Orcollo, Biado in semis

MANILA, Philippines — Dennis Orcollo and Carlo Biado stayed in the hunt for the Philippines’ first triumph in 27 years at the US Open Pool Championship as they barged into the semifinals Friday at the Hannah’s Resort in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

Continuing his unbeaten run in the tournament, Orcollo outclassed German Max Lerner, 11-7, to grab his Final Four seat while Biado, who came from the losers’ bracket, outlasted Johann Chua in an all-Filipino hill-hill quarterfinal duel, 11-10.

Orcollo and Biado will shoot for berths to the championship match against Singaporean Aloysius Yapp and Japanese Naoyuki Oi, respectively. Yapp thwarted Filipino Rodrigo Geronimo in the Last-8, 11-6, while Oi ousted 2019 World 9-Ball champ Fedor Gorst of Russia, 11-9.

Orcollo and Biado are aiming to match the feat of the legendary Efren “Bata” Reyes, the only Filipino so far to win the prestigious US Open in 1994.

The 42-year-old Orcollo was runner-up in 2012 and 2014, both times to American Shane van Boening