De Ocampo manhandles Korean

World 10-Ball Championship
By FRANCIS SANTIAGO
November 28, 2009, 7:26pm

Jomar De Ocampo scored the biggest win of his budding career, Antonio Lining was all business again, and Warren Kiamco survived some harrowing moments to barge into the Final 32 of the second World Ten Ball Championship on Saturday at the World Trade Center.

Playing like a seasoned veteran, the 22-year-old De Ocampo manhandled Korean Jeong Young Hwa, 9-6, to remain undefeated in three matches while Lining rallied mightily to beat American Corey Duel, 9-4.

Kiamco, the top seed in the round-of-64, got a huge break at a crucial stage to pound out a thrilling 9-8 victory over the hefty Venezuelan Jalal Yousef, who looks like a wrestler than a cue artist.

Lee Van Corteza also made it to the Last 32 after beating Russian Konstantin Stepanov, 9-7.

Kiamco, who finished runner-up to Mikka Immonen in the 10-Ball Galvestone

World Classic in Houston few months back, took a commanding 5-1 lead only to allow Yousef to work his way up and force a hill-hill after falling into a maze of errors.

But Kiamco showed steely nerves, beating his rival in a battle of safeties for the No. 2 blue ball.

“I had three bad breaks and had a difficulty with the table. He’s also a tough opponent,” said Kiamco of his rookie foe.

Lining, on the other hand, came back from a 0-3 down to score a sweet revenge against Deuel, the former No. 1 American.

“He eliminated me last time in the qualifiers in the world championship,” said the 46-year old veteran campaigner, referring to the 2007 World Pool championship.

After ousting compatriot Jeffrey De Luna Friday, the diminutive De Ocampo caught the biggest fish of his career by enforcing a mind game outside the pool table.

“I intentionally took longer time in taking shots so my opponents will lose patience,” said De Ocampo, who started playing when he was only seven-years-old.

A native of Alaminos, Pangasinan who has beaten the likes of Francisco “Django” Bustamante and Ronnie Alcano in the Manny Villar Cup, De Ocampo said he learned to play the sport on his own by watching customers play in their billiards hall in his hometown.

“I don’t fear anyone,” said De Ocampo, who finally made it to a world championship after four failed tries in the past four qualifiers. “I expected to reach this stage (Round of 32).”

Jericho Banares was booted out by German Thorsten Hohmann, 9-1, on the first match of the day in the TV Table.

Hohmann, the reigning China Open champion, said his victory somehow eased the pain of his two losses against Banares – in the Mandaluyong and Puerto Princesa Open - last year.

“I felt good (about the win). It was the worst and painful loss in my life (When I lost to Banares),” said Hohmann.

“The media had too much hype about his win.”

Double world champion Ronnie “The Volcano” Alcano and Lee Van Corteza were to play their Last 64 matches late Saturday.