SEA Games: Orcollo goes through nail-biting finish for 10-ball crown

Filipino billiards player Dennis Orcollo checks the ball placement during his final match with Vietnamese Do The Kien at the 10 Ball competition. INQUIRER PHOTO / GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE

MANILA, Philippines — Dennis Orcollo overcame another grueling battle to win the gold medal in the men’s 10-ball singles event of the 30th Southeast Asian Games.

A night after surviving a semifinal scare from Singapore’s Aloysius Yapp, Orcollo found himself in an even tougher match before eking out a 9-8 victory over Vietnam’s The Kien Do at Manila Hotel Tent.

The 40-year-old Orcollo took an early 4-2 but couldn’t sustain it and even trailed, 5-6, before regaining control.

Orcollo defended his 10-ball title six years after the event was last contested in Myanmar. He picked up his sixth SEA Games gold medal overall.

Filipino cue artists added a third gold to their haul with Rubilen Amit and Chezka Centeno also with one each in 9-ball and 10-ball singles, respectively.

The two look to win one last gold Tuesday night in the 9-ball doubles event where they take on Indonesia’s Fathrah Masum and Nony Andilah in the final.