Orcollo yields to Souquet; Fisher enters 10-Ball final

MANILA, Philippines - German ace Ralf Souquet repeated over world No. 1 Dennis Orcollo, 9-6, to pocket the Philippine Bigtime Billiards (PBB) Face Off Series title at Pagcor Airport Casino in Parañaque City last Saturday.

Souquet, who humbled Orcollo, 8-5, in the recent World Pool Masters, also before Filipino fans, stamped his class early, racking up a series of break-and-runs to post a 5-0 lead.

The Filipino bet did threaten twice at 3-6 and 5-7 but Souquet simply held his own and won the next three racks to wrap up the contest.

The race-to-9, 10-ball face-off was aired worldwide through internet at www.megasportsworld.com, www.starbilliards.com, www.starbilliards.com.ph, Solar Sports, Sky Channel 70 and Destiny Channel 34.

Souquet took home the top $5,000 purse while Orcollo settled for $2,500.

Meanwhile, Great Britain’s Kelly Fisher proved steadier than China’s Yu Han as she hammered out a 9-4 victory to clinch the first finals berth in the 2011 Yalin Women’s World 10-Ball Championship at the Robinson’s Galleria last night.

Fisher, 33, shrugged off a shaky start with a strong finish behind solid shot-making that turned what was once a close 3-3 match to a lopsided win to the delight of the appreciative crowd.

It marked the first time that Fisher, former snooker and English billiards champion, made it to the finals of the world championships of any pool event – 8-Ball, 9-Ball and 10-Ball.

“I made the semifinals of the World 9-Ball event once but I never made it as far as the finals like now, that’s why I’m so excited and happy to be here,” said Fisher, whose last crown came in the 2008 WBPA Pacific Coast Classic.

Fisher will take on the winner of the match pitting Korean Ga Young Kim, last year’s losing finalist, and Taipei’s Tsai Pei Chen, who bundled out Rubilen Amit, 8-7, in the quarters late Saturday.

With the win, Fisher remained the only undefeated player in the third edition of the annual event won by Rubilen Amit in 2009 and Austrian Jasmin Ouschan last year with eight victories.