QUEZON CITY, PHILIPPINES---FORMER Southeast Asian Games gold medallist Victor Arpilleda scored back to back victories against his lower rated opponents to share the lead with 2004 WPA World Pool runner-up Pei-Wei Chang at the start of World Ten-Ball Championship qualifying round yesterday (Tuesday) at the famous Star Billiards Center at No.46 Joy Street in Grace Village, Quezon City.
The Indonesia-based Arpilleda, who is best remembered for winning the prestigious gold medal in the 1997 Southeast Asian Games, brought down compatriot Alex Nobleza, 7-5, then blasted Singaporean Ricky Chew, 7-0, to meet Taiwanese Chien-ten Chung in the next round, winner over Indian Bhudinder Singh Monga, 7-1, and Jorge "Totoy" Dacer, 7-2, respectively.
Chang, on the other hand nipped local bets Roland dela Cruz, 7-4, and Richard Alinsub, 7-3, in this qualifying round of World Ten-Ball which offers 12 spot in the tournament proper.
Also with two wins are Cha-hsiung Lai, Cheng-chuan Liu and Chun-Yang Hsu of Chinese-Taipei.
Lai crushed Ray Par Carey of Singapore, 7-4, and Chien-Hsing Lin of Taiwan, 7-1, Liu beat Toshihidne Hamasaki of Japan, 7-3, and Cebuano Jestoni Magadia, 7-2, and Hsu crushed Romeo del Rosario, 7-3, and James Al Ortega, 7-3.
Former secretary Mike "Idol" Defensor made the ceremonial break during the opening of the World Ten-Ball Championship. Joining Defensor in the ceremonial break were Sebastian Chua, treasurer of the Billiards and Snooker Congress of the Philippines and long-time billiards patron and Yen Makabenta, chairman of BSCP.
Meanwhile, the 128 main draw of World Ten-Ball Championship gets going on September 29 at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City.
