MANILA---Huidji See of The Netherlands joined the WPA World 10-Ball Championship Tuesday with little expectations.
By the end of the tournament five days later, he walked away with the championship trophy and the biggest purse of his career.
Flashing nerves of steel, the 29-year-old naturalized Dutchman of Chinese origins overcame Fu Jianbo of China, 11-8, yesterday in a finals match devoid of the usual hometown cheering at the World Trade Center in Pasay City.
Fu earlier halted Filipino Carlo Biado’s remarkable run with a 9-5 victory to set up the finals duel with See, who eliminated Yukio Akakariyama of Japan, 9-6, in the other semifinal duel.
See, who won $60,000 (about P2.7 million) duplicated the feat of fellow Europeans Darren Appleton of England, who ruled the inaugural edition in 2008, and Mika Immonen of Finland, who topped the event two years ago.
“This is like a dream (winning a world championship),” said the soft-spoken See, the winner of the US Open 10-Ball title four years ago.
“I knew that I could play well but to really execute it is just great. Hopefully this will turn my career around,” added See, who grew up in Arnhem.
See quietly climbed out of the losers’ bracket, eliminating German Ralf Soquet, 9-4, to reach the knockout phase.
“Beating Ralf gave me the confidence that I could beat everyone else,” said See.
After bundling out top Filipino bets like World No. 1 Antonio Lining, world champion Dennis Orcollo and Ronnie Alcano in the earlier rounds, Biado looked poised to go all the way.
But admittedly pressured by the enormity of the occasion, the La Union ace made two early errors in the semifinals, allowing Fu to zoom to an 8-1 lead.
“I felt the pressure since I was the only Filipino left,” said Biado, who eliminated Orcollo, 9-4, Saturday night. “I really wanted to win for the country.”
Fu advanced against Biado by ousting Lee Van Corteza, 9-8.
Biado hardly slept on the eve of the semifinal and needed time to settle down.
Written by Cedelf P. Tupas and lifted without permission from the Phil. Daily Inquirer
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Immonen Falls, Orcollo, Alcano Sustains Form
MANILA---Filipino top guns Dennis Orcollo and Ronnie Alcano continued their stirring runs with lopsided victories yesterday in a WPA World Ten-Ball Championship that was thrown wide open with the ouster of defending champion Mika Immonen at the World Trade Center.
Orcollo, the reigning World 8-ball titlist, overwhelmed Mario Morra of Canada, 9-4, to reach the last 32, while Alcano, the former double world champion, flashed his old ruthless form to turn back compatriot Demothenes Pulpul, 9-2.
“I feel good about my game, especially my breaks,” said Alcano, whose performance dipped after winning the world titles in 9-ball and 8-ball in the space of less than six months four years ago.
The two Filipinos were joined in the final 32 by upstart Carlo Biado, who toppled countryman Roberto Gomez, 9-6, and former World 10-ball losing finalist Lee Van Corteza, who ousted Lu Hui Chan of Chinese-Taipei, 9-5.
Immonen got the ax from Tomoo Takano of Japan, a survivor of the five-day qualifying event which produced 10 final
slots to the tournament.
Takano prevailed, 9-7, after Immonen missed an easy shot on the orange-five.
Biado, who enjoyed a solid run in the Philippine Open 10-Ball Championship last month, refused to wilt despite falling into an early 0-3 hole, winning the fourth to eighth rack to seize control.
A former caddie, the 27-year-old Biado was rewarded with a last 32 date with Alcano, who raced to a 7-0 lead against Pulpul.
Antonio Gabica, the former Asian Games gold medalist, absorbed a heart-breaking 8-9 loss to unheralded Manuel Pereira of Portugal.
Gabica’s loss stung the most.
Already on the hill in the 15th rack, Gabica lost a safety battle before Pereira broke and ran out the last two frames.
Written by Cedelf P. Tupas and lifted without permission from Philippine Daily Inquirer
Orcollo, the reigning World 8-ball titlist, overwhelmed Mario Morra of Canada, 9-4, to reach the last 32, while Alcano, the former double world champion, flashed his old ruthless form to turn back compatriot Demothenes Pulpul, 9-2.
