Pinoy Pagulayan logs 5th win in US Open 9-Ball

FORMER World 9-ball and US Open 9-ball champion Alex “The Lion” Pagulayan defeated Warren “Warrior” Kiamco, 11-0, Thursday (Friday in Manila) to post his fifth straight win in the 2011 US Open 9-Ball tournament at the Chesapeake Conference Center in Chesapeake, Virginia, USA.

The Cabagan, Isabela native Pagulayan, who earlier beat Stan Shuffet, 11-4, in the fourth round, will face reigning World Ten Ball Champion Huidje See in the next round.

Ex-national champion Lee Vann “The Slayer” Corteza and Antonio “Nickoy” Lining were not as fortunate as they dropped their respective matches.

The Davao City bet Corteza lost to Kenichi Uchigaki, 11-9, while the pride of Pinamalayan, Oriental Mindoro Lining yielded to Johnny Archer, 11-3.

Corteza, Lining and Kiamco joined Jundel “Janon” Mazon in the loser’s side. The Marinduqe ace Mazon bowed to Uchigaki, 11-9, in the fourth round of the winner’s bracket.

Antonio “Ga-Ga” Gabica suffered his second loss to Jonathan Pinegar, 11-7, to join compatriot Jose “Amang” Parica in the exit door.  Correspondent MARLON BERNARDINO