BY CHRISTINE MONCADA
DENNIS Orcollo turned back Eduardo Villanueva 8-5 yesterday to advance into the
knockout phase of the 1st Senate President Manny Villar Cup at the Sportscenter
of Starmall Alabang.
Down 3-4, Orcollo took four straight racks, allowed
Villanueva to steal the 12th but came back to take the next and seal the
victory.
"Medyo masama ‘yung tira ko nung umpisa saka mahirap talaga
siyang kalaban," said Orcollo, winner of the San Miguel Beer-Quezon City 9-Ball
Championships and the Japan Open last month.
Orcollo was joined in the last 16 by Gandy Valle, Elmer Haya,
Rodolfo Luat, Carlo Biado and Jundel Mazon.
Valle, a 1998 Asian Games gold medalist, defeated reigning
national champion Lee Van Corteza 8-3, Haya beat Benjie Guevarra 8-3, Luat
whipped Russian Petiza 8-2, Biado downed Ramil Gallego 8-2 and Mazon defeated
Warren Kiamco 8-5.
Joven Bustamante defeated Roel Esquillo 8-4 and moved within
a win of entering the Round of 16.
He next takes on pool superstar Efren "Bata" Reyes. The
winner of the match advances while the loser faces Ronnie Alcano in a do-or-die
match.
Meanwhile, the Billiards Managers and Players Association of
the Philippines yesterday reiterated its call for a change in leadership in the
Billiards and Snookers Congress of the Philippines even as it denied allegations
it paid its players to join the Villar Cup.
"Kaming mga bilyarista na miyembro ng BMPAP ay mariin ang
paninindigan na hindi kami sasali sa mga torneong inorganisa ng BSCP hangga’t
ang naturang aso-sasyon ay pinamu-munuan ng mga lider na "incompetent" at ang
nais lamang ay pag-kakitaan ang bilyar at kaming mga manlalaro," said Reyes, the
BMPAP vice president, in a statement.
"Mariin din naming pina-bubulaanan ang alegasyon na kami ay bina-yaran para
sumali sa Villar Cup. Ang aming pag-lahok sa torneong ito ay kusang-loob at
bilang pasasalamat kay Senador Villar sa kanyang suporta."
