Other Pinoys shine as Orcollo, Bustamante fall in World 10 Ball Championship
Chua takes down Souquet. Image copyright Bob Guerrero.
GENERAL SANTOS CITY - The Philippines put 25 players into the last 64knockout phase of the MP Cup Gensan World 10 ball Championship on Thursday. What ensued as a mixed bag of big names stumbling and lesser lights coming to the fore at the SM City of South Cotabato’s capital.
Cebuano Warren Kiamco is through to the final 32 after dumping Karol Skowerski of Poland in the main TV table, 11-8. Kiamco’s table-length jump shot on the 8 ball in rack sixteen was the pick of a fine performance.
In a marathon encounter that lasted more than three hours, Filipino Jundel Mazon edged top-seed and fellow Pinoy Jeff de Luna 11-10 to reach the last 32.
With de Luna constantly checking the rack and with both players missing, the match stretched on and on. In the case game de Luna was unable to jump safe on the two, allowing Mazon, a former Guinness World Series of Pool champ, to run out for victory.
Dennis Orcollo crashed out of the tournament by falling to Irsal Nasution of Indonesia 11-8. Orcollo fought back gamely from 7-3 down to level at 7-7 but the Indonesian prevailed.
“Malas talaga ako,” rued Orcollo after. “Ang mga break ko walang nahuhulog. At maganda ang tinira niya.”
Raymund Faraon, the curent All-Japan 9 ball champ, sailed through to the round of 32 thanks to a 11-5 blowout against fellow Pinoy Ryan Maglasang.
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Francisco Bustamante, the 2010 world 9 ball champ, was not so lucky. The legend fell behind early in his round of 64 match with Spain’s David Alcaide but got into a groove by reviving his patented big break enroute to building a 9-8 advantage. He seemed poised to get to the hill first but flubbed an eight ball, allowing Alcaide to square the match.
Down 10-9 Bustamante heroically banked in a 2 ball to stay on the table, but a subsequent miss on a bank on the seven proved to be his downfall as Alcaide ran out.
Antonio Gabica has also been eliminated by an 11-5 rout at the hands of the young Chinese Wang Can.
“Eh papaano, una pa lang, kastigo na ako,” bemoaned the Qatar-based pro about Wang’s hot start. Wang never lost the momentum and is in the final 32.
“Pagkatapos ng lahat ng break niya, planto na, (easy run out)” added Gabica.
In the final match of the evening, Johann Chua buoyed Filipino hopes by taking out German icon Ralf Souquet 11-9.
Souquet was unable to resafe Chua’s snooker on the two balll at 9-9 which allowed Chua to run out and then break-and run out the next rack for the triumph.
Some unknown Pinoys are also in the last 32 after winning on Thursday night. Ruben Cuna, Baseth Mapandi, and Emil Martinez waltz through to the next round.
Other Filipinos of note like Lee Vann Corteza, Alex Pagulayan, Elmer Haya, Carlo Biado, and Ronnie Alcano play their round-of-64 assignments on Friday morning.
Darren Appleton, the 2008 world 10 ball champ, Chinese Taipei’s Chang Jung Ling, and Marcus Chamat were other foreign players who won their opening matches in the knockout stage.
Japan billiards federation forbids its players from competing over security fears
Conspicuous in their absence in Gen San this week are the top Japanese professionals. None of them are here, and for a surprising reason.
According to Japanese pocket billiards journalist Takao Takayama, the Japan Professional Billiards Association did not allow any of its players to come to Gen San upon the advice of the Japan Olympic Committee in the wake of the recent death of Japanese national Kenji Goto at the hands of the Islamic State rebels in or around Syria.
“They feared Islamic terrorist (sic),” said Takayama over Facebook chat.
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General Santos is in a part of Mindanao with a sizable Muslim minority. Takayama says the federation were concerned for their players’ safety. Perhaps the JOC and JPBA failed to take into consideration that Syria is nowhere near Mindanao.
“It’s ridiculous,” said Behzad Zareifrad of Iran, one of the Muslim players who competed this week. “If it’s not safe here for them (the Japanese) then it’s not safe for anyone.’
“The ISIS are representing the one percent, actually less than one percent, of Muslims who are not violent. The other 99% are peaceful,” added English player Imran Majid, who is also Muslim.
“It’s a bit over-the-top to not allow them to come, especially when ISIS isn’t known to be here, however I do understand their concerns for their players’ safety,” he continued.
Takayama, who runs the billiards site onthehill.co.jp, said the decision of the federation was “unbelievable” and that several top Japanese players wanted to participate.
Japan has produced three mens world nine ball champions, Takeshi Okumura, Kunihiko Takahashi, and most recently, Yukio Akagariyama.
OTHER NOTES: Just before 2 pm the matches were momentarily halted while dragon dancers, accompanied by drummers, performed in the atrium area, apparently part of SM City Gensan’s Chinese New Year celebrations… The 25 Filipinos in the last 64 represented 39% of the field… Efren Reyes was unable to play in this tournament because of the death of his sister three days before the event. He will, however, play in the doubles event afterwards… The field will be whittled to just four players at the end of Friday’s play. The semis and final will be played on Saturday… Learn more about the event including match updates at this Facebook site. You may view the bracket here.
Follow Bob on Twitter @ThePassionateFan.
