Pagulayan, 4 other Filipino bets rip US Open rivals

Former  World 9-ball champion Alex Pagulayan and four other Filipinos extended their winning streak in the 2011 US Open 9-Ball tournament Wednesday (Thursday in Manila) at the Chesapeake Conference Center in Chesapeake, Virginia, USA.

Apart from Pagulayan, who downed Grover Foster, 11-8, compatriots Lee Vann Corteza, Warren Kiamco, Antonio Lining and Jundel Mazon also hurdled their third round opponents.

Up next for Pagulayan is Stan Shuffett.

Corteza trounced Michael Banks, 11-4, to arrange a duel with Robb Saez while Kiamco nipped Dennis Hatch, 11-10, to forge a showdown with the survivor of the Daryl Peach-Hunter Lombardo tussle.

Lining dumped Basher Hussain Abdulmajeed, 11-1, and is slated to face Ralf Souquet next.

With his 11-6 conquest of Li Wen-lo, Mazon advanced to the next round against either Kevin Bailey or Kenichi Uchigaki, who are tangling at presstime.

The Philippine contingent being supported by Energen, Kopiko, Negros Billiards Stable and Puyat Sport also suffered casualties, among them  veteran Antonio “Ga-Ga” Gabica and pool legend Jose “Amang” Parica.

Gabica bowed to Jayson Shaw, 11-1, in the third round of the winner’s bracket while Parica yielded to Shane Jackson, 11-9, in the loser’s side.

Gabica now needs to win his match against Tomoo Takano to advance.