Orcollo, Biado give PH world 9-ball lift

Former World No. 1 Dennis Orcollo and top-ranked Filipino player Carlo Biado carried the fight for the country, posting contrasting victories Saturday at the start of the WPA World 9-Ball Championship at Al Saad Sports Club in Doha, Qatar.

Currently ranked No. 4 in the world, Orcollo pulled off a narrow 9-8 win over Canada’s Jason Klatt in Group 7, before world No. 2 Biado overwhelmed Nour Wasfi Al Jarrah of Jordan, 9-3.

Antonio Gabica, who lost to Thorsten Hohmann in the finals last year, also came away with a first round win just like compatriots Warren Kiamco, Elvis Calasang and Raymond Faraon.

But former champion Efren “Bata” Reyes and Ramil Gallego fell to the losers’ bracket and faced an uphill climb to reach the knockout stage of the 128-player event that dangles $30,000.

The Doha-based Gabica, who is also coaching the Qatar National Team, trounced Kou Pou-cheng of Chinese-Taipei, 9-5, in Group 4, where Dutch star Nick Van Den Berg bested Gallego, 9-7.

Calasang defeated Marzen Berjaoui of Lebanon, 9-3, in Group 10, while Faraon nipped Denis Grabe of Estonia, 9-8, in Group 9 and Kiamco overcame Stephan Cohen of France, 9-7, in Group 6.

It was Orcollo who produced the most dramatic victory of the day for the Philippine contingent, rallying from a couple of racks down twice to avert an upset.

Groping for form, Orcollo fell behind, 6-8, before leaning on his vast experience to take the last three frames for the victory.

“I felt uncomfortable with the table,” Orcollo told the WPA website.

“I struggled but I didn’t give up. I have a lot of experience. I just try to calm down and stay focused, stay positive and that’s what I did.”

Reyes wasn’t as fortunate with Jeong Young-Hwa of Korea capitalizing on his mistakes for a 9-5 triumph in Group 9. Gabica admitted feeling the pressure of following up his strong showing last year.

Also winning their first round matches were former champions Mika Immonen of Finland, Germany’s Ralf Souquet, and Wu Jiaqing of China.