Luat leads march of RP cue masters

Rodolfo Luat, Lee Van Corteza, Ronnie Alcano and Jose Parica hurdled their respective rivals to advance to the third round of the US Open 9-ball Billiards Championship but defending champion Alex Pagulayan got ambushed by Canadian Tyler Edey at the Chesapeake, Virgina, USA Tuesday.

Luat, a leg winner of the San Miguel 9-ball tour who drew a bye in the first round, defeated Brandon Shuff, 11-5, to arrange a third round duel with Rob Brandenburg.

Corteza blasted Lee Holt, 11-4, to set up a clash with fancied Mika Immonen, who thumped Shaun Wilkie, while Alcano posted his second straight 11-1 victory over Adam Smit for a third round duel with Marcus Chamat.

Parica overwhelmed Edward Cabera, 11-1, and will face Joey Testa in the next round.

Pagulayan opened his title retention bid with an 11-6 rout of Shen Young Park but dropped an 8-11 decision to Edey in the second round to fall into the losers’ bracket of the 256-player field.

The Canadian-based Filipino was not the only former US Open champion to be sent to the left side of the board as Jerry Slivka handed Jeremy Jones an 11-9 setback, also in the second round.