Orcollo bags 2012 China 9-ball plum, P1.65M pot

KEEPING his composure just as his opponent picked up his game, former World No. 1 Dennis Orcollo of the Philippines overcame Chinese-Taipei’s Lu Hui-chan, 11-9, yesterday to capture the 2012 China Open in Shanghai.

Pocketing with precision in the early goings, Orcollo built enough cushion to stave off the late charge by the Taiwanese veteran to rule the World Pool Association-sanctioned event and pocket $40,000 (about P1.65 million).

Orcollo actually dropped his opening game of the tournament, but produced a string of superb performances to reach the knockout stage, before saving his best for last yesterday.

“I was so nervous today,” Orcollo was quoted by azbilliards.com as saying. “But I just tried to calm down and enjoy the game. I have a lot of experience playing on the TV table and I’ve had a lot of tough matches this week, so it helped me with the pressure.”

Orcollo pummeled China’s Fu Jianbo, 11-4, in the round of 32, before dumping Chinese bets Dang Jinhu (11-9). He outlasted Han Haoxiang (11-8) to advance to the Last Four.

Ranged against another in-form player from Taiwan in Chang Yu-lung in the semifinals, Orcollo showed nerves of steel to win, 11-9.

It was a nip-and-tuck duel with Chang charging out to a 2-0 lead, before Orcollo caught up at 4-all.

Orcollo was already on the hill after 17 frames, but Chang buried a 1-9 combo to cut the deficit to a single rack.

The Taiwanese faltered in a safety exchange, allowing Orcollo to forge the clash with Lu, who rallied for an 11-9 victory over 2011 World 9-ball champion Yukio Akakagariyama of Japan. Cedelf P. Tupas