Orcollo, Cuartero win; Biado falters in 9-ball

The world’s top-ranked billiards player and reigning world 8-ball champion Dennis Orcollo turned back Marvin Tapia, 9-4 on Thursday in his second game in the 9-ball leg of the BSCP National Pool Championship at the Star Billiards Center in Quezon City.

It was a completely different result from Orcollo’s opening 9-ball game wherein he was stretched to the limit by unheralded Alexander Arenal before winning, 9-7. He will next face Arvi Tanega in the third round.

Meanwhile, Orcollo’s Bugsy Promotions stablemate Carlo “Cool” Biado who advanced to the final round in the 8-ball leg by beating Orcollo last Wednesday, bowed to Jeffrey “The Bull” de Luna, 3-9 and dropped to the losers’ bracket in the event hosted by long-time billiards patron Sebastian “Baste” Chua of Star Paper.

Biado, a semifinalist in this year’s World Ten Ball Championships in Manila, needs to win all his matches in the losers’ bracket to advance to the Final Four.

Allan Cuartero, who will face Biado in the 8-ball finals on Oct. 9, continued to make waves by beating Judy Villanueva, 9-6; Jeff Diaz, 9-7 and Richard Alinsub, 9-8.

Also winning three matches on Day 3 were Jericho Banares, Roberto Gomez and Rene Cruz.

Banares beat youthful standout Johann Chua, 9-5; Cocong Acaba, 9-3 and repeated his earlier victory over Biado’s tormentor Jeffrey de Luna, 9-7.

Gomez beat Ramon Mistica, 9-4; Mario Tolentino, 9-8 and recent Jogjakarta 9-ball champion Victor Arpilleda, 9-7.

The 9-day competition (Oct 3-11) is divided into three events for the men’s championship — 8-Ball (Oct. 3-5), 9-Ball (Oct. 6-8) and 10-Ball (Oct. 9-11).

The women’s division will only have the 10-Ball (Oct. 6-8) event. AKTV IBC-13 is the tournament’s official broadcaster and will air the finals in all disciplines from Oct. 9 to11.