Germans lift World Cup of Pool crown

MANILA, Philippines - German hotshots Ralf Souquet and Thorsten Hohmann, the executioners of Efren “Bata” Reyes and Francisco “Django” Bustamante Saturday, slew next the Korean pair then beat the Thai tandem to win the 2011 World Cup of Pool crown at SM North EDSA Mall in Quezon City last night.

Souquet, set to be enshrined in the BCA Hall of Fame, further enhanced his esteemed status with the double championship he won in topping the World Pool Masters Monday then the WPC in partnership with Hohmann.

The Germans charged from behind and overcame Koreans Lee Gun Jae and Hwang Yong, 9-7, in the semis then outclassed Thais Nitiwat Kanjanasri and Kobkit Palajin, 10-4, in the finals.

No Filipino team progressed past the quarterfinals as Dennis Orcollo and Ronnie Alcano dropped a sensational hill-hill decider, 8-9, versus the Taiwanese Saturday night.

Young Taiwanese brothers Ko Ping-Yi and Ko Ping-Chun failed to go all the way to the finals, though, falling in an ambush by the unheralded Thai pair, 3-9, in the semifinals.

The Filipino stars were nowhere to be found at the venue yesterday after being swept away in the quarterfinals.

 The Orcollo-Alcano pair went two balls away from the semifinals but Alcano blew away what had looked like a won match as he missed the 8-ball in the deciding rack.

 For the Filipino pair and the cheering home fans, it’s a sad finish in a match replete with thrill and excitement.

Going away with Alcano’s giant error was the country’s bid for a third WPC crown. Reyes and Bustamante won it in 2006 and 2009.

The dramatic Taiwan-Philippine match saw the Filipinos jumpstart at 5-1, the Taiwanese race ahead 7-5 then make it 8-6 before the home bets came back to life only to succumb in the end.

Showing maturity far beyond their young ages, the Ko brothers, 22 and 15, highlighted their quarterfinal triumph with an amazing six-rack run from a 1-5 deficit.

Bad ball positions after a break by Ko Pin-Yi at 8-6 allowed the Filipinos back on the green-felt table.

Against the Thais, the Taiwanese siblings had little opportunity to do business on the pool.

Kanjanasri and Palajin kept the Taiwanese rooted on their seats in pulling away early at 6-2 with superb shots.

Replete in drama was the Germany-Korea semis match.

“Team Korea deserved huge credit, respect and recognition. They pushed us to the wall,” said Hohmann, overwhelmed they’re able to survive a 2-6 deficit.

“Thorsten pulled me through. I made so many mistakes and missed so many balls,” said Souquet.

“We had problems when we missed some and we couldn’t find any rhythm. Good thing, we got together, took a time out and came out with a different plan. It didn’t go as we wanted but a win is a win,” Souquet added.

The Germans got going in the crunch and gained a second WPC finals appearance in the last three years.