CEBU, Philippines - Veteran shotmaker Warren Kiamco is now the last Cebuano player standing after wildcard entries Ruben Cuna and Anton Raga crashed out of the 2015 MP Cup World 10-ball Championship yesterday in General Santos City.
Kiamco terminated Karol Skowerski of Poland, 11-8, then kicked out Darren Appleton of Great Britian, 11-5, to book a spot into the last 16. He will face next Yu Hsuan Cheng of Chinese-Taipeih for a berth into the quarterfinal round.
Cuna and Raga, both backed up by the Cebu City Sports Commission behind the efforts of commissioner Lorenzo 'Chao" Sy, were not as lucky. Cuna outlasted Denis Grabe of Estonia, 11-4, to barge into the final 32 knocktout stage, but was later ousted by Ruslan Chinakhov of Russia, 11-8, while Raga could only make it to the last 64 after dropping a 7-11 decision to Karl Boyes of Great Britain.
The other Cebuano contender in Antonio 'Gaga' Gabioca was earlier booted out by Appleton in the loser's bracket.
Some of the highly fancied Pinoy entries in Dennis Orcollo, Francisco Bustamante, and Ronnie Alcano also crashed out as early as in the final 64.
Orcollo kissed his championship bid goodbye after absorbing a stingy 8-11 loss to Irsa Nasution of Indonesia, Bustamante headed to the exit following a 9-11 defeat to David Alcaide of Spain, while Alcano was bombed out by Che Wei Fu of Chinese Taipei, 11-8.
Jundel Mazon also failed to keep his title hunt in motion after bowing to Irsa Nasution of Indonesia via an 11-10 cliffhanger.
The singles event of the week-long competition bankrolled by boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao in association with the World Pool Association will wind up this afternoon. The champion will pocket $40,000 (P1.76 million), while the runner up takes home $20,000. (FREEMAN)