Five Filipinos stay in hunt in World 9-Ball in Qatar

CEBU, Philippines - Only five Filipino players led by former world champion Efren "Bata" Reyes stayed alive in the $300,000 World 9-Ball Championship at the Al Sadd Sports Club in Doha, Qatar.

Reyes, who topped the world's biggest and most prestigious billiards competition in 1999, ousted Toh Lian Han of Singapore, 11-6, to gain berth into the last 32 along with Jundel Mazon, Dennis Orcollo, Lee Van Corteza and Cebu's pride Antonio "Gaga" Gabica. They are all assured of at least $3,500.

Mazon advanced after beating fellow countryman Ronnie "Volcano" Alcano, 11-9, in a thrilling all-Pinoy showdown.

Orcollo, the highest ranked Filipino cue master at No.6 in the World Pool-Billiards Association (WPA) ratings, scored a sweet revenge over Andrew Kong of Hong Kong, 11-8, Corteza eliminated Serge Das of Belgium, 11-4, while Gabica ousted Mario He of Austria, 11-7.

Reyes shoots for a spot into the final 16 when he takes on Dominic Jentsch of Germany, while Mazon aims the same as he goes up against Konstantin Stepanov of Russia.

The Surigao City-native Orcollo will face next Kai Lun Hsu of Chinese-Taipei, Corteza will mix it up with Mika Immonen, while Gabica, who hails from Lapu-Lapu City, will battle Ching-Shun Yang of Chinese-Taipei.

It was not all jubilation for the Pinoys though as Francisco "Django" Bustamante, Cebu's Israel Rota, Marlon Caneda, Elvis Calasang, Joven Alba, Carlo Biado and Roberto Gomez crashed out of the week-long tilt that offers a whopping $40,000 to the champion.

Bustamante was sent out by 2002 world champion Fong Pang Chao of Chinese-Taipei, 6-11, Rota was ousted by Han Hao Xiang of China, 8-11, and Caneda was terminated by Nick Van Der Berg of The Netherlands, 6-11.

Calasang fell prey to John Morra of Canada, 7-11, Alba lost to Chang Jun Lin of Chinese-Taipei, 2-11, Biado was kicked out by Ohi Naoyuki of Japan, 10-11, while Gomez got the axe from Haitao Liu of China, 4-11.

Defending champion Yukio Akagariyama of Japan, on the other hand, kept his title retention bid in motion after pulling off an 11-9 victory over Germany's Thomas Engert. Yukio will tackle Engert's compatriot Thorsten Hohmann in his next assignment. (FREEMAN)