Pinoys on a rampage in Philippine Open Pool Championships opener

(Updated 6:44 a.m., April 8) Filipino pool players went on a rampage in the opener of the Philippine Open Pool Championships Thursday at the SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City. From top-rated players Antonio Lining, Dennis Orcullo, Marlon Manalo and Lee Van Corteza to up-and-coming cue artists Jundel Mazon, Jericho Banares and Renemar David, the Filipinos showed the way in this prestigious event sanctioned by the World Pool-Billiard Association and supported by the Billiards and Snooker Congress of the Philippines. Lining and Manalo pulled off similar hard-earned victories to advance to the winners' bracket. But Orcullo went through the proverbial eye of the needle before outlasting upset-conscious Demosthenes Pulpul, 9-8. Orcullo, the reigning World 8-Ball champion, climbed back from a 6-1 deficit before completing a remarkable come-from-behind victory against an opponent who took the spotlight in the inaugural World Ten Ball Championship in Manila in 2008 for making it as far as the final round. Pulpul appeared on his way to a one-sided victory when he scratched the cue ball while making a break. A run-out should have given him a sizable 7-1 advantage and put more pressure on the man tagged by his peers as “Robocop." But it was Orcullo who put on a show from that point. He made four straight run-outs, going on to take eight of nine racks to win. Lining, now the highest-rated player in the field after world’s No.1 player and reigning World 9-Ball champion Francisco “Django" Bustamante opted not to join the tournament, repulsed a tough Australian competitor in Robbie Foldvari, 9-7. “Matagal tumira yung kalaban ko kaya medyo naiinip ako kaya naapektuhan yung tira ko," said Lining. “Mina-maximize niya talaga yung shot clock eh." A 40-second shot clock is being implemented for every player in each rack, and an option of another 40-second extension once every rack. For his part, Manalo walked the tightrope before pulling off a win over Bobby Lee Chenman of Hong Kong in a hill-hill encounter, 9-8. It was a tough win for Manalo, who squandered a 4-1 lead and needed to fight back from a 6-8 deficit. “Marami rin akong sinablay, pero nakuha natin sa tiyaga," said the former Asian snooker champion, who is also a director of Liga ng Mga Barangay. “Buti nagkaroon ako ng opportunity nung hindi niya nakalkula yung preparation niya for No. 4," added Manalo. In the pivotal 17th rack, Chenman was able to make ball No. 3, but miscalculated a preparation for ball No. 4. He missed the shot at the corner, allowing Manalo to get back at the table. Manalo, who won all the three legs of the Florida Tour last year, calmly cleaned up the table to snatch the win. “It’s not a difficult shot," said Manalo, referring to the missed shot of Chenman. “Medyo pinigil niya yung bitaw. Kung ako yung tumira dun, dapat follow-through lang ang gagawin na tira." Corteza, runner-up to reigning World Ten Ball champion Mika Immonen two years ago, didn;t go though much trouble in beating Rafath Habib of India, 9-5. Mazon nearly swept countryman Venancio Tanio, 9-1, David outplayed Mohana Obaidly, 9-6, and Banares scuttled Raymond Faraon of the Philippines, 9-2. Other Filipino players who already won their respective matches as of press time were Overseas Filipino Workers Oliver Medenilla and Allan Cuartero, as well as double world champion Ronnie Alcano. Medenilla defeated Md Alias Bin Hj Raschid of Brunei, 9-6; Cuartero outplayed Robeto Gomez of the Philippines, 9-4 and Alcano whipped Desmond Go Chin Teck of Singapore, 9-4. Also winning their opening matches were Vincent Facquet of France, Muhamad Zulfikri of Indonesia, Amir Ibrahim of Malaysia, and Chang Jun Lin of Chinese Taipei. Facquet whipped Jech Limen of the Philippines, 9-2; Zulfikri subdued Wu Hao of China, 9-5; Ibrahim edged Chang Yu Lung of Chinese Taipei, 9-8; and Chang outlasted compatriot Fu Che Wei, 9-6. Japanese bets pull off big surprise in Day One Upset also rocked Day One of the Philippine Open Pool Championships. Japanese bets Lo Li-Wen and Naoyuki Oi pulled off shocking victories over their more illustrious opponents – reigning World Ten Ball champion Mika Immonen of Finland and former US Open champion Shane van Boening. Wen stunned Immonen, 9-6, while Oi subdued van Boening, 9-4. Also winning their opening matches were defending champion Ricky Yang of Indonesia, former World Ten Ball champion Darren Appleton of Great Britain, Vincent Facquet of France, Muhamad Zulfikri of Indonesia, Amir Ibrahim of Malaysia, Chang Jun Lin of Chinese Taipei , Liu Haitao of China, Takhti Zarekani of Iran, Kuo Po-Cheng of Chinese Taipei, John Morra of Canada, Marcus Chamat of Sweden, Thorsten Hohmann of Germany, Jason Klatt of Canada, Mohamed Hosani of United Arab Emirates, Kenny Kwok of Hong Kong and Bashar Hussain of Qatar. Yang defeated compatriot Yoni Rachmanto, 9-7; Appleton survived Siauw Wieto of Indonesia, 9-6; Facquet whipped Jech Limen of the Philippines, 9-2; Zulfikri subdued Wu Hao of China, 9-5; Ibrahim edged Chang Yu Lung of Chinese Taipei, 9-8; Ibrahim outlasted Chang Yu Lung of Chinese Taipei, 9-8; Chang nipped compatriot Fu Che Wei, 9-6; Liu defeated Lee Gun Jae of Korea, 9-6; Zarekani drubbed Shinya Inoue, 9-3; Kuo outplayed Abdulah Al Yousuf of Kuwait, 9-3; Morra ripped Chan Keng Kwang of Singapore, 9-5; Chamat beat Rudy Susanto of Indonesia, 9-5; Hohmann dumped Ko Pin Chun of Chinese Taipei, 9-6; Klatt waylaid Roland dela Cruz of the Philippines, 9-2; Hosani upstaged Sundeep Gulati of India, 9-7; Kwok outlasted Konstantin Stepanov of Russia, 9-6; and Hussain defeated Tamoo Takano of Japan, 9-5 - KY, GMA News