World 10-ball: Kiamco prevails, gains Last 16

FILIPINO ace Warren Kiamco sustained his fiery form in stunning world No. 5 Darren Appleton, 11-5, yesterday to become the first man to gain the Round of 16 of the World 10-Ball Championship at SM City in General Santos City.

Maintaining the solid form that won him the Derby City Classic last week in Kentucky, Kiamco rolled past the Briton with fine breaks that led to easy runouts.

“Nothing is easy here,” said Kiamco, who is emerging as the top Filipino hope after the exit of Dennis Orcollo. “Its going to be tough and you need luck on your side.”

Other Filipino players encountered contrasting fortunes, though.

Lee Van Corteza upset world No. 6 Albin Ouschan of Austria late Thursday in the Round of 64, where Franciso “Django” Bustamante also won at the expense of David Alcaide of Spain, 11-9.

Corteza was battling Taiwanese ace Fu Che-wei for a place in the Round of 16.

Jundel Mazon, however, squandered a six rack lead in a 10-11 loss to Indonesia’s Irsa Nasution. The Indonesian then bundled out Orcollo, 11-8, in the Round of 32. Cedelf P. Tupas