Orcollo, Pagulayan bow to Taiwanese

The Philippines’ Dennis Orcollo and Alex Pagulayan crashed out of the semis yesterday after losing to their respective opponents from Chinese Taipei in the Guinness 9-Ball Tour Grand Final at the Mal Taman Anggrek, in Jakarta.

Pagulayan, who won the Singapore leg, bowed to 2004 World Pool champion Wu Chia Ching, 9-6, while Orcollo, who claimed the title in the Guangzhou leg, fell to Yang Ching Shun, 9-5.

The two Filipinos settled for $5,400 each for reaching the semis of the six-city tour organized by ESPN Star Sports.

Yang went on to win the crown by beating Wu in the finals, 11-9. He pocketed $36,000.

In a battle of former champions, the 30-year-old Pagulayan trailed early on at 4-1 following a miss on the seven-ball in the fourth rack. The Filipino-Canadian managed to get within one rack, 4-3, but a series of miscues on his part allowed the 19-year-old Wu to win four straight racks and be on the hill at 8-4.   

Pagulayan still kept it close as he moved within two racks following Wu’s miss on the eight ball in the 13th rack and a run-out in the 14th.

However, Wu easily ran out the very next rack to claim victory and reach the championship match.

Orcollo, currently No. 1 in the WPA ranks, failed to keep the country’s hopes alive as he faltered down the stretch against his long-time rival Yang.

Trailing by just one rack, 6-5, the native of Surigao missed an easy corner pocket shot on the three-ball. Yang pocketed the remaining balls in then ran out the next rack to stretch his lead to three and move within a rack of the win. 

Orcollo had a chance to stay alive in the next rack, but a big miss on the two-ball yielded the table and eventually the match to Yang.