AMIT, CENTENO CONTINUE WINNING WAYS IN YALIN WOMEN'S WORLD 10-BALL

 FILIPINA Rubilen "Bingkay" Amit continued her streak in the ongoing WPA (World Pool-Billiard Association) 4th Annual Yalin Women's World 10-Ball Championship yesterday at the Robinson's Galleria in Ortigas.

The Cebuana native Amit, who also won Women's World 10-Ball Championship four years ago, used her power breaks to defeat B.R. Jung of Korea, 6-2, and K.Yukawa of Japan, 6-1, respectively to match the 2-0 record of countryman 13-year-old  Cheska Centeno of Zamboanga City.

“Break has become the difference in the match,” said Amit, playing under the Puyat Sports after the match. “I had a more solid breaking game in my first two matches.” she added.

Centeno on the other hand, dumped M. Grujicic of Venezuela, 6-0, for her second straight wins in as many rounds. She earlier beat Japan's Noriko Onoda, 6-4.

Another Filipino entry Iris Ranola of Zamboanga City had a 1-2 win-loss record.  The reigning Southeast Asian Games double gold medallist is not as fortunate as she dropped her opening matches against Kimuka Maki of Japan with a similar 6-4 output then followed a 6-4 victory against Singaporean Charlene Chai but bowed to L. Fulberg of Sweden, 4-6.

2010 World 10-ball champion Jasmin Ouschan of Austria is the first player advanced to the knock-out stage. She beat N. Praveen of India, 6-2, K. Sone of Japan, 6-3, and Ga Young Kim of Korea, 6-4.

Defending champion Kelly Fisher of Great Britain, meantime tallied 2-1 record. She beat A. Mazhirina of India, 6-2, and Onoda, 6-0, but failed to Yu Ram Cha of Korea, 5-6.

According to Charlie Williams of the organizing Dragon Promotion, the four-day $21,000 top prize event divided into eight groups, with the top three players from each group will advance to the next round.-Marlon Bernardino-

'Bata' Reyes winds up second in World Straight pool in US

FILIPINO hall of famer Efren "Bata" Reyes failed to overhaul his American foe’s hot start to settle for second place in the the World 14.1 (World Straight pool) tournament in Flushing, New York, USA, over the weekend.

John Schmidt of Hesperia, California put USA back on top again in the 100th anniversary tournament of the game after beating Reyes, 200-169, in the finals.

Schmidt reached the finals after outclassing Ralph Eckert of Germany 200 to 60 while Reyes subdued reigning World 9-Ball and US Open 9-Ball Champion Darren Appleton of Great Britain, 200-108.       -Marlon Bernardino-

ALEX PAGULAYAN WINS BACK TO BACK TITLE IN U.S. POLL CIRCUIT

FILIPINO pool master Alex "The Lion" Pagulayan preserved his winning run in the American pool circuit by ruling the 2012 Southern Classic 9 Ball Championship at the  Accu-Stats Simonis Arena at Harrah’s Casino and Hotel in Tunica, Mississippi, United States on Wednesday.

Pagulayan defeated fellow World 9-ball champion Johnny "The Scorpion" Archer, 7-6, in the finals.

Pagulayan beat Shane Van Boening of the USA to get into the final, and Archer beat another Filipino entry Warren "Warrior" Kiamco. In the previous round the Pasil, Cebu pride Kiamco beat countryman World 8-Ball titlist Dennis "Robocop" Orcollo, putting paid to the chances of there being three Filipinos in the last four.

It was the Cabagan, Isabela native Pagulayan second straight title in US pool circuit whose stint is being supported by Philippine Billiard God Father Aristeo "Putch" Puyat, following his triumphs in the Diamond 10 Ball Challenge over the weekend. He nipped Landon Shuffett of the USA, 15-10, for the coveted title.

" Alex do his best to put the country once again in the world map of sports." said Philippine Billiard God Father Aristeo "Putch" Puyat.       -Marlon Bernardino-

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