World no.1 Dennis Orcollo and world championship runner-up Roberto Gomez stormed into the final of the San Miguel Beer-Quezon City 9-Ball Championship after disposing of separate opponents yesterday at the packed activity center of the Trinoma Mall in Quezon City.
The 29-year-old Orcollo defeated Ramil Gallego, 11-7, while Gomez ended the unbeaten run of Django Bustamante, 11-4. Both Orcollo and Gomez worked their way from the losers’ bracket to reach the final of the ,000 event presented by San Miguel Beer in cooperation with the Quezon City government.
Orcollo earlier eliminated qualifier Russian Petiza, 9-5, to advance into the semifinals.
"Hindi biro itong dinaanan ko," said Orcollo. "Kaya sana ako na magchampion dito, at pipilitin ko talagang makuha ito."
On the way to the quarterfinals, Orcollo disposed of double world champion Ronnie Alcano, 9-8, and Leornado Didal, 9-5.
The three-day competition was also sponsored by the Philippine Amusements and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR), Trinoma, Philippine Star, Ayala Malls and Philippine Poker Tour (PPT).
Bustamante went undefeated on his way to the Final Four, winning all his four matches against William Millares (9-6), Benjie Guevarra (9-1), Carlo Biado (9-4) and Petiza (9-7).
Gomez, on the other hand, had to go through the complicated left side of the draw after losing to a 9-6 decision to Gallego in the second round.
He managed to stay alive by subduing former world champions Efren "Bata" Reyes (9-4) and Alex Pagulayan (9-4), as well as Millares (9-0), Biado (9-6) and Razalan (9-3).
The first major pool event in the country this year is co-organized by Bugsy Promotions, Puyat Sports and Negros Billiards Stable and supported by the Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines (BMPAP).
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