China II ends Pinoy World Pool run

MANILA, Philippines—The Philippines’ magical run in the World Pool Team Championship ended in heartbreak Saturday night in Beijing, China.

The Filipinos absorbed a 2-4 setback to China II in the finals of the prestigious tournament which they have yet to win.

The squad made up of Dennis Orcollo, Lee Van Corteza, Carlo Biado and Rubilen Amit failed in its bid to force a shootout after trailing 0-3, enabling the Chinese to clinch the title and the $80,000 purse.

The Chinese composed of Liu Haitao, Dang Ching Hu, Wang Can, Fu Xiaofang and Liu Shasha prevailed in both eight-ball matches, before Orcollo bowed to Wang, 5-8, to put the hosts on the hill.

Amit kept the Filipinos alive with an 8-4 win over Fu in a 9-ball clash, before Orcollo fanned hopes of a comeback with a win at the start of 10-ball play at the expense of Wang.

But Amit and Biado fell short against Liu Haitao and Liu Shaha in the 10-ball mixed as China clinched the crown.

The Filipinos came into the final as the favorite with their fine form in the earlier rounds.

They cruised to a 4-2 dumping of Chinese-Taipei in the quarterfinals, before posting a 4-0 shutout of powerhouse China 1 in the last four.