Orcollo vies in US 8-ball

No less than the championship and the record-breaking $350,000 top prize will satisfy Dennis Orcollo when he competes in the 2006 International Pool Tour (IPT) grand finals July 23-30 at the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The tournament, dubbed as the 2006 North American 8-Ball Championship, offers a total prize of $2-million, the biggest in pool history.

The champion’s share nearly doubles the previous record of $200,000 won by Efren "Bata" Reyes last year also in the IPT grand finals.

"I worked hard to get in (the grand finals). I will try my best to win the championship," said Orcollo in Filipino. "Anything less will be a disappointment."

He will leave the country via Philippine Airlines on July 19.

His recent success in the US pool circuit makes him one of the favorites in the event.

An IPT official told billiards patron Perry Mariano that Orcollo’s route to the grand finals was the toughest.

"The IPT admitted that the toughest leg of the qualifying round was the one ruled by Orcollo at Hard Times Billiards," said Mariano, also benefactor and manager of former AZ Billiards Rookie of the Year Ronato "Ronnie Calamba" Alcano, Gandy "Sapsal" Valle, Antonio "Ga-Ga" Gabica, Roberto "Superman" Gomez, Jeffrey "Jeff Bata" De Luna, Elmer "Buddy" Kalaquian and Carlo Biado.

"It’s a testament of his (Orcollo’s) superior skills and mental toughness."

It was one of the five events in the US topped by the diminutive cue artist from Bislig, Surigao del Sur this year.

Aside from Orcollo, the other Filipinos in the 200-man main draw are seeded finalists Reyes, Francisco "Django" Bustamante, Marlon "Marvelous" Manalo and US-based Jose "Amang" Parica and qualifiers Alex "The Lion" Pagulayan, Alcano, Valle, Warren "Warrior" Kiamco, Rodolfo "Boy Samson" Luat, Antonio "Nickoy" Lining and Santos Sambajon.

The players will be divided into 40 groups of five each with the top three advancing to the next level. The 80 early casualties are guaranteed of $2,000 each.