FILIPINO Dennis Orcollo survived American Mike Dechaine’s hot start and final charge to hack out an 11-9 triumph and clinch the US Open 8-ball championship Friday (Saturday in Manila) at Rio all-Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.
Dechaine surged ahead at 4-0 and was still on top at 9-7 in the race to 11 finals when the 36-year-old multi-titled Orcollo made his move.
The Filipino broke and cleaned out for 9-8, then pounced on Dechane’s scratch to draw level at 9-9.
The standout of Bugsy Promotions then broke and easily won the next rack to reach the hill and sealed the victory worth $11,000 when the American faltered with a dry break on his turn at the table.
It was a tight match all the way as Orcollo and Dechaine alternated table runs from the ninth to 14th racks for a 7-7 count.
Dechaine took the next two racks to put the pressure on Orcollo, who again showed steely nerves to raise his earnings for the year at $42,404.
En route to the title, Orcollo also subdued Canadian John Morra, 9-7, and Mexican Rafael Martinez, 9-7, in the event that lured 87 cue masters from all over the world.
Apart from giving the Philippines gold medals in the 2005 Manila Southeast Asian Games (doubles), the 2011 Palembang SEA Games (8 ball), the 2013 Naypwidaw SEA Games (10 ball) and the 2015 Singapore SEA Games (9 ball), Orcollo distinguished himself as 2006 World Pool League king, 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games 9-ball titlist, 2010 World Pool Masters winner, 2011 World 8-ball titlist and 2013 World Cup of Pool champion with countryman Lee Vann Corteza.
“He (Orcollo) is still the most dependable cue master in the Philippines,” said his longtime benefactor Perry Mariano. “His regular practice sessions at King of Sports (Quezon City) paid off.”
According to Mariano, Orcollo, who earlier placed fourth in the US Open 10-ball version won by American Thorsten Hohmann, will next take part in a tournament in Chicago.
Other Filipinos who took part were Warren Kiamco and Jeffrey Ignacio. Roy Luarca