Taiwanese bets rule first two qualifiers of PHL Open Pool bash

(Updated 1:35 a.m., April 1) The first day of the qualifying stage of the Philippine Open Pool Championship turned out to be an all-Taiwanese show. Chinese Taipei bets Chang Yu Lung and and Fu Che-Wei ripped their respective Pinoy rivals with ease in the final round of the morning and afternoon matches Thursday at the Star Billiards Center in Quezon City. Chang, champion of the China Open last year, demolished Joven Bustamante, 9-2, while Fu scuttled Mario Tolentino by the same score as the Taiwanese secured the first two seats in the main draw of this event sanctioned by the World Pool-Billiard Association. Bustamante made short work of former world pool runner-up Pei Wei Cheng in the semifinal round and appeared headed for the main draw. But Chang preserved his best for last, bringing his A-game to the table in the final round. Chang, who beat Filipino veteran campaigner Nickoy Lining in the China Open last year, broke free from a 1-1 standoff, taking eight of the next nine racks to turn an expected close game into a rout. The end came in the 11th rack when the already frustrated Bustamante miscalculated a safety shot at ball No.5. Chang wasted no time in cleaning up the table. "Matagal akong walang laro dahil busy ako sa business namin," said Bustamante, a former third placer in the World 8-Ball Championship won by Filipino Ronnie Alcano in 2007. Fu, runner-up to former world junior champion Ko Pin Yi in the Subic-Olongapo Pool Championship three years ago, also had an easier time disposing off Tolentino. Fully rested after making his way to the semifinal round earlier after putting away Emille Martinez in the semis, Fu used his advantage over the worn down Tolentino, who needed to hurdle Rodrigo Geronimo in a hill-hill match, 7-6, in the semis. From a slim 3-2 advantage, Fu took the next five racks and pounced on every miscue made by Tolentino. Tolentino had several chances, the last one was when his Taiwanese foe scratched the cue ball off a break in the 11th rack. The Filipino cue artist sank the No. 1 ball, but missed on the No.2 at the corner, enabling Fu to get back quickly at the table and clean up the table to make it an early double celebration for the victorious Taiwanese bets. Some 100 male and female players from all over Asia were scheduled to join the qualifying stage, which began Thursday. They will compete for 14 spots (10 male and four female) in the main tournament, which will take place on April 7-11 at the SM Megamall Megatrade Hall in Mandaluyong City. Eight other men's tournament qualifiers are scheduled from April 1 to 4. The women's qualifiers are to be staged on April 4 and 5. A world-ranking event of the WPA, the Philippine Open has already drawn top names in the sport, including reigning world champions. - KY, GMA News