Orcollo wins US Open One Pocket title

FILIPINO Dennis “Robocop” Orcollo flashed his deadly shot-making form on Monday to capture the US Open One Pocket Championship 2013 at the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.

Orcollo defeated Derby City One Pocket Champion Corey Deuel of the United States, 5-3, in the finals to run away with the title.

Orcollo jumped to a 2-0 lead in the race-to-five final before Deuel fought back to level at 2-2. Orcollo got his nose in front again 3-2 but the American and former U.S. Open 9 Ball champ battled back to level again at 3-3.

However, Deuel made a mistake on his break return in rack seven allowing Orcollo a quick run to get to the hill at 4-3.

Rack eight saw Deuel put together multiple small runs to take a 7-2 lead in ball count as fans braced for a hill-hill match. As Deuel passed on multiple semi-risky shots that Orcollo baited him with, a fairly straight forward safety spelled the end for Deuel when he left Orcollo a shot with a very tough table and Orcollo ran the final six balls for the 5-3 win.

The Filipinos’ campaign in the US pool circuit is supported by the Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines, Bugsy International Promotions, Puyat Sports, Hermes Sports Bar, Boss Tapa Food and Restaurant, King of Sports Resto Bar and Malungai Life Oil.

Orcollo made the finals after blanking Deuel, 4-0, in their Hot Seat match.

But the American climbed his way out of the One-Loss side by beating Filipino Carlo “The Black Tiger” Biado, 3-2 scoreline to earn a finals showdown with Orcollo.

Earlier, Orcollo beat Michael Reddick, 4-1; Danny Smith, 4-2; L. C. Carter, 4-0; Larry Nevel, 4-2; and Chris Bartram, 4-2 before facing Deuel in the Hot Seat game between the only two unbeaten players.

Orcollo, the former fisherman from Bislig, Surigao del Sur earned $7,500, Deuel got $4,800 while Biado took home $3,300. Another Pinoy, Francisco “Django” Bustamante, banked $1,500.