Kiamco pockets US 8-Ball crown

MANILA, Philippines -  Warren Kiamco sustained the Filipinos’ romp on the international billiard stage, winning the Annual US Bar Table Championship 8-Ball division crown with a 5-2 victory over Canadian John Morra at the Sands Regency Hotel in Reno, Nevada Monday.

Morra actually forced a deciding duel with the Filipino champion, who clinched the hot-seat and the twice-to-beat edge with a victory over Amar Kang of the US Sunday, as he pulled off a 5-4 cliffhanger in the first game.

But the former SEA Games gold medalist stamped his class in the winner-take-all match, dominating the Canadian with superb pocketing to win the crown and raise his total earnings in a week’s time to $9,650 (P415,000).

The win came on the heels of compatriot Dennis Orcullo’s victory in the World 8-Ball Championship in UAE Saturday where he overwhelmed Dutch Neils Feijen, 10-3, in the finals.

It was actually Kiamco’s second sweep of the US Bar Table 8-Ball and 9-Ball crowns, which he also won in 2007. Kiamco beat American Leron Nevel, 9-6, in last week’s 9-Ball finals.

After drawing a bye, Kiamco bundled out Mark Estes, Jerry Matchin, Stan Tourangeau and Sylver Ochoa to advance to the final stage. He then booted out Brandon Ashcraft and took the twice-to-beat by outlasting Kang in their duel for the hot seat.

The other Filipino players who competed in the event were Jose Parica,Jundel Mazon, Deomark Alpajora, and former WPA World 9-Ball champion Alex Pagulayan, who captured the 10-Ball division plum.