Back on top: Orcullo leads Pinoys' domination in world pool rankings

Reigning World 8-Ball champion Dennis Orcullo of the Philippines and four other compatriots have made it to the top 10 of the world pool rankings. Orcullo, who made it as far as the quarterfinals of the recently-concluded World Ten Ball Championship won by unfancied Huidji See of the Netherlands, has now overtaken fellow Filipino and erstwhile No.1 Antonio Lining as the top player in the world based on the new rankings released by the World Pool-Billiard Association.

See, who surprisingly won the WTBC, climbed his way up from the lower half of the rankings all the way to No. 4. Born in Holland to Chinese parents, See moved up into a tie for third to fourth places with Chang Jung Lin of Chinese Taipei with 1497 points apiece. Orcullo's rise to No.1 was somewhat expected by many. He became the world's top player several times, including this year when he won the World 8-Ball Championship in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates. Although unsuccessful in his quest of winning his second straight world championship after losing his quarterfinals match to Pinoy rising star Carlo Biado in the WTBC, Orcullo was able to garner 500 points from the governing pool body WPA. Orcullo has compiled a total of 1910 points, more than 100 points ahead of Lining, who dropped to second after being eliminated early in the biggest pool event for men this year. Lining only got additional 60 points after he got booted out in the double elimination group phase matches by Biado, who reached the semifinal round. "That's good for us," said Orcullo's manager, Perry Mariano of Bugsy's Promotions. "We have two players who have now moved up to the top 25." Biado, who is also being managed by Mariano, virtually came out of nowhere and moved up the rankings. He was ranked 98th when he started competing in his first world event – the third WTBC. But Biado, who also made it as far as the quarterfinal round of another WPA ranking tour event – the Philippine Open – was able to get 640 points. The 27-year-old pride of La Union is now ranked No. 25. Three more Filipino players have found themselves in the top 10 of the rankings – Lee Van Corteza, double world champion Ronnie Alcano and Francisco "Django" Bustamante. Corteza, who was a rack away from reaching his second straight Final Four in the WTBC, lost to veteran campaigner and eventual runner-up Fu Jianbo of China. Corteza, himself a runner-up in the WTBC in 2009, is now in No.6 with 1446 points. Alcano, also a solid performer in the past three WPA events, is only three points behind Corteza. He has now occupied the seventh spot. Bustamante, the reigning World 9-Ball champion, who skipped the WTBC for the third straight time, dropped to No. 8 with 1432. Other players who made it to the top 10 list include Kuo Po Cheng of Chinese Taipei (No.5), Jason Klatt of Canada (No.9) and Nick van den Berg of the Netherlands (No.10). Neils Feijen of the Netherlands and Marcus Chamat of Sweden, two players who were consistent fixtures in the top 10 of the WPA as well as former world No.1 player and double world champion Ralf Souquet of Germany, also dropped out of the list of top players. Feijen and Souquet, who were both surprisingly booted out early in the WTBC, are now in 18th and 19th places, respectively. Chamat is now in 27th place. - GMA News