouki of MAR, 7-5, in Group D and Elvis Calasang smashed Al Howri Hanni of UAE,7-5,in Group F.


A total of 9 Filipinos, headed by defending champion Dennis "Robocop" Orcollo, Lee Vann "The Slayer" Corteza and Joven "Snooker Specialist" Alba, made it to the Last 64, a single round, race-to-11 knockout format, which offered a whooping $156,000 total prize. The winner will receive $20,000 cash purse.


Orcollo takes on Nasser Al Mujaibel of Kuwait in the round-of-64; Corteza squares off with Lee Chenman of Hongkong; Alba vs Ahmad Jallad of Jordan; Biado vs Haya; Gomez vs Mario He of Austria;Pulpul vs Hwang of Korea and Faraon vs Ko Pin-yi of Taiwan and Calasang vs Yukio Akagariyama of Japan.    -Marlon Bernardino-

ORCOLLO SET TO DEFEND WORLD 8-BALL TITLE

QUEZON CITY, Philippines – World No. 1 player Dennis “Robocop” Orcollo will begin his bid to retain his title when the 2012 World 8-Ball Championships gets underway on February 12 to 17 at the Fujairah Exhibition Center in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates.

"I'm hoping to defend my title… I need to play hard. Every player has a chance to be a champion," said the former fisherman from Bislig, Surigao del Sur whose local and international campaign backed up by Malungai Life Oil, ACCEL, Hermes Sports Bar, Mandarin Sky Sea Food Restaurant,Golden Leaf Restaurant, I-Bar, BRKHRD Corp., Bugsy Promotions and Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines (BMPAP).


Last year, Orcollo, Bugsy Promotions’ top player, defeated Niels "The Terminator" Feijen of the Netherlands, 10-3, in the finals to cement his status of one of the world's best pool players and run away with the $40,000 championship purse.

Orcollo’s stirring performance duplicated the World 8-Ball title conquests made by compatriots Efren "Bata" Reyes in 2004 and Ronato "Volcano" Alcano in 2007.

The only World 8-Ball crowns that the Filipino pool champions failed to win were those in 2005 (won by Taiwanese Wu Chia-ching), 2008 (German Ralf Souquet) and 2010 (Englishman Karl Boyes). The event was not held in 2006 and 2009.

"We have a stronger lineup and I'm confident that we can win the prestigious crown," said Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines (BMPAP) co-founder Ceferino "Perry" Mariano, top honcho of the star-studded Bugsy Promotions.

Also campaigning in the 2012 World 8-Ball are Carlo "The Black Tiger" Biado and Roberto "Pinoy Superman" Gomez also from Bugsy Promotions and Lee Vann "The Slayer" Corteza of the Jonathan Sy's Negros Billiards Stable.

Meanwhile, Orcollo and boxing champion Nonito Donaire Jr.  are co-winners of the prestigious Athlete of the Year honor to be feted by the country’s oldest media organization, composed of editors and sportswriters of the different national broadsheets and tabloids when the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Annual Awards Night gets going on March 3 at the Manila Hotel along Roxas Boulevard in Manila. Marlon Bernardino

'DJANGO' BUSTAMANTE WINS 2012 DERBY CITY CLASSIC FATBOY CHALLENGE; POCKETS $12,000

Philippine billiard icon Francisco "Django" Bustamante is once again at the top of the world as he emerged as the winner of the 2012 Derby City Classic Fatboy 10-Ball Challenge held at the Horseshoe Casino and Hotel in Elizabeth, Indiana, USA late Saturday (Sunday in Manila).

Bustamante, one of the top player of Puyat Sports, defeated American Steve Moore with a lopsided, 15-5, victory.

Sportsman/Businessman Aristeo “Putch” Puyat hailed the victory of Bustamante.

“Once again our flag has been raised in this foreign land after knowing that our Filipino kababayan (Francisco) Bustamante successfully won the  2012 Derby City Classic Fat Boy 10-Ball Challenge  in Indiana, USA,” he said.

Bustamante held an early 2-0 lead and only a scratch on the 10-ball in rack three kept him from a 3-0 lead. Moore came back to tie the score at 2-2 and was close at 3-4 down before Bustamante found the zone and rolled off nine straight games for an insurmountable 13-3 lead. 

Moore took a break at 13-3 down when Bustamante broke dry, which seemed to take Bustamante out of the zone more than it helped Moore get into the zone. The players swapped racks until the score was 14-5 Bustamante, and Moore threw in the towel after a scratch on the break in the 20th rack. 

Bustamante bested 2012 Derby City Classic Bank Division champion John Morra of Canada, 15-5, in the semi-final round to arrange a titular showdown with Moore who brought downed Alex Pagulayan of the Philippines, 15-12.

He went home with the top prize of US$ 12,000, Moore settled for a runner-up prize of US$ 7,000 while Pagulayan and Morra made good with US$ 3,500 each for reaching the final four. Marlon Bernardino

CORTEZA STRIKES AGAIN BEATS YANG IN PBB FACE OFF SERIES

FILIPINO Lee Vann Corteza weathered Taiwan's Yang Ching-shun's fiery comeback to escape with a 9-6 win in the Philippine Bigtime Billiards (PBB) Face-Off series Saturday night at the Airport Pagcor Casino in Paranaque City.

The top player of Negros Billiards Stable (NBS) Corteza took home the top prize worth $5,000. Yang, on the other hand, received $2,500.

