Pagulayan remains perfect in US 9-Ball

MANILA, Philippines - Alex Pagulayan sustained his perfect run even as Efren “Bata” Reyes and Dennis Orcollo stayed in contention by progressing in the losers’ bracket in the continuation of the 37th US Open 9-Ball Championship in Virginia yesterday.

Pagulayan beat Puyat Sports stablemate Reyes, 11-5, to move within a win of a finals berth from the winners’ side.

Reyes bounced back from that loss with a close 11-9 win over Ronnie Alcano, thus keeping his hopes for the coveted crown and the $25,000 top purse in this blue-ribbon pool event.

Orcollo, beaten by Reyes in an earlier round, also stayed in the race by toppling Jose “Amang” Parica, 11-4.

Reyes and Orcollo meet again in a do-or-die match while Pagulayan battles American ace Shane Van Boening for an automatic finals entry.