“I feel good about my game, especially my breaks,” said Alcano, whose performance dipped after winning the world titles in 9-ball and 8-ball in the space of less than six months four years ago.
The two Filipinos were joined in the final 32 by upstart Carlo Biado, who toppled countryman Roberto Gomez, 9-6, and former World 10-ball losing finalist Lee Van Corteza, who ousted Lu Hui Chan of Chinese-Taipei, 9-5.
Immonen got the ax from Tomoo Takano of Japan, a survivor of the five-day qualifying event which produced 10 final
slots to the tournament.
Takano prevailed, 9-7, after Immonen missed an easy shot on the orange-five.
Biado, who enjoyed a solid run in the Philippine Open 10-Ball Championship last month, refused to wilt despite falling into an early 0-3 hole, winning the fourth to eighth rack to seize control.
A former caddie, the 27-year-old Biado was rewarded with a last 32 date with Alcano, who raced to a 7-0 lead against Pulpul.
Antonio Gabica, the former Asian Games gold medalist, absorbed a heart-breaking 8-9 loss to unheralded Manuel Pereira of Portugal.
Gabica’s loss stung the most.
Already on the hill in the 15th rack, Gabica lost a safety battle before Pereira broke and ran out the last two frames.
Written by Cedelf P. Tupas and lifted without permission from Philippine Daily Inquirer
Orcollo 2 Other Filipino Cue Masters Reach Sweet 16 of World 10 Ball
SEVERAL minutes later after Carlo Biado and Lee Vann Corteza triumphed, reigning WPA World 8-ball champion Dennis Orcollo also made it to the Sweet 16 of the WPA World Ten Ball Championships at the World Trade Center in Roxas, Boulevard, Pasay City on Saturday.
Orcollo, top player of sportsman/businessman Ceferino "Perry" Mariano ng Bugsy Promotions beat Karl Boyes of Great Britain, 9-7. Biado earlier beat Ronnie Alcano, the former WPA World 9-ball and 8-ball champion in the round-of-32 yesterday, as Corteza hammered Hao Xiang Han of China, 9-4.
Other players who made it into the round-of-16 are Chris Melling and Daryl Peach of Great Britain, Yukio Akakayarima and Tomoo Takano of Japan, Chang Yu-lun of Chinese-Taipei, Jason Klatt of Canada, Fu Jian Bo and Wu Jiaqing of China and Tony Drago of Malta.
Melling routed Manuel Pereira of Portugal, 9-4, Peach dealt Shane Van Boening of the USA, 9-6, Akakayarima walloped Sascha-Andrej Tege of Germany,9-7, Takano upset former WTBC champ Darren Appleton of Great Britain, 9-5, Chang toppled Johnny Archer of the USA, 9-7, Klatt routed Alok Kumar of India, 9-7, Fu crushed Liu Cheng-chieh of Chinese-Taipei, 9-3,Wu beat Liwen Lo of Japan, 9-8, and Drago defeated Oliver Ortmann of Germany, 9-6. MARLON BERNARDINO
Orcollo, top player of sportsman/businessman Ceferino "Perry" Mariano ng Bugsy Promotions beat Karl Boyes of Great Britain, 9-7. Biado earlier beat Ronnie Alcano, the former WPA World 9-ball and 8-ball champion in the round-of-32 yesterday, as Corteza hammered Hao Xiang Han of China, 9-4.
Other players who made it into the round-of-16 are Chris Melling and Daryl Peach of Great Britain, Yukio Akakayarima and Tomoo Takano of Japan, Chang Yu-lun of Chinese-Taipei, Jason Klatt of Canada, Fu Jian Bo and Wu Jiaqing of China and Tony Drago of Malta.