After forcing a tie at 4, Yang, known in Chinese-Taipei as the “Son of Pool" made a scratch enabling Corteza to win the 9th rack. The Davao City native Corteza saw his big lead, 7-4, by winning another two straight rack and never looked back in the race-to-9, winner's break match jointly organized by the Mega Sports World and BRKHRD Corp and was aired live over Solar Sports, Sky Channel 70 and Destiny Channel 34 and also aired worldwide through the Internet, live streaming at www.starbilliards.com.ph,www.megasportsworld.com  and www.philippinebigtimebilliards.com.

The PBB Face-Off is a joint undertaking of Mega Sports World and BRKHRD Corp., and organized in cooperation with Airport Casino Filipino, Crown Sound System Sakura Amplifiers and Home Theater Systems, Malungai Life Oil, Diamond Billiard table, Hermes Sports Bar, I-Bar, Golden Leaf Restaurant, Bugsy Promotions, Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines (BMPAP) with The Philippine Star as official media partner.

“Luck played a part in my victory. Yang is a very tough opponent and I really had a hard time beating him,” said the two-time National Open champion Corteza, playing under the banner of Jonathan Sy's Negros Billiards Stable.

“I hope to play with him again as it’s really exciting going up against one of the world’s best cue artists.” added the former World Ten-Ball Finalist Corteza, whose stint in local and international competitions is supported by Kopiko and Energen.

Negros Billiards Stable head coach Christopher Palses commented after the match "Buti nag scratch si Yang sa 9th rack, yun ang turning point ni Van-Van (Lee Vann) sa pagkapanalo niya sa mahigpitan nilang laro ng Taiwanese cue master."

It shall be recalled that Corteza topped the 3rd  Golden Break 9-Ball Invitational Championship 2011 last August at the Golden Break Snooker & Pool Club in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. He also won 2011 San Miguel Beer Oktoberfest 9-ball Open in the Masters category at the Resorts World Manila in Pasay City last October.

Meanwhile, the PBB Face Off series resumes with a match pitting Yang against Dennis Orcollo on Dec. 10. After that, Chang Jung Lin of Chinese-Taipei battles Roberto Gomez on Dec.17, Chang takes on Alcano on Dec.23 and Wu Chai Ching of China battles Efren "Bata" Reyes on Dec.30.      By: MARLON BERNARDINO

CORTEZA WINS SMB OKTOBERFEST 9-BALL OPEN: POCKETS P350,000

FORMER National Open champion Lee Vann "The Slayer" Corteza ruled the 2011 San Miguel Beer Oktoberfest Festival 9-ball Open Masters category at the Resorts World Manila in Pasay City, late Sunday.

The top player of Negros Billiards Stable and JSY Sports, Corteza defeated world no.1 and world 8-ball champion Dennis "Robocop" Orcollo, 11-8, in the finals to bag the top prize of P350,000 plus SMB mug trophy. The former two-time SMB 9-ball open champion Orcollo settled P100,000.

Corteza, whose stint here backed up by Energen and Kopiko made the finals by beating ex-world pool champion Francisco "Django" Bustamante, 9-4,  in the semifinals while Orcollo advanced by edging hall of famer Efren "Bata" Reyes, 9-8.

“I would like to thank Sir Jonathan Sy and coach Christopher Palses for always helping me in my local and international tournaments alongside Kopiko and Energen,” said the Davao City native Corteza, whose next tournament is the Japan Open on November 16 in Osaka. 

Earlier, Corteza, playing under the banner of sportsman/businessman Jonathan "Bacolod" Sy, nipped former WPA 9-ball and 8-ball champion Ronato "Volcano" Alcano, 9-5, in the round-of-16, and 2006 SydneyWorld Junior quarter-finalists Renemar "Revo" David, 9-7, in the round-of-8, while Orcollo ousted Ramil "Bebeng" Gallego, 9-1, and Jundel "Jano" Mazon, 9-6, respectively.

In the race-to-11, alternate break finals, the former fisherman from Bislig, Surigao del Sur Orcollo jumped to a big 3-1 lead before Corteza tied the score at 3-all in the 6th racks after winning two straight racks. The two Filipino hottest player today tied the match at 4-all count after exchanging racks. Corteza won two consecutive racks for a 6-4 lead. Actually, Orcollo had a chance to tied the match at 5-all count in the 10th racks but failed to sank no.8 ball. From there, Corteza never looked back. He won five of the next nine racks for the runaway victory.

"Turning point ko yung pagsablay ni Dennis sa medyo delikadong shot sa 8-ball sa 10th racks kaya nakalamang ako ng dalawang racks." said Corteza, a many-time Southeast Asian Games gold medallist.

NBS president Jonathan Sy lauded Corteza’s latest feat. " I’m really happy for him. Hope next year mag world champion na si Lee Vann" he added.

Meanwhile, Jomel "Porkchop" Sultan defeated fellow NBS stalwart Ruben Cuna, 9-8, in the grand finals of winner take all Open regional category to enroute P50,000 plus SMB mug trophy.

The San Miguel Beer Oktoberfest Festival 9-ball Open Masters category also participated by country's women top player Rubilen "Bingkay" Amit, Rodolfo "Boy Samson" Luat, Ricky" Bai" Zerna, Warren "Warrior" Kiamco, Gandy Valle among others in the Puyat Sports organized event backed up by San Miguel Beer, Negros Billiards Stable, Bugsy Promotions and Resorts World Manila.The matches aired live streaming onwww.sanmiguelbeer.com.ph.  Tournament director is Ish Caparras of Puyat Sports.-MARLON BERNARDINO-