22 September 2008, Guangzhou – WPA World No. 1 Dennis Orcollo overcame some precarious moments to rule the Guangzhou leg of the Guinness 9 Ball Tour 2008 with an 11 – 9 victory over Hung Hsiang Wang of Chinese Taipei yesterday here at the Garden Hotel in Guangzhou, China.
The victory earned Orcollo the top prize of US$15,000 (P705,000) and more importantly assured him a spot in the Grand Final in Jakarta, Indonesia next month.
Only the top ten players in the Tour's Order of Merit list will qualify for the lucrative Grand Final and a qualifying spot in the WPA World Pool Championship. Orcollo was clinging on to 10th place prior the Guangzhou leg
On the hill at 10 – 7, the Surigao native blew a chance to close out the match as he failed to pocket the three-ball on a seemingly easy attempt, allowing Wang to win the rack.
The Filipino ace then committed another foul in the 19th rack and his Taiwanese foe converted on a 1 – 9 combination shot to narrow the gap to 10 – 9.
Wang nevertheless failed to knot the match in the very next rack as he bungled an attempt on the two-ball, leaving Orcollo to clean the rack and triumph for the first time in the six-city tour organized by ESPN STAR Sports.
"I was actually feeling dizzy when I was up 7 – 5 so I had to ask Japanese journalist Takayama Takao if he could buy me something to eat during the break. Thankfully, he bought me a chocolate bar and it gave me some energy," revealed Orcollo.
"Wang was really a tough opponent, but I was confident and ready throughout this tournament," added Orcollo. He dedicated this victory to his son Ralph Dency, who will be turning 6 on October 2.
Orcollo earlier demolished Ching Shun Yang of Chinese Taipei, 9 – 1, in the semifinals.
Wang made the championship match by nipping Singapore leg winner Alex Pagulayan, 9 – 8. Wang settled for $6,000 while Pagulayan earned $3,500 (P164,500) for reaching the final four.
The Philippines has now won the last two legs of the only ranking Tour in Asia. Jung Lin Chang of Chinese Taipei claimed the first three legs in Taiwan, Penang and Genting Highlands.
Co-organised by Guangdong Billiards & Snooker Association and GDTV Sports Channel, the Guinness 9 Ball Tour 2008 is sanctioned by the Asian Pocket Billiard Union (APBU) and organised by ESPN STAR Sports' Event Management Group (EMG). Guinness is the title sponsor for the Tour. The local sanctioning body is the Chinese Billiards & Snooker Association. Mansion 88 is the gold sponsor. Iwan Simonis and Aramith supply the official tablecloth and official balls, respectively. Brunswick provides the official pool table while Predator is the official cue. BCLN is the official apparel. The Official Venue is the Garden Hotel. STAR Sports is the official broadcaster.
Further information can be obtained at www.g9bt.com
