Filipino billiards stars Dennis Orcollo and Carlo Biado got off to blazing starts with hard-earned victories on Monday at the start of the 2011 BSCP National Pool Championships at the Star Billiards Center in Quezon City.
Orcollo, the top player of Bugsy Promotions edged veteran campaigner Edgar Acaba, 8-7, while Biado tripped John Salazar by the same score.
Acaba, who led for most part of the match, tied the score at 7-all and earned the golden opportunity of posting a huge upset by breaking first in the 15th and final rack.
Unfortunately, Acaba scratched the cue ball while going for the break, allowing the current world No.1 Orcollo to run out the table.
“I was lucky he scratched in the final rack. I was struggling the whole game, and was lucky to pull this one off,” said Orcollo.
A strong contender for the World Pool Association Player of the Year award, Orcollo trailed 3-5, but won four of the next five racks to take the driver’s seat, 7-6.
A dry break in the 14th rack allowed Acaba to get back on the table and level the count at 7-all, setting up an exciting finish until disaster struck in the 15th when he scratched while breaking.
In contrast, upstart Renemar “Revo” David scored the biggest upset on opening day by upsetting former World 9-ball runner-up Roberto “Pinoy Superman” Gomez, 8-7, while power breaker Jeffrey de Luna, a perennial contender, crushed Mario Tolentino, 8-3, to stay on the winner’s bracket.
Also keeping a perfect record were Johann Chua, Ricky Zerna, OFW Allan Cuartero and Rene Cruz.
Chua capped his run of victories with an 8-7 decision over Ramon Mistica, Zerna survived Oliver Villafuerte in another hill-hill encounter, 8-7 while Cruz stunned comebacking Leonardo Andam, 8-5.
Two notable players got eliminated — reigning national junior champion Jonas Magpantay and veteran campaigner Ramil Gallego.
Relegated to the loser’s bracket early on, Magpantay lost 4-8 to Anjo Huelgas, kissing goodbye any hopes of earning a spot in the World Pool Summit.
Gallego also got the boot after bowing to Reggie Geronimo, 7-8.