Haya surprises Kiamco, gains final in Villar Cup

MANILA, Philippines - Unheralded Elmer Haya sustained his giant-killing spree, upending former champion Warren Kiamco, 10-7, yesterday to arrange a showdown with veteran Rodolfo Luat for The Manny Villar Cup Iloilo leg crown at the SM City in Iloilo City.

Haya, who upset former world No. 1 Dennis Orcollo right in the first round, seized control early then held off Kiamco’s repeated rallies to fashion out the victory.

Kiamco, a leg winner of the circuit last year, dominated Carlo Biado, 9-2, in the quarterfinal but failed to stamp his class over Haya, who also nipped veteran internationalist Gandy Valley in the Last 8.

Luat, who bundled out former two-time world champion Ronnie Alcano, 9-7, in the quarters, foiled Lee Van Corteza’s for a second straight crown in the island-hopping series presented by Senator Manny Villar’s Villards: Tulong sa Pagsulong ng Philippine Sports.

Corteza, a many-time gold medalist of the Southeast Asian Games, ousted Django Bustamante’s conqueror Steve Villamil, 9-6, in the quarterfinals but absorbed a 6-9 beating from Luat.