Orcollo rips Luat, takes P.5 million prize

MANILA, Philippines - Dennis Orcollo turned back an erratic Rodolfo Luat, 11-5, to rule the 2010 San Miguel Beer Oktoberfest 9-Ball Open yesterday at the SM Skydome, SM City North Edsa.

The 31-year-old Orcollo seized his opportunity when Luat scratched after sinking the 4-ball in the ninth rack, then took the next two sets to grab a 7-4 cushion.

A missed try by Orcollo on a 3-9 combo allowed Luat to close in at 7-5 but that turned out to be his last crack at the title in the race-to-11 finale as the pride of Bislig, Surigao swept the last four racks en route to the victory worth P500,000.

“When he (Luat) scratched at 4-4, I felt that was my chance to grab the upperhand and fortunately, my breaks got better and I made some big shots,” said Orcollo, who like Luat, is next headed to Guangzhou, China for the 16th Asian Games.

Orcollo actually fell behind at 1-3, no thanks to unforced errors in the first and fourth racks. But he managed to win the succeeding three sets to gain a 4-3 lead, aided by Luat’s foul shot in the sixth frame and a flubbed try on the 6-ball the next.

Luat equalized at 4-4 after Orcollo himself missed on the pink ball.

“We were really feeling the pressure at the start, this being the finals,” Orcollo admitted.

Luat, who booted out reigning world champion Francisco Bustamante in the quarterfinals (9-6) and former world titlist Ronnie Alcano in the semis earlier in the day (10-3), settled for the P200,000 runner-up prize.

Orcollo was the first to advance to the championship round of the 32-man tourney after drubbing Antonio Lining, 10-7, in the day’s first semis match.

The reigning World Pool Masters champ stormed to an early 6-2 lead against Lining, conqueror of legendary Efren “Bata” Reyes in Thursday night’s Last 8.