Django, Orcollo reach quarterfinal

Team Philippines followed up its 8-2 rout of Denmark in the first round with an 8-3 thrashing of Russia Friday to make the quarterfinals of the 2008 PartyPoker.net World Cup of Pool at the Outland Nightclub in Rotterdam, Holland.

Francisco “Django” Bustamante and Dennis Orcollo shrugged off a shaky start and bundled out Konstantin Stepanov and Ruslan Chinakhov to arrange a quarterfinals duel with the Japanese pair of Satoshi Kawabata and Naoyuki Oi.

The Japanese made the Final Eight on an 8-5 decision over the Dutch duo of Roy Gerards and Gijs van Helmond.

China, Italy, England, Germany, Austria and the United States were the other teams which reached the quarterfinals of this tournament topped by the Philippines in its inaugural staging in 2006.

It will be China versus Italy, England versus Germany and Austria versus United States.

The Philippines had the most impressive victory after Italy’s 8-0 blanking of Korea.

The Filipinos took the opener but the Russians drew level at 1-1 before an illegal break allowed the Philippines to move back on top.

The measured run-out from the break gave the Philippines a 3-1 lead then a monster break from Bustamante came up dry, letting Russia back on the table and notch another rack at 2-3.

Bustamante and Orcollo flashed superb pocketing from there to take five of the next six racks.

After the Filipinos erected a 5-2 lead, an illegal break had the Russians returning to the table. A poor shot from Chinakhov allowed the Pinoy duo to clear but Orcollo missed a bank shot on the 6-ball.

Chinakhov blundered again as he missed the brown 7 into the top pocket. Bustamante missed a table length bank on the same ball, before Stepanov took his turn to miss. Finally it was Orcollo who dropped it, making it 6-2.

There was further dry break action in the next but an out-of-sorts Chinakhov missed the 1-ball. Both sides had chances before Orcollo played a bad safety on the 6-ball to give the Russians a chance and they took it for 6-3.

The last two racks were easier going for the Philippines as they took full advantage to secure an 8-3 victory.