Orcollo makes final in Predator 10-Ball

WORLD no.1 Dennis “Robocop” Orcollo of the Philippines reached the 11th Predator International 10-Ball Championships Finals by beating Wu Jia Qing (formerly Wu Chia-ching) of China yesterday at the Robinson’s Galleria in Ortigas.

Orcollo, top player of Perry Mariano’s Bugsy Promotions, defeated Wu, 10-5, in the semifinals.

Wu, a former World 9-ball and 8-ball champion ace from Taiwan and migrated in China, failed to sink the black eight ball in the 15th frame, allowing Orcollo to clean up the table.

Orcollo is hoping to capture again the coveted title he won two years ago at the Riviera Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. Orcollo beat Ralf Souquet of Germany, 8-3, in the 2009 Predator 10-ball finals.

He said it was difficult because the game was short and was played on a break format.

“Thanks for those who cheered for me, including my own family and the husband-and-wife team of my boss,” said Orcollo after beating Wu.

Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines (BMPAP) co-founder Ceferino “Perry” Mariano watched the game together with his wife Verna.

“I hope the ball goes Orcollo’s way through the finals,” said Mariano, who cheered wildly at the venue.

The former fisherman from Bislig, Surigao del Sur will next face Mika “The Iceman” Immonen of Finland in the finals.

Immonen edged Liu Haitao of China, 10-9, in the other semifinal affair.

On the road to the semifinals, Orcollo defeated countryman Ramil “Bebeng” Gallego, 10-3, in the quarterfinals while Wu outclassed last year’s champion Filipino cue masters Efren “Bata” Reyes, 10-9.

Immonen nipped  Filipino Roberto “Pinoy Superman” Gomez, 10-7, and Liu edged Philipp Stojanovic of Croatia, 10-8.  /correspondent Marlon Bernardino