INQUIRER Sports

Filipino billiards aces Dennis “Robocop” Orcullo and Lee Vann Corteza scored emphatic wins yesterday to barge into the Round-of-64 in the World Ten Ball Championship held at the World Trade Center in Manila.

Orcullo whipped “giant killer” Thomas Kaplan of Poland, 9-5 while Corteza was domination personified in blanking Taiwanese Yang Ching Shun, 9-0.

Orcullo, who earlier beat compatriot Steve Villamil, 9-6, in the opening round, will take a rest day today.

“Parehas hindi maganda ang laro ko,” said the Bugsy promotions ace Orcullo, the Predator 10-Ball champion, referring to his two unimpressive victories.

“Medyo naninibago ako, kasi sobrang ganda ng tapete. Pero masasanay din tayo.”

Joining the two Pinoys in the Last 64 are Kuo Po Cheng of Taiwan, Li He Wen of China and defending champion Darren Appleton of Great Britain.

Kuo sent Mario Tolentino of the Philippines to the losers’ bracket after beating the Filipino, 9-4 in the event sanctioned by the World Pool-Billiard Association and sponsored by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation, PetNet, Smart Sports, Star Billiards and the Department of Tourism.

Appleton routed MB Alias of Brunei, 9-2 and stayed on track of keeping his promise to retain his crown to prove that his victory last year was no fluke.

“I feel more comfortable now. I’m six victories away from defending the crown, but I know it won’t be easy. There’s a lot pressure building up game by game.”

Meanwhile, Lapulapu City-based Demosthenes “Plong-Plong” Pulpul officially bowed out of the tournament after earning his second setback of the tournament losing to Ronato Alcano yesterday.

Pulpul reached the semifinals last year.

Also getting the boot were Victor Arpilleda and Steve Villamil who lost their respective matches in the losers’ bracket.

Arpilleda bowed to Kasper Kristoffersen of Denmark, 9-6 while Villamil lost to Germany’s Ralf Souquet, 9-3.