Orcollo claims World 8-Ball crown

MANILA, Philippines - Dennis Orcollo became the third Filipino in eight years to rule the World 8-Ball Championship, clobbering the Netherlands’ Neils Feijen, 10-3, for the 2011 crown at the Fujairah Exhibition Center in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates Saturday night.

Warren Kiamco made it a double championship for Philippine billiards when he captured the 14th Annual US Bar Table Championship 10-Ball Division crown over at the Sands Regency Hotel in Reno, Nevada.

Orcollo made a swashbuckling run all the way from the qualifying event to top the World Pool/Billiards Association-sanctioned event, duplicating the World 8-Ball title conquest by Efren “Bata” Reyes in 2004 and Ronnie Alcano in 2007.

The only World 8-Ball crowns the Filipino pool masters failed to win were those in 2005 (won by Taiwanese Wu Chia-ching), 2008 (German Ralf Souquet) and 2010 (Englishman Karl Boyes). The event was not held in 2006 and 2009.

Orcollo, among the Athletes of the Year to be feted by the Philippine Sportswriters Association Saturday, hardly gave Feijen a chance in dominating their title duel.

With sharp pocketing and good ball control, the Bislig, Surigao del Sur native won the lag then raced to a 5-0 lead before allowing Feijen to finally get his chance at the table.

Orcollo’s stay on the sideline didn’t last too long, though.

Back on the table at 5-3, Orcullo went on another 5-0 roll to run away with the championship worth $40,000. Feijen settled for $25,000.

Earlier, Spanish David Alcaide walloped Englishman Darren Appleton, 9-2, for third place worth $14,000.

“I’m happy for Dennis. He’s long been looking to win this tournament,” said Perry Mariano, Orcollo’s chief benefactor at Bugsy’s Promotions.

Orcollo is the hottest Filipino pool masters at the moment, having also won the 9-ball singles gold medal in the Guangzhou Asian Games last November.

His other big achievements were victories in the World Pool League, World Pool Masters, Derby City Classic, US Bar Table and Billiards Congress of America.

Feijen had his first opportunity when Orcollo scratched from the break after jumping to a 5-0 lead. The Dutch polished off that rack to get on board at 5-1 down.

He then suffered a dry break but left a tough run of balls for Orcollo. When Orcollo missed, Feijen returned to make it 5-2.

Feijen made two balls on the next snap and had an easy layout, allowing him to make it 5-3.

A skid by Feijen on the 4 ball in the next rack proved to be a costly mistake.

Orcollo cleared up, made it 6-3 and never let Feijen back on the table in an impressive game to cap his championship run.