Melling routed Manuel Pereira of Portugal, 9-4, Peach dealt Shane Van Boening of the USA, 9-6, Akakayarima walloped Sascha-Andrej Tege of Germany,9-7, Takano upset former WTBC champ Darren Appleton of Great Britain, 9-5, Chang toppled Johnny Archer of the USA, 9-7, Klatt routed Alok Kumar of India, 9-7, Fu crushed Liu Cheng-chieh of Chinese-Taipei, 9-3,Wu beat Liwen Lo of Japan, 9-8, and Drago defeated Oliver Ortmann of Germany, 9-6. MARLON BERNARDINO
World Ten Ball: Orcollo, Alcano, Biado Advance
FILIPINO pool masters Dennis Orcullo, Ronato Alcano and Carlo Biado scored contrasting victories at the start of the Knockout Stage to advance into the Last 32 of the 2011 World Ten Ball Championships yesterday at the World Trade Center in Pasay City.
Orcullo routed Mario Morra of Canada, 9-4, while Alcano and Biado won convincingly against fellow Filipino pool players.
Alcano thrashed Demosthenes Pulpul, 9-2, while Biado defeated Roberto Gomez, 9-6.
Aside from Pulpul and Gomez, the other Pinoy cue artists who failed to advance in the Last 32 were Jeffrey de Luna, Jonas Magpantay, Antonio Gabica and Venancio Tanio.
De Luna bowed to Ricky Yang of Indonesia, 3-9; Magpantay lost Lo Li Wen of China, 6-9; Gabica was edged by Manuel Pereira of Portugal, 8-9; and Tanio was defeated by Shane Van Boening of the United States, 7-9.
Currently playing as of press time yesterday were Lee Vann Corteza, Marvin Tapia, Jericho Banares and Jundel Mazon. — Marlon Bernardino
Orcullo routed Mario Morra of Canada, 9-4, while Alcano and Biado won convincingly against fellow Filipino pool players.
Alcano thrashed Demosthenes Pulpul, 9-2, while Biado defeated Roberto Gomez, 9-6.
Aside from Pulpul and Gomez, the other Pinoy cue artists who failed to advance in the Last 32 were Jeffrey de Luna, Jonas Magpantay, Antonio Gabica and Venancio Tanio.
De Luna bowed to Ricky Yang of Indonesia, 3-9; Magpantay lost Lo Li Wen of China, 6-9; Gabica was edged by Manuel Pereira of Portugal, 8-9; and Tanio was defeated by Shane Van Boening of the United States, 7-9.
Currently playing as of press time yesterday were Lee Vann Corteza, Marvin Tapia, Jericho Banares and Jundel Mazon. — Marlon Bernardino
Sunday, December 19, 2010
"DJANGO" BUSTAMANTE IS NO.1 IN THE WORLD OF POOL; RECLAIM HIS TOP POSITION---WPA
THE power-breaker from Tarlac City, Francisco "Django" Bustamante, has finally achieved his goal, to top again the World Pool-Billiard Association (WPA) rankings list. Bustamante reclaimed his over-all position after winning this year's WPA World 9-Ball Championships in Doha, Qatar.
"I will do my very best in my future events for flag and country," said Bustamante, one of the top players of sportsman/ businessman Aristeo "Putch" Puyat, considered the Philippines billiards God Father.
Bustamante has a total 1142 points, 170 points ahead over second place Karl Boyes of Great Britan with 972.
Sharing the limelight are No.3 Antonio "Nickoy "Lining (940 points), No. 5 Jeffrey "The Bull" de Luna (841 points), No.7 Ronato "Volcano" Alcano (784 points), No.8 Vinancio "Tukao" Tanio (759 points), No.9 Marlon "Marvelous" Manalo (732 points) and No.10 Lee Vann "The Slayer" Corteza (704 points).
Rounding up the top 10 are No.4 "The Little Monster" Kuo Po-cheng of Chinese-Taipei (848 points) and No.6 Niels "The Terminator" Feijen of the Netherlands (600 points).MARLON BERNARDINO
"I will do my very best in my future events for flag and country," said Bustamante, one of the top players of sportsman/ businessman Aristeo "Putch" Puyat, considered the Philippines billiards God Father.
Bustamante has a total 1142 points, 170 points ahead over second place Karl Boyes of Great Britan with 972.
