MANILA, Philippines — Dennis Orcollo kept the Filipino pride afloat as he dispatched his rivals with relatively ease to advance to the finals of the 2011 World 8-Ball Championship at the Fujairah Exhibition Centre Friday in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates.

Cool and calculating, Orcollo blasted David Alcaide of Spain, 9-3, in the semis to inch closer of becoming the third Filipino player to win this event after Efren “Bata” Reyes (2004) and Ronnie Alcano (2007).

His chances appear good since his final opponent Niels Feijen of the Netherlands is no stranger to him.

Feijin is the same player he beat in winning the 2006 World Pool League finals. He also won two years ago the Predator International 10-Ball Championship, considered by some as the first-ever World 10-Ball Championship, two years ago.

If he wins again, Orcollo, who shares the Athlete of the Year award with three other top achiever last year after winning the 9-ball gold medal in the Asian Games, will be bringing home $40,000 (roughly P1.76 million).

In advancing to the semis, Orcollo, who turned 32 last Jan. 28, defeated Shane Van Boening of the United States, 9-4, in the Round-of-16, and Takhti Zarekani of Iran, 9-2, in the Round-of-8.

Like Orcollo, Feijen was equally brilliant, scoring 9-0 win over Darren Appleton of Great Britain in the semis. The Dutchman seeks to win the title this time after losing to Karl Boyes of England in last year's finals.

Orcollo was left to fight for country’s honor after Alcano, Joven Alba and Oliver Medinilla bowed out.

Alcano lost a heartbreaking 9-8 setback at the hands of Appleton in the Round-of-16. Alba, who in the first round of the knockout stage ousted the legendary Reyes, likewise fell to the same opponent, 9-2, in the Round-of-8.

Medinilla, meanwhile, was beaten by Feijen, 9-4, in the Round-of-16.