Lining edges Bata for SMB pool semis

MANILA, Philippines - Antonio “Nikoy” Lining knocked in a tricky 1-9 combination through the rail to beat Efren “Bata” Reyes, 9-8, in a thrilling hill-hill duel for the first seat in the semifinals of the San Miguel Beer Oktoberfest 9-Ball Open semifinals at the SM Skydome in SM City North Edsa last night.

Lining, a former Asian Games 8-ball doubles gold medalist in partnership with Francisco “Django” Bustamante, fought back from brink as Reyes scratched while breaking for the match at 8-7.

“The last rack was anybody’s game. I saw an opening and I pounced on it,” said Lining, who advanced to the Final Four against Dennis Orcollo.

Orcollo, among the top medal prospects of the country in the coming Guangzhou Asian Games, also pounced on error by Lee Van Corteza in their own hill-hill battle to pound out a similar 9-8 win.

Corteza, winner of the recent Predator World 10-Ball Tour, left the 9 hanging on the right corner pocket as he missed a straight up 8-9 combination.

Bustamante, Rodolfo Luat, Elvis Calasang and Ronnie Alcano were the four other players who made the quarterfinals. Bustamante was playing against Luat while Alcano was battling Calasang at press time.

Earlier in the day, Lining toppled Roberto Gomez, 9-6; Reyes clobbered Jech Limmen, 9-3; Orcollo whipped John Morra, 9-5; and Corteza drubbed Jenno Mason, 9-4, in the Round of 16.

The other Last 16 matches saw Calasang stun Warren Kiamco, 9-4, Alcano beat Ramil Gallego, 9-4, Luat defeat Napoleon Labrador and Bustamante down Arvi Tanega.

Lining’s close win over Reyes was easily the day’s most exciting match.

Behind steady pocketing, Lining raced to a 7-4 lead before Reyes found an opening and rolled ahead at 8-7.

Reyes made it 5-7 as Lining committed an error on the 6. He then went on a run, clearing difficult shots in the 13th rack, winning the 14th on a good safety and the 15th on a run-out.

The crowd was ready to cheer the pool legend when he scratched on the break in the 16th.

Lining capitalized on it to force the hill-hill.

Both players flashed a friendly smile as Lining made a good break on the winner-take-all rack, knocking in the 7 and seeing an opening on the yellow 1.

He opted to take a safety before going for the win on the 1-9 combination that sent the crowd up on their feet.