Sharing the limelight are No.3 Antonio "Nickoy "Lining (940 points), No. 5 Jeffrey "The Bull" de Luna (841 points), No.7 Ronato "Volcano" Alcano (784 points), No.8 Vinancio "Tukao" Tanio (759 points), No.9 Marlon "Marvelous" Manalo (732 points) and No.10 Lee Vann "The Slayer" Corteza (704 points).
Rounding up the top 10 are No.4 "The Little Monster" Kuo Po-cheng of Chinese-Taipei (848 points) and No.6 Niels "The Terminator" Feijen of the Netherlands (600 points).MARLON BERNARDINO
Friday, December 4, 2009
Bata, Amit Clinch 1st World Mixed Doubles Classic
EFREN “Bata” Reyes and Rubilen “Bingkay” Amit of Philippines "A" bagged the 1st World Mixed Doubles Classic title after edging out Korea in an exciting final match late Thursday at the Nuvo City Lifestyle Center in Libis, Quezon City.
Reyes and Amit, the two world champions from Puyat Sports of Aristeo “Putch” Puyat, posted a 9-7 win in their race-to- nine match against Koreans Charlie Williams and Eun Ji Park. They took home the top prize of $6,000 in the event presented by Nuvo Land Philippines, Inc. and Dragon Promotions and supported by Puyat Sports, ABS-CBN Sports, ESPN-Star Sports and the Philippine Star.
The Koreans, on the other hand settled for the second place prize of $3,000.
" We would like to thank the organizer (Dragon Promotions) and the sponsors for staging this event," said Reyes, who became the First Filipino World 9-Ball Champion in 1999 in Cardiff, Wales.
The Philippine B Team of Lee Van Corteza and Shanelle Loraine defeated the pair of Mika Immonen and Borana Andoni of Team Europe, 7-3, in the battle for third place and received the $2,000 prize.
“At least we finish third,” said Corteza, who lost to Immonen in the finals of World Ten Ball Championships.
Earlier, Team Japan of Hayato Hijikata and Kaori Ebe defeated Team USA of Shane Van Boening and Amy Chen, 5-3, to finish fifth in the six teams competitions.
By Marlon Bernardino - 2009-12-03
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Amit Women's World 10-Ball Champion
Give me a break
By Frank Lacambra
The title won recently by Rubelyn Amit of the Philippines in the JBET poker.net Women’s World 10-Ball Championship was a thrilling and a most satisfying news, coming as it did in a year marked by trouble and dissension on the Philippine billiards front.
For Ms. Amit the victory came as some kinds of redemption after a sorry lose in the 2007 Amway Women’s World Championship. She was so close and yet so far away. That was a real heartbreaker for someone so young who had to carry on her shoulders the hopes and expectations of the whole nation.
In the 2007 event, if you remember, Amit started out hot in the early going, But somewhere in the middle of the game, her game suddenly sputtered. She missed too many easy shots that ultimately did her in.
This time around, Rubelyn came to fight. She was more focused. She was relaxed. And learning from her disastrous experience two years earlier, she not only practiced a lot but also prepared herself mentally. In the end her poise and skills—and knowing that the hometown crowd was behind her—made all the difference in her world-class performance.
What made her win all the more memorable and priced was the fact that she topped a star-studded field graced by reigning champion Lien Shin Mei of Chinese Taipei, World No. 1 Kelly Fisher of England, and European 9-ball, 8-ball and straight pool champion Jasmine Ouschan of Austria.
Rubelyn, indeed, deserved to win a tough, high-caliber championship. Something we cannot say of the recent major Philippine men’s tournament (without taking anything away from the eventual champion Ricky Yang who played masterfully) held just a week before the women’s world 10-ball event.
As billiards aficionados ruefully observed, the Philippine Open 10-Ball Championship attracted some of the biggest names in men’s pool (Souquet, Hohmann, van Boening, Deuel, Petroni, Appleton plus strong contingents from Chinese Taipei, Japan, Indonesia and Malaysia) but what an embarrassment that the Philippines could not field its cream of the crop.
