MANILA, Philippines — Dennis Orcollo and Ronnie Alcano barged into the Round-of-64 of the 2011 World 10-Ball Championships by downing separate rivals yesterday at the World Trade Center in Pasay City.
Orcollo, the reigning World 8- Ball champion, dominated American Max Eberle for a 9-2 win while Alcano, the 2006 World 9-Ball and 2007 World 8-Ball winner, won the last three racks for a 9-6 victory over Singapore’s Toh Lian Han.
The win by Orcollo was a follow-up to his 9-3 victory over Carlos Cabello on Tuesday. Alcano scored a 9-5 win over Khaled Al Mutairi the last time. Also advancing in the knock‑out stage of this six-day event sanctioned by the World Pool-Billiard Association and supported by the BSCP is unheralded Venancio Tanio, who defeated 2008 semifinalist Demosthenes Pulpul, 9-5.
However, World No. 1 Antonio “ Nikoy” Lining suffered a stinging 9-5 defeat to Ukraine’s Artem Kosjovoj. The defeat forced the 48- year-old to play either compatriot Carlo Biado or American Charlie Williams for a berth in the Roundof-64. Biado, who nearly made his way into the semifinals of last month’s Philippine Open tourney by forcing eventual champion Thorsten Hohmann to a hill-hill quarterfinals match, and Williams are playing at presstime.
Meanwhile, 17-year-old Jonas Magpantay of Rosario, Batangas lost to Wu Jiaqing of China, 9- 4, and dropped into the loser’s bracket. He must win his succeeding match to advance or otherwise bow out of the competition.
Ramil Gallego became the first Filipino casualty of the event, losing to Hong Kong’s Chen Man Lee, 9-6. It was his second defeat in this tournament, thus giving him the early boot. Marvin Tapia kept his Roundof-64 bid alive with a 9-7 win over error-prone Jae Gun Lee. He needs to defeat Ruben Cuna in a do-or-die match for a slot in the knockout stage. (inq.net)