Pinoy pool aces bow to Japan in shootout

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines easily disposed of Norway, 4-0, but dropped a heartbreaking 7-5 loss to Japan in a shootout and bowed out in the quarterfinal round of the World Pool Team Championships in China late Wednesday.

It was a sorry setback for the Filipinos, made up of Efren “Bata” Reyes, Francisco “Django” Bustamante, Dennis Orcollo and Rubilen Amit, who appeared headed for a big comeback after trailing the Japanese, 1-3, in the early going of their quarters duel and forcing a sudden death shootout.

The shootout went back and forth and was tied at 3, 4 and 5 but Reyes missed on his turn, enabling Japan, composed of Yukio Akagariyama, Toru Kuribayashi, Naoyuki Oi and Chihiro Kawahara, to pound out a 7-5 decision.

The Filipinos settled for $12,000.

With the win, Japan moves up to face China 2, which beat Canada, 4-2, while Chinese-Taipei, routed Swedem, 4-1, to take on defending champion Great Britain, which nipped China 1, 6-3, in a shootout, in the other semis clash.