Internationally known players came all the way from all over looking forward to battling the cream of the crop of Philippine billiards, but they ended up playing against second- tier players, except for a few formidable players like Manalo, Gabica and de Luna.
How can we have a major billiards event without the likes of Bata Reyes, Django, Alcano, Pagulayan and Luat, just to mention a few? Unthinkable! But unfortunately, that’s what happened. And unless the people running the country’s billiards affairs wake up to this sorry situation, we see trouble ahead.
Perhaps it’s about time the POC—if not President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo herself—took a direct hand and look into what’s bugging our billiards community. The squabbling among our billiards leaders and top players, as we have said in an earlier piece, is not doing the country any good.
The whole world looks at the Philippines as the “new epicenter of international billiards” and we had better take this matter seriously.
This image is a tremendous asset that we should build on and not destroy just because of the narrow selfish interests and greedy motives of a few. The image is good for business, tourism especially. And it’s good for the game, too. Because of it the Philippines has become a powerful magnet, attracting the best and the finest billiards players to our shores.
But if we don’t fix the problem soon, we will fritter away our edge as a billiards mecca in no time.
By Frank Lacambra
The title won recently by Rubelyn Amit of the Philippines in the JBET poker.net Women’s World 10-Ball Championship was a thrilling and a most satisfying news, coming as it did in a year marked by trouble and dissension on the Philippine billiards front.
For Ms. Amit the victory came as some kinds of redemption after a sorry lose in the 2007 Amway Women’s World Championship. She was so close and yet so far away. That was a real heartbreaker for someone so young who had to carry on her shoulders the hopes and expectations of the whole nation.
In the 2007 event, if you remember, Amit started out hot in the early going, But somewhere in the middle of the game, her game suddenly sputtered. She missed too many easy shots that ultimately did her in.
This time around, Rubelyn came to fight. She was more focused. She was relaxed. And learning from her disastrous experience two years earlier, she not only practiced a lot but also prepared herself mentally. In the end her poise and skills—and knowing that the hometown crowd was behind her—made all the difference in her world-class performance.
What made her win all the more memorable and priced was the fact that she topped a star-studded field graced by reigning champion Lien Shin Mei of Chinese Taipei, World No. 1 Kelly Fisher of England, and European 9-ball, 8-ball and straight pool champion Jasmine Ouschan of Austria.
Rubelyn, indeed, deserved to win a tough, high-caliber championship. Something we cannot say of the recent major Philippine men’s tournament (without taking anything away from the eventual champion Ricky Yang who played masterfully) held just a week before the women’s world 10-ball event.
As billiards aficionados ruefully observed, the Philippine Open 10-Ball Championship attracted some of the biggest names in men’s pool (Souquet, Hohmann, van Boening, Deuel, Petroni, Appleton plus strong contingents from Chinese Taipei, Japan, Indonesia and Malaysia) but what an embarrassment that the Philippines could not field its cream of the crop.
Internationally known players came all the way from all over looking forward to battling the cream of the crop of Philippine billiards, but they ended up playing against second- tier players, except for a few formidable players like Manalo, Gabica and de Luna.
How can we have a major billiards event without the likes of Bata Reyes, Django, Alcano, Pagulayan and Luat, just to mention a few? Unthinkable! But unfortunately, that’s what happened. And unless the people running the country’s billiards affairs wake up to this sorry situation, we see trouble ahead.
Perhaps it’s about time the POC—if not President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo herself—took a direct hand and look into what’s bugging our billiards community. The squabbling among our billiards leaders and top players, as we have said in an earlier piece, is not doing the country any good.
The whole world looks at the Philippines as the “new epicenter of international billiards” and we had better take this matter seriously.
This image is a tremendous asset that we should build on and not destroy just because of the narrow selfish interests and greedy motives of a few. The image is good for business, tourism especially. And it’s good for the game, too. Because of it the Philippines has become a powerful magnet, attracting the best and the finest billiards players to our shores.
But if we don’t fix the problem soon, we will fritter away our edge as a billiards mecca in no time.
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