Orcollo: Victory sweeter at home

MANILA, Philippines—Dennis Orcollo kept his poise under pressure to snare the Predator International 10-Ball Championship crown Sunday night at the Robinson’s Galleria in Ortigas.

The Filipino world No. 1 swept the last three racks en route to a 10-8 victory over Mika Immonen of Finland and end his major title drought at home.

Early this month, Orcollo stormed to a 5-3 lead only to bow to German Ralf Souquet in the World Pool Masters finals, 8-5, at The Block Atrium of SM North Edsa.

With the double world champion Immonen ahead, 8-7, and another meltdown looming, Orcollo took the 16th rack to draw level.

After the 32-year-old Orcollo made a poor safety shot, Immonen failed to capitalize by miscalculating and scratching, allowing the pride of Surigao del Sur to reach the hill, 9-7.

Orcollo, winner of the 2011 World Eight-Ball title in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates, completed his climb from a shock opening 3-9 setback to Japanese Yukio Akagariyama with a break-and-run.

“I’m so happy to win this for the Philippines,” said Orcollo, winner of both the Guangzhou Asian Games 9-ball gold medal and the World Pool Masters last year.

“It’s definitely a great feeling to win it here in Manila.”

Orcollo, who also won the 2009 edition of the tournament in Las Vegas, pocketed $10,000 (about P430,000) for the victory that further boosted his stock as the world’s top pool player.

Smarting form that loss to Akagariyama, Orcollo, spearhead of businessman Perry Mariano’s star-studded Bugsy Promotions, routed compatriots Jundel Mazon (10-2) and Ramil Gallego (10-3) in the Last 16 and quarterfinals, respectively, before trouncing Taiwanese double world champion Wu Jia-qing, 